Chapter Twenty-one

BRIAN

The front door shut behind Syd.

I heard a car starting in the driveway, another door shutting, and then the sound of my girl leaving me.

Fucking leaving me.

It was all I could do not to follow her.

I looked at the floor and scrubbed my face with my hands, my muscles burning as they locked up while I fought against the urge to punch holes in every goddamn wall in this house.

Watching your reason for living falling apart after shit you did, ain’t nothing more devastating than that.

Except maybe hearing that reason tell you to stay away.

And that’s what she did.

I couldn’t go to Syd. Couldn’t call or text. Couldn’t hold her while she cried or wipe away the tears she was shedding because of what I’d done.

Hell. I was in it.

Thought I’d been here before but I was wrong. This was it.

And it was my fault. All of it. I put myself here. I deserved to feel this pain.

But Wild, she didn’t deserve any of it.

I’d kill a motherfucker for putting this type of hurt on my girl, yet I was the one dragging Syd through hell with me.

She got here, looking broken already, and I knew why—she didn’t need to say. Then I laid it out, all of that ugly, meant every word I said about regrets and the ones I don’t have, gave Syd the truth she was justified all along in getting, not knowing what was gonna come out of it, if she would understand, forgive and stay mine, or if she would do the right thing, give me what I deserved back and end it, leave, take herself away from me because after everything I did, no fucking way did I earn the right to be with her.

I didn’t deserve her good.

After hearing me out, my girl chose right. She chose what should’ve happened. I understood that. Even in hell, I understood it.

Didn’t mean it was what I wanted.

Never could want that. I wanted her with me. I would always want her with me.

I got her choice.

Didn’t mean I wouldn’t beg to keep her.

I would beg for the rest of my miserable fucking life, miserable without her in it.

I warranted her leaving me.

Didn’t mean I wouldn’t do everything to get her back.

I would. I’d fix this. Promised her and I would. I’d be the man she deserved. I’d protect Syd like I should’ve done months ago.

I would never hurt her again. I’d die first.

I knew what I had to do.

Grabbing my keys, I crated Sir so he wouldn’t roam and get into shit, stepped out of the house, locked up, and brought my phone to my ear as I was striding toward my Jeep.

“Yeah?” Jamie answered on the second ring.

“Meet me at the warehouse. Got shit I need to handle there and I might need backup.” I swung the driver’s side door open and climbed inside.

“Backup? For what?” he asked. “Thought you were done with that place.”

I gritted my teeth and started the engine.

“I fuckin’ am! Jesus, do I ask you for shit? Ever? Can you just fuckin’ meet me there without giving me the third degree?”

“All right, I was just askin’. Christ,” Jamie returned. “Give me twenty.”

“Give you ten. Leave now,” I shot back, shifting into Reverse. “Got a feeling I’m gonna need you to pull me off Mike before I fuckin’ kill him.”

“Fuck,” he muttered.

Jamie knew about Mike. Knew enough to know I hated the bastard and wouldn’t mind laying him out if I had the chance.

I didn’t need to explain further.

“Right. Leavin’ now,” Jamie threw out.

I hung up, tossed my phone on the seat, backed out of the driveway, and rode to Xstasy.

There weren’t a ton of cars in the lot, but there were enough to know people were shooting, which meant Mike was there.

He didn’t trust anyone shooting and using his equipment without keeping an eye on things.

I parked by the door, cut the engine, and got out. I scanned the lot for Jamie.

He wasn’t here yet.

Fuck.

Cracking my knuckles, I debated waiting until he showed before I handled this. Then I pictured Syd.

Standing on the porch looking like she didn’t belong in that house with me.

Crying and giving me her pain.

Telling me she was leaving, and if I followed, it would be over…

I stalked to the door, threw it open, and went inside.

There was music playing off to the left. Heavy bass vibrated off the walls. I glanced at the gathering of people standing over by the scene they were shooting, scanned for Mike, and when I didn’t see him, slid my eyes to the office door at the other end of the room and made for that.

