Chapter 18

Hook didn’t waste time getting Reece in his car. Having someone else drive was uncomfortable for Reece since hearing about the strange things in this town.

“Where are we going now?”

“To my house to get the stuff.”

“For what?”

“Their lesson. We can get Brec and Volk good if we return the favor of their last prank with your car on theirs.”

Reece shook his head at the gleeful grin on Hook’s face. He leaned forward, driving and holding on to the wheel with two hands. His friend was starting to concern him.

“We can get them where it hurts. Their cars, like they did me.” Reece frowned. “What did they do to you?”

Hook’s lips thinned. “Something”—He shook his head— “sabotaged my house.”

“What?” Reece sat up in his seat. “Did you call the police?”

“For what? They can’t help, not when someone on the elite football team in town screws up. Instead, they protect them because Brec and Volk are distantly related to the Puppet Master of this town.”

“Did your parents report it then?”

Hook slowed the car and pulled down a dirt road at the end of a dead-end street. “My parents were murdered.”

“Whoa! What? Hook, I’m—”

“Don’t be sorry, I’m making my own justice. The cops in this town did nothing. They covered it up as though my parents never existed. Megan uncovered who did it. I am making sure I am part of bringing that person to justice.”

Reece wanted to ask more but felt like Hook probably did…unable to express all that was going on without getting angrier about it. “Let me know if I can help.”

Hook nodded, and his lips formed a hard smile while the corner of his eyes held the moisture of an unshed tear. “Thanks, Reece. I think you are one of the two real friends that I’ve got.”

“Same here. Same here.” Reece meant it. Hook was literally the only friend he had in this horrible place.

“How does something like that happen. Both of your parents?”

“They worked at the same lab. They didn’t like what they realized was happening there and went to someone they thought they could trust.”

“That’s wild. Where were you when it happened?”

“At school. The only reason they didn’t kill me is because they didn’t think I’d known about my parent’s work or the danger they felt. I played dumb, I listened to everything they said about work, who they were going to confront. Even with my parents, I acted like I was so obsessed with football, girls, and cars that I seemed invisible.” He scoffed. “I am usually good at being invisible until I get pissed. Brec and Volk crossed a line.”

“Look, I’m getting in deeper than what I intended, but honestly, I got nothing to lose.” Reece sighed. “Someone threatened my life and my family if I don’t get them some information. I hate it, but I have no choice.”

“Who? I can help you.”

Reece wiped a hand down his face. “Megan.”

“Shit!”

“I know.”

“You won’t win with her. As long as she isn’t asking you to kill anyone, do what she says, or there will be hell to pay without her protection.”

“You are letting a girl get the best of us? Megan will get what she deserves.”

“A woman scorned is a powerful thing.” Hook shrugged and pulled up in front of the dilapidated house. “I’d rather deal with Brec and Volk.”

Reece raised an eyebrow. “You live there? I mean inside?”

Hook smiled. He said, “Not really. I sleep in the barn where my cars are,” and drove around to the back of the house. Part of the structure had been burned.

“You had a fire?”

“Yeah, they torched part of my house, Brec and Volk left me a message they thought would scare me.”

The barn was surrounded by dried neglected grass and an overgrown garden. A girl scurried out of the side door, carrying a bucket of sloshing water.

“Alanis!” Hook waved as he parked the car.

“Who’s that?”

“I have a lady that takes care of the house. She’s been with the family for years. This is her granddaughter.”

“She’s, our age? I haven’t seen her at school.”

“Yes, around. Alanis goes to a private school. She only comes to help when her grandmother doesn’t, and she loves my horse.”

“Horse?!” There was so much he didn’t know about Hook. How could he have missed it? Reece needed to get out of his thoughts of booby traps that led him to become angry and vengeful.