Eddie looked around, his eyes wild and angry. He let them linger on Mia, burning a hole in her.
She didn’t look away, but didn’t know what to say. He was really freaked out. Not a surprising reaction for a guy whose emotions simmered just beneath the surface, waiting to erupt with little provocation. And not surprising when he’d expressed frustration over people not having pure motives in helping him.
“Look, man,” Chuck said, drawing Eddie’s attention. “No biggie. Let’s get back to work.”
“Dude, I knew she would sell me out. But you? I trusted you.” Eddie’s last few words came out in a scream as he lunged at Chuck, fists flying.
Mia lurched to her feet and rushed them. “Eddie—please. I know you’re hurt but this won’t help.”
He spun on her. Rage contorted his face, his anger a level she’d never witnessed before.
She took a step back.
“Don’t hurt her, man.” Chuck got up and reached for Eddie.
The teen charged at Chuck, shoving him to the side. He fell hard. Eddie dropped on top and pummeled Chuck, fist after fist.
“Get help, Mia,” Chuck shouted. “I can’t fight back. I don’t want to hurt him.”
Eddie might calm down or this might escalate, but she couldn’t take the chance on the teen’s emotions intensifying. If he pushed harder, Chuck would have to defend himself and both of them could get hurt.
Ryan.He could help. She dialed his phone. He didn’t answer. She bolted through the door and raced for the rec center, pounding over the uneven terrain in the dark, praying she wouldn’t fall. She reached the light beaming from the open door as if it welcomed her to a way to save Eddie. Chuck too.
Heart racing, she charged into the room. Ryan sat behind a long table, head bent over a project with paper and scissors.
She charged over to him and gasped for air. “We need you at the trailer.”
“Be with you in a sec,” he said without looking up. “Almost done here.”
She didn’t want the others in the room to know what was happening with Eddie, but she needed to get Ryan to move quickly. “Now! It’s Eddie!”
“Lead the way.” Ryan shot to his feet.
She bolted across the floor, and he fell into step beside her.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Chuck and Eddie got into it, and Eddie’s crazy mad. He attacked Chuck.”
Ryan mumbled something under his breath, but Mia couldn’t make it out. He upped his pace, taking off, his long legs bringing him to the trailer and inside. Her side ached from the round trip, and she had to stop to recover.
She listened for any sound of a scuffle. Heard nothing except her breathing.
Good.Maybe Chuck and Eddie had stopped fighting while she was gone. Or Ryan had separated them.
She ran to the door to check. Climbed the steps. Looked inside.
Chuck lay on the floor. Blood oozed from his head. Ryan leaned over him. Performed CPR.
He looked up—his gaze anguished. “Call 911. He just stopped breathing.”
Mia dug out her phone and searched the room as the call connected. “Eddie. Where is he?”
“Missing. Looks like nearly ended Chuck’s life, and if his current condition holds, he could still die.”
* * *
Ryan wanted nothing more than to get away from the lights of the patrol cars strobing through the night outside the trailer. Get away from the ambulance racing down the drive. From Russ’s intensity. And even get away from Mia’s expression—terror mixed with shock.