I didn’t knock.

Fuck courtesies.

Turning the knob, I went right in.

Mike looked up from his desk. He jerked straight in his chair, hit me with hate-filled eyes, and told the person he was listening to on the phone, “Gotta go. I’ll call you back,” then he disconnected the call, slammed the phone down on his desk, stood with hands bracing on the papers in front of him so he was leaning forward, heaved through his breaths, and bared his fucking teeth.

“You got balls stepping in here,” he growled, trying to sound threatening. “Get the fuck outta my building, you piece of shit.”

I stalked forward.

I wasn’t afraid of Mike, but he was damn sure afraid of me, which was good. I needed that fear. It was the only way I’d get cooperation from him.

I was six-two. He was barely taller than my girl.

I had muscle and could throw a punch and have that shit hurt. He had a gut that hung over his belt and got winded from standing.

I wasn’t here to negotiate. He was about to find that out.

Mike’s spineless body shot ramrod straight when I got opposite him with only the desk separating us, slammed my own hands down on top of the cluster of shit he had covering it, and leaned forward.

“Want you to take down all those videos you got of me,” I growled. “All of them. Want off that site and I want it happening today, right the fuck now, cocksucker.” I pointed at his chair, which had slid out when he stood. “So sit your fat ass down and get to fuckin’ work. I’m not leaving until it’s done.”

Mike stared at me like he wasn’t expecting those words to come out of my mouth.

Then he grabbed his stomach, threw his head back, and laughed like he’d just heard the funniest fucking thing ever.

“You fucking asshole.” He shook his head with a smile. “I own your shit, Dash! Own it all, motherfucker! I’m not taking down jack.” He leaned forward on jack and pointed at my face. “You’re outta luck, dickhead. I’m gonna make money off you until the day I fucking die.”

My pulse jumped.

Something coiled tight in my stomach.

“I didn’t sign anything saying what I shot belonged to you,” I grated out, reminding him of the contract we never had, feeling my hands curl into fists on top of the papers I was crushing. “I never signed a damn thing, meaning you own nothin’.”

“Not how it works,” he shot back, lowering his arm. “Whatever you did when you stepped inside this building belongs to me. We had a verbal agreement and I will hold you to that, motherfucker. Shot you fucking and jerking your load on my cameras, uploaded that shit to my site, and that’s where they’re fucking staying. And just so we’re clear”—he cocked his head—“you didn’t have me signing shit either, meaning you got nothing to force my hand.”

“I got plenty to force your hand,” I snarled, leaning closer and watching Mike move back. “Take that shit down.”

“Not fucking happening,” he replied coldly, then slumped back into his chair and held his arms out like he was waiting for me to crucify him. “What are you gonna do, Dash? Kill me? Huh? Let me ask you this.” He gripped the arms of his chair and slid up to the desk. “Why now? Why come here now asking me to remove your shit? You up and bailed weeks ago. Didn’t say nothing in that bullshit text you sent me about taking anything down, now all of a sudden…” He paused, his eyes flashed, and I watched a smirk twist across his mouth. “Oh, fuck me.” He leaned back and started rocking. “Fuck me. You gotta bitch, don’t you? That’s what this is about. Tell me I’m right, Dash. You got some hot pussy at home who doesn’t like that you stuck your dick in a bunch of whores.”

My nostrils flared.

“Shut your fuckin’ mouth,” I hissed, itching to hit him.

“Did you confess to it?” he asked, grinning. “Or did she see it? I bet she liked that one where you fucked Jayden in every hole she has. Fuck it.” He waved his hand. “Get your bitch in here. Maybe she wants to make a little cash on the side too. I like uptight pussy.”

Fuck waiting for Jamie.

