“Bye, Reed.”
I hang up and Sal’s panicked voice rings through the air. “What happened?”
“Landon died.”
“Fuuuck.”
“I know. I promise I’ll make a few calls regarding the team in the morning, but tonight?—”
“The team will be fine,” Sal cuts me off, waving away my concern. “Controversy’s our thing. I’m worried about Zane. Sounds like he’s MIA?”
“Yep. I’m going to see if he’s home. We have his address on file.”
“I’m coming with you.” Sal doesn’t wait for my response before rounding his desk and grabbing his keys. “We can?—”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Sal. He’ll see it as an ambush if he’s self-loathing.”
“I’mcoming. I’ll stay in the car if you think that’s best. I can’t stand around and do nothing, Keels.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you downstairs in five.”
“Thank you.” He smiles in appreciation before a loud sigh escapes him, the sound full of anguish. And I feel it too. Zane’s a confident man, and you wouldn’t be off base in thinking nothing ever fazes him. But it’s all an act. I’ve seen the cracks in his tough exterior, and I can’t begin to imagine how he’s feeling right now. Especially with everything the media has been throwing his way.
“We have to find him, Sal.”
“We will.”
Sal’s gaze turns sympathetic, and he takes a step toward me, maybe to comfort me, I don’t know. Either way, I wave him off, throwing my things into my bag. I don’t need comfort. It’s time to get moving. Zane needs his friends, whether he thinks he has them or not. “I’ll see you in a few.”
It’s after midnight by the time Sal’s driving me back to my car. Zane’s entitled concierge wouldn’t let me up to his apartment, and when she refused Sal too, I almost slid over the counter to attack her.“We take our residents’ privacy very seriously.”
I wanted to show her how serious this was, and I would have, if I wasn’t almost certain Zane wasn’t there.
I’d like to believe she would have been more accommodating if he was.
We pull up next to my dark gray Volkswagen, and Sal switches off the engine in his Aston Martin, turning to face me with a weary expression. After my almost catfight withKate,we’d driven to a few places that Zane had once mentioned in passing, but had no luck finding him. I was ready to call the police when Reed texted to say Zane had messaged in their group chat, letting them know he was fine and that he’d miss practice tomorrow.
I’m sure he sent it assuming we’d give up our efforts trying to get in touch with him.
Too bad he’s wrong.
It only worked to relieve the extreme tightness in my chest before I called him again, begging him to answer.
“He’s okay, Keeley.” Sal reaches over and grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze. “We’ll keep calling him tomorrow until he picks up. We can’t do anything more tonight.”
“I know. I’m just?—”
“Worried?”
“Extremely.”
“Then, how can I help? What can we do?”
“You’ve already helped. Thank you for keeping me company tonight.”
Sal smiles as he circles his thumb over the skin on my hand, and I return his smile while the warmth of his touch heats me from within.
“I’m here for you, Keeley. Whenever you need me.”
