“I know you are friends with my daughter, and I believe you’ll be a good influence on her, so I have a vested interest in your future.”
Ha! So much for good judgment, and how rude to slight his daughter like that. I school my face into a neutral line, giving nothing away.
“And I made a promise to my son,” he adds, straightening up. “Unlike him, I keep mine.” He tips his head forward. “Good day to you, Miss Shaw.”
* * *
I’m still mulling over my uncle’s and Eric’s words the following night as I wait for Chad to get home. I glance at the clock, frowning when I see it’s almost two a.m. I know Chad meets his dealer late on Sundays, but he’s usually home by now, and I’m starting to worry. Risking his wrath, I dial his cell, but it automatically goes to voicemail.
Getting out of bed, I wrap my fluffy robe around my body and head downstairs to call Jase. I’m not expecting him to answer as he was already half asleep when I left his bed a few hours ago, so I’m surprised when he picks up after a few rings.
“Baby, I can’t really talk right now,” he says, and I can hardly hear him over the commotion in the background.
“What’s going on? Where are you? Is Chad with you?”
“Nix and Creed were in a car accident,” he says in a clipped tone. “I’m at the scene. The firefighters are just cutting them out of the car now.”
“Oh my god. Are they okay?”
“I don’t know.” Strain is clear in his voice. “Creed has regained consciousness, but Nix hasn’t woken at all. They are being airlifted to the hospital as soon as the paramedics can get to them.”
“Shit, that sounds bad.”
“Yeah.”
“Have you heard from Chad?” I ask, guessing he didn’t hear that part of my question.
“No. Why? Isn’t he home?” Fear is palpable behind his words, and it does nothing to reassure me.
“No and he’s not answering his cell either. I’m worried.”
“Let me make some calls.”
“I could drive to South Lowell. We both have each other’s devices on that Find my Device app.”
“You don’t anymore,” he says, as shouting and a loud noise echo in the background. “The Lum will have deactivated that. A pleb can’t have access to your location, Ash. Anyway, you need to sit tight. Do not go on a wild goose chase. I’ll find him and call you back. Gotta go, baby. I’ll be in touch.”
The line dies. I blow air out of my mouth as I move to the coffee pot to make fresh coffee. I will need it to stay awake as I’m exhausted.
The frat party I attended last night with Julia went on for hours, and she wouldn’t let me leave. I don’t take orders from that bitch, but I didn’t want her ratting me out to her father. Jase and I have enough of a spotlight on us as it is. So, I stayed, stumbling home at five a.m. and collapsing into bed. I got up early to get a head start on schoolwork and to spend some time with Chad before he left to go to his mother’s place. He went straight to meet Deke from there, so I haven’t seen him since four p.m.
While the coffee is gurgling, I look for the app on my phone. Lo and behold, Jase is right. The app is gone from my cell. I’m tempted to smash it against the wall, but then Jase won’t have any way of contacting me.
I am pouring my second cup of coffee when my cell pings with a message. It’s from Bree, telling me she’s at the front door and to open it.
“Hey.” She rubs her hands together as she brushes past me. “I came as soon as Jase called me. Any news?”
“Nothing yet, and still no sign of Chad. I am really worried.”
She slings her arm around my shoulders as we enter the kitchen. “Jase will find him. Try not to worry until we know more.”
Bree grabs a mug from the cupboard and pours herself a coffee as I hop up on a stool. “Do I want to know why your shirt is buttoned all wrong and your hair looks like it got dragged through a bush?” I ask when she jumps on the stool across from me.
She winks. “I was in the middle of fucking twins when Jase called. I was literally just about to come when my cell buzzed.”
“Sorry I ruined your night.”
She shrugs. “You didn’t. I came all over twin one’s cock two minutes after getting off the call.”