Growling like a caged animal, I reached across the desk and grabbed Mike by his shirt, yanked his fat ass out of his chair, and dragged him over to where I was standing, throwing his body down onto the hard concrete floor next to the desk.

“Fuck!” he groaned, arching his back.

I heard the computer monitor take a crash landing and bust to pieces as I straddled his waist, bent low, and started pounding my fist into the side of his face.

“You fuckin’ piece of shit motherfucker!” I snarled through my hits, bone cracking against bone and blood splattering. “You ever talk about my girl again and I will fuckin’ kill you! You hear me! I WILL FUCKIN’ KILL YOU!”

I hit his jaw, his cheek, I felt his nose break under my knuckle.

Mike whined and moaned and whimpered beneath me. His legs thrashed out and his arms tried to block or push me away, but I just kept coming.

And coming.

And coming.

I was going to kill him.

“Dash!”

I heard Jamie yell at my back, then he hooked my arm when it cocked for another hit, trapping it, wrapped his other arm around my chest, and pulled me off.

“Jesus Christ!” Jamie got me to my feet, then he shoved against my chest. “Fuck, you said ten minutes! You couldn’t wait for me?”

“You’re late,” I bit out, shaking my hand and trying to flex it.

Mike made a gurgling noise, then he turned his head and started spitting blood out of his mouth.

“Fuck this,” Jamie murmured. “We gotta go.”

He grabbed my bicep and pushed me in the direction of the door. We ran through the warehouse, gaining some attention but not giving any back.

Once we got outside, Jamie turned to me. He pushed his hand through his hair.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked. “If I’d been any later, you would’ve killed him.”

I shrugged. “Good thing you weren’t any later, then.”

His eyes widened.

“Are you fuckin’ nuts? What’s gotten into you? He’s gonna call the cops and your ass is gonna get arrested.”

I dug my keys out of my pocket with my left hand.

“He’s not gonna do shit,” I replied, spinning around and walking to my Jeep.

Jamie stayed with me. “Care to explain that?”

I turned my head when I reached the door.

“Mike isn’t exactly running a legit business here, Jamie. No fucking way would he get cops here when he hasn’t been paying taxes on any of that money he’s been pulling in. It’s all under the table. And with his fucking ego being the way it is, ain’t no way he’d point a finger and admit it was me who bested him.”

Mike hated me just as much as I hated him. He’d never admit to this. He couldn’t lose to me.

Jamie’s eyes widened again, this time in realization.

“Still, we better go,” he suggested, looking around the lot and then back at me. “What the fuck brought this on anyway?”

I clenched my jaw, answering through my teeth, “I fucked up.”

*  *  *

Icing my hand, I sat at the dining room table trying to come up with another plan for getting those videos taken down.

I sat there for hours.

Nothing.

Fucking nothing came to me.

There was nothing else I could do.

Besides getting on my knees and groveling to Mike, which, considering I beat the shit out of him, I was doubting he’d do me any favors. Not that I’d fucking grovel to that worthless motherfucker but I’d at least keep my hands off him when I made my second request.

I was officially out of options.

Mike ran the site. He controlled what went on there.

I was fucked.

My phone sat on the table in front of me. Taunting me. My girl was a call away and I couldn’t do shit about it.

I needed something. I needed to find some way to get those videos down. I needed…

A knock sounded on the front door.

Wild.

I jumped out of my chair, letting the bag of peas I was icing my hand with fall to the floor, ran to the door, told Sir to get back, and swung it open, ready to greet my girl with a fuckton of begging.

“Uncle Brian!” Olivia shrieked, bouncing up and down on the porch.

“Hey, Uncle Brian,” Oliver greeted me. He held up his DS. “Brought this so we can play after dinner.”

Dinner.

Family dinner.

“Fuck,” I muttered, pinching my eyes shut and then looking between the two of them.

Olivia gasped, covered her mouth, then giggled. Oliver smiled big.

