Guilt beats at me.
Anchor is out there, worried about his daughter, and here I am not only worried about her safety, but her soul—something that I dream about corrupting every fucking second of every day. With Wes’s help, I won’t be able to, but still… the idea is there.
I’m a shitty friend.
My stomach twists again as I think about Anchor and his daughter. Blair’s under the impression she’s meeting her dad here. It’s going to break her heart to hear that he won’t be showing up anytime soon. She and Anchor are practically fused at the hip. Given the shit my friend put that poor girl through for most of her life, I’m a little surprised she doesn’t resent him. But while her heart will break, I’ll be there to mend it.
As will the others.
Santi will keep Blair entertained, if not exasperated. Rhett will mope around a bit but he’ll eventually open up, and I can see them getting along after a bit. Then there’s Wes. He’ll adore her, I just know it. Blair has this innocence about her—despite her upbringing—that Wes will eat up. I’m banking on him being the reason she stays.
With a heavy sigh, I lean back in my chair. I open my mouth to tell him that, given the time, maybe we should just crash for the evening.
I’m interrupted by my burner phone vibrating.
“Fuck,” I mutter as I fumble to yank it out of my pocket.
The number is blocked, the word “Unknown” popping up on the screen. I freeze. No one has my number except for two people and it’s set to block any incoming spam. I answer the call after the fourth ring, suspicion running high. I don’t say a word as the line connects. There’s a long pause before…
“Hey.”
One word, that’s all it takes for relief to come crashing down around me. My hand trembles so hard that I have to grip the phone tighter so I don’t drop it.
“Where the fuck are you?” I demand through gritted teeth, letting anger take over.
There’s a pause. I grip the phone tighter, willing her to speak. When the silence goes on for too long, worry slices through me. I open my mouth to ask if she’s hurt or in trouble but then she speaks.
“I don’t know, but close, I think. Definitely in Caddawalk for sure. I passed Tawny Way and Boiler Road on foot about an hour ago.” Her voice is unusually subdued as she speaks, raising red flags in my head. “But, um, there was an incident so I’m laying low in an old barn. It’s abandoned and half the roof is caved in.”
I know those roads and I know the building she’s talking about. My heart leaps up in my chest as I realize she’s just on the other side of town. I’m up and out of my chair, moving toward the basement stairs before I even realize it.
“I’m on my way now,” I assure her. “Are you hurt or?—”
“Thanks,” she says, interrupting me before the line suddenly goes dead.
I don’t notice Wes has followed me upstairs and out of the house until I’m reaching for the driver’s door of my truck and he’s climbing in on the passenger side.
“What are you doing?” I ask him, pausing as I fling open the door.
He cocks his head to the side and smiles. “I’m coming with you, brother. Let’s go get your godchild.”
I don’t have time to argue. If he wants to come along, fine.
“And,” he adds, his smile melting away. “I’m making sure you live up to your promise.”
My gut clenches.
Right. I can’t, Iwon’t, touch Blair. It’s a vow I made and intend to keep to Wes.
And myself.
“Got it,” I mutter.
I shove the key into the ignition and the truck roars to life. My tires kick up dirt as I take off down the driveway. I curse under my breath as I calculate the distance it’ll take to get to Blair. I bought this specific piece of real estate because of its distance from the small town of Caddawalk—the further away from people, the better.
Right now, though, I wish I was closer.
Chapter 5