“Brian, really?” my sister scolded, standing behind them carrying a large casserole dish. She looked down at the twins. “Nobody is allowed to repeat what Uncle Brian just said. Am I clear?”

Olivia mouthed the word over and over as she stayed facing away from Jenna, smiling as she did it.

Oliver grinned at his sister, slid his glasses higher on his nose, then turned facing forward, replying for the both of them, “We won’t.”

“Good.” Jenna lifted her eyes to me. “I know we’re a little early but the kids wanted to play with Sir.” She studied me intently. “You look awful. Are you feeling okay?”

“No,” I replied honestly.

My entire fucking world was gone.

“Hi, Sir!” Olivia bent down when Sir pushed through my legs and stuck his head out the door. “I brought you treats. They’re in my pocket,” she whispered.

“Sorry,” I apologized, rubbing at my face and looking to Jenna. “For cussing and because I meant to call. Dinner’s canceled.”

Her brow furrowed.

“What? Really?” she asked, sounding disappointed. “Because you’re not feeling well?”

“Aw, man.” Oliver made a fist and punched the front of his thigh. “This is the worst day of my life!”

“Oliver, please, you said that yesterday when you couldn’t find your Star Wars shirt,” Jenna said.

“That was a really bad day, Mom,” Oliver argued. “So is this. I wanted to hang out.”

“We’re not staying?” Olivia asked, blinking up at me but staying crouched down. “But Syd promised she’d braid my hair all twisty again.”

“Syd’s not here,” I told her.

My chest grew tight.

“She’s not?” Jenna asked. “Where is she? Did she get called into work?”

I breathed deep.

What the fuck was I supposed to say?

“She’s…” My voice trailed off when Jamie’s car pulled into the driveway and parked behind Jenna’s.

“Uncle Jamie!” Oliver spun around, leaned around his mother, and waved, holding up his DS with his other hand. “Brought my DS!”

“Cool!” Jamie shouted, then shut his car door and jogged to the porch. He tipped his chin at Jenna. “Hey, Jenna.”

“Hey,” she returned pleasantly.

“What are you doing here?” I asked when he climbed the porch.

He gave me a peculiar look.

“Dinner,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“Are you shittin’ me?” I grated.

“Brian!” Jenna warned.

Oliver and Olivia both started giggling.

“Sorry,” I told her, then looked at Jamie again. “What makes you think we’re still having dinner after the shi…stuff that went down today?”

“That’s another reason why I’m here,” he replied. “We gotta figure this out. There’s gotta be somethin’ else you can do.”

I stared at Jamie. Something tightened in my chest.

He wanted to help. He was always wanting to help and I never took it. I never took it from anyone.

And look where that fucking got me.

The only person I ever let in was Syd. She was it. I didn’t fight her when she wanted to heal me. I didn’t tell her I had to do it myself.

I let her in. And it felt fucking good.

It was time I let the rest of them in. I had to. I couldn’t do this alone. I never could.

I needed help.

“Wait, what went down?” Jenna asked, looking between myself and Jamie, who was standing behind her.

“Dash screwed up. Syd’s gone,” he informed her, knowing the details because I gave them to him before we both hauled ass away from the warehouse and went our separate ways.

“Thanks, man. Appreciate it,” I said sarcastically, getting a shrug in return.

“What? Syd’s gone?” Jenna whipped her head around and glared at me. “What did you do?”

I stepped back and held the door open.

“Come inside. I’ll explain everything,” I told Jenna.

The kids barreled in first and went straight for the couch with Sir on their tails. Jenna stepped in next, keeping the glare and giving it to me before she carried her dish to the kitchen.

I reached out and stopped Jamie from following behind with a hand to his chest.

He turned his head and looked at me.

“What’s up?”

“Need your help with this,” I confessed, letting my hand drop since he wasn’t resisting.

His eyes flickered wider.

He wasn’t expecting to hear this from me.

Jamie came here offering help knowing I’d resist, and still, he was here, offering it.

Jamie McCade was one of the best fucking men I’d ever met.

“I can’t do this alone,” I continued. “I’ve got nothing. I’m out of ways to make this shit right.”

He grinned slowly, no doubt savoring this moment, and I let him ’cause I was done fighting this, then he slapped my shoulder, declaring, “That’s why I’m here, man. I got your back. We’ll figure something out.” He urged me to walk toward the kitchen. “Come on. I’m starving. I need to eat before we hash out a plan.”

I still had skepticism about hashing out anything, but I kept that to myself and moved to the kitchen.

Jenna was standing at the island with her arms crossed under her chest. Her dish was on the counter in front of her.

“What happened?” she started the second I entered the room. “I told you not to screw it up with her, Brian. She was the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

“Jen,” I began, tipping my head at the table. “You’re gonna want to sit down.”

She stuck out her chest.

“I’m fine where I am.”

“Go sit, Jenna,” Jamie encouraged, giving her shoulder a squeeze when he moved behind her to get to the fridge. “Brian has a lot to say and you’re gonna want to be sittin’. Trust me.”

She gave me a worried look, then dropped her arms, rounded the island, and put herself in a chair.

I joined her, taking the seat beside her at the head of the table, propped my elbows up, and careful of my hand, linked my fingers.

Then I proceeded to tell her everything.

Jenna sat silent, no doubt stunned by what she was hearing.

I wouldn’t look at her. I kept my eyes on the table as I spoke, not even looking up at Jamie when he joined us and started eating.

It made me sick talking about it. It made me sicker when I got to the parts that involved Syd, her reaction, and the reason she wasn’t here anymore.

I saw her face covered in tears. I thought about what she was doing now, if she was still crying and if she needed me.

If she knew I’d be there if I could.

When I was done confessing everything, I slouched back in my chair, kicked my legs out, and rubbed my good hand over my face.

A chair slid against the floor, then I felt Jenna’s arm come around my back as she gave me a hug, leaning her head on my shoulder.

“Oh, Brian,” she said softly, sounding on the verge of tears. “That accident was not your fault, sweetie.”

“I know,” I told her, keeping my head down. “Syd got me there.”

She had. I no longer thought about that accident the same way I did before I met her. I knew now it was all by chance. Nothing more.

“I can’t believe you gave that family all of that money,” she said, leaning away and letting her hand slide to the back of my neck and squeeze there. When I turned my head and looked over at her, she added, “That’s unbelievable. I bet they are incredibly grateful for that.”

I dragged in a breath and shook my head.

“Doesn’t matter. None of it matters. I lost Syd, and unless by some miracle those videos disappear on their own, I’m fucked.”

“Let’s brainstorm, brother,” Jamie said, dropping his fork on his empty plate and sitting tall, flattening his hands on the table. “There’s gotta be somethin’. Some other way.”

“Like what?” I asked, my voice picking up edge. “There’s nothing else I can do.”

“Actually,” Jenna started, tapping her finger on her lip as her eyes lost focus on the table. “You didn’t sign anything, ever, when you were working for them?” she asked, looking at me.

“No.”

“Hm.”

“Hm?” I sat forward, curious. “What’s that mean?”

She bit her lip with her eyes lowered, then stood and announced, “I’m gonna make a quick call. Be right back.”

“To who?” I asked.

“A partner at my firm. There might be another way,” she informed. “I need to grab my phone. It’s in the car.” She turned to walk away, stopped herself, then turned back and asked me, “How did you get the Viagra? You weren’t, like, going to a drug dealer, were you?”

Jamie laughed.

When I told Jenna everything, I didn’t leave shit out.

“Got it from my PCP,” I returned. “Said I was feeling depressed after the accident and couldn’t get it up. He prescribed it.”

“Oh.” She nodded, lost in thought. “That makes sense. Okay, good, that’s good. I’ll be back.”

She left the room and said something to the kids, then I heard the front door opening and closing.

“See?”

I turned to Jamie after he spoke.

He was smiling.

“Told you there had to be somethin’,” he said, leaning back and tucking his hands behind his head.

Hope bloomed in my chest. It felt strange.

It felt fucking good.

I let my eyes fall to my phone and thought about Syd.

I’m fixing this, Wild.

“Uncle Brian, Mommy said we can get something to eat if we want,” Olivia said, moving into the kitchen.

Oliver followed behind her. He had his head down and his eyes focused on his DS screen.

“Yeah, sure.” I stood up from the chair and went to the stove, where Syd’s Mexican Chicken thing had cooled down, then I grabbed two plates out of the cabinet and a couple of forks from the drawer.

“Oh, cool! Are those Doritos?” Olivia asked, coming up to stand beside me as I was scooping some out onto a plate.

I smiled.

“Yeah. You like Doritos?” I asked her.

“I love them! They’re the best chip ever, and they go so good with whatever that is, Uncle Brian. I can tell.”

“What about you, Oliver? You like Doritos?” I turned my head to where he was standing at the corner of the island.

“Cool Ranch or Regular?” he asked, eyes still focused on the screen.

“Regular,” Olivia answered.

“Yep,” he replied. “Can I get extra on mine?”

“Me, too!” Olivia jumped up and down, pointing at the dish.

“You bet,” I replied. “Get yourselves something to drink and sit down. I gotta heat this up.”

Olivia moved behind me to get to the fridge while I scooped out more of the Mexican Chicken and dumped it onto the other plate, then I got one heating in the microwave and grabbed some napkins for both of them.

“When will Syd be back?” Olivia asked as I was sliding napkins in front of her and Oliver, who was showing Jamie something on his DS screen.

I straightened and gripped the back of a chair.

“Don’t know, Liv,” I answered honestly, watching her mouth pull down as she sank on her knees in her seat.

“Is she sad at you? Mommy gets sad sometimes and she says it’s because of a boy.”

My teeth clenched.

That fucking dickhead. I should fly out to Denver when my hand heals up and knock his fucking teeth out.

Forcing my jaw to relax, I gave her my reply.

“Yeah, Liv, she is. I made her sad.”

Olivia lifted her one shoulder and spoke casually when she said, “Then you should fix it.”

Just like that. As if it were that simple.

“Trying.” I nodded, giving her a small smile in hopes that would reassure her.

She smiled back bigger, as if she knew everything was gonna work out.

The microwave beeped.

I switched out the plates and heated the second one, carrying both over to the table at the same time so they could start eating together, stood across from them gripping the back of a chair, and glared over my shoulder in the direction of the living room.

What the fuck was Jenna doing?

Finally, the front door opened, shut, then quick footsteps padded on the floor and Jenna came darting into the kitchen.

“You get your phone?” I asked, straightening and turning toward her.

“Nope.” She smiled. “Already made the call.”

I leaned closer. My heart crawled up into my throat.

“And?”

She smiled bigger.

“There’s another way.”

*  *  *

Three days later I was standing in Mike’s office with a crowd surrounding him.

Crystal, Holly, and Jayden were there, the girls I’d shot with who were agreeing to say the videos of us were personal property, something they could say since nobody signed shit before filming, meaning Mike didn’t own them and didn’t have rights to share. We’d all met up last night and Jenna explained the plan, asking the girls if they’d be willing to threaten a lawsuit against Mike if he didn’t take down the videos and images. Not only were they willing, but they were also sick of Mike’s shit, and on top of backing me, they were there to tell Mike they were done.

He was pretty pissed about that. Oh fucking well.

Jamie stood off to the side, positioned there in case I felt the urge to break the other side of Mike’s face, and Calvin, the partner at Jenna’s firm who was doing me a solid by standing in and being a presence, making the threat of suing carry a little more weight, was standing beside me.

“You gotta be fucking shitting me,” Mike spat after hearing everyone’s piece, finding my eyes in the crowd the best he could with the one eye he had open.

The other was still swollen shut.

“Mr. Galloway,” Calvin stated, gaining Mike’s attention. “I suggest you take action immediately, sir, or I will. All the videos and still images containing Brian Savage are to be removed from your site. If anything is left up by accident or deliberately, my clients will be taking legal action against you. This is very serious.”

“No, you wanna know what’s serious?” Mike snarled, leaning forward in his seat and stubbing out his cigarette. He pointed directly at me. “What I’m gonna do to that motherfucker right there. That’s what’s serious. I’m gonna tear—”

“I suggest you stop right there, Mr. Galloway,” Calvin interrupted. “Unless you’d like me to call the authorities for threats of violence.”

Mike lowered his hand and slid his eye to me.

I smiled right at him, letting him eat it.

“Get the fuck out.” He pushed his hand through the air. “All of you! Get out!”

Slowly, everyone filed out of the office. I hung back and watched Calvin approach the desk.

Mike looked up at him.

“If you’d like to go ahead and get started on removing my client from your site.” Calvin pointed at the brand-new monitor gracing Mike’s desk. “We’ll leave when you’re finished,” he added before stepping back and taking a seat.

Mike glared at me with his one eye.

“I’ll stand. I’m good,” I told him.

Then I watched as Mike removed all traces of me from Xstasy, and I did it grinning.

Fucking grinning.

It was over.

I shook Calvin’s hand when we got outside to the parking lot. “Thanks a lot. Really appreciate you coming down here and helping me out.”

“No problem. Happy to help.” He released my hand, produced a business card out of his suit pocket, and handed it to me. “Take care of yourself. You need anything, give me a call.”

“Thanks.”

I slid the card away.

Calvin got in his black Lexus and I crossed the lot, reaching Jamie, who was waiting for me by my Jeep.

“See?” He held his hands out, looking arrogant. “Told you somethin’ would work out. Now you can go get your girl.” He slapped my shoulder.

“Yeah.” I nodded, scrubbing at my face with my hands. “Fuck,” I muttered.

I couldn’t believe I was about to get her.

“You got the store, right?” I asked him, tugging out my keys.

He backed away toward his motorcycle.

Fucking idiot actually bought the thing.

“We’re good, man. Go. Do what you gotta do.”

“Appreciate it.”

He jerked his chin, spun around, and got to his ride.

I climbed in the Jeep and started it up. I made it to the end of the lot when my phone started ringing in my back pocket.

Leaning over, I yanked my cell out and checked the screen. I didn’t recognize the number.

“This is Brian,” I answered, pulling out onto the road and heading in the direction of Tori’s house.

I wasn’t sure if Syd was working today or not so I was starting there.

“Brian, it’s Mona.”

“Oh, hey. How’s it going?” I asked.

It was weird she was calling me, but I was too focused on Syd to think anything of it.

“I…I didn’t know if I should call you or not, but I figured you’d want to know if something happens. You were so involved with helping him.”

A strange pressure built in my chest.

I stopped at a red light and pressed my foot down hard on the brake.

“Mona, what’s going on?”

“It’s Owen. He’s sick, Brian. He’s really sick, and they don’t know if he’s gonna make it. I just got a call from his mom. It doesn’t look good.”

“What?”

I sat forward in my seat. My heart dropped to my stomach.

“He’s at NHC. He’s been intubated.”

I floored it, ignoring the light, cutting the wheel, and turning around in the middle of the intersection. I nearly sideswiped a van and gave a half-assed apologetic wave as I sped down the road in the opposite direction I was heading, passing the warehouse.

“Brian? Did you hear me?”

“Yeah.” I gripped the wheel tight. I felt sick. “Yeah, I heard you.”

“I’m sorry,” Mona cried softly.