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I squealed into the driveway of Max’s home. The lights were off. It didn’t look like anyone was there. Which didn’t bode well for what was coming. I leapt out of my car, grabbing my keys and my phone. I locked everything up and rushed for the front door, banging on it with all of my might.
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“Hello!? John, Max! Are you in there!?”
I kept banging and banging, but my efforts were fruitless. The door was locked. The side door was locked. And no matter where I looked, I couldn’t find a spare key.
“Fuck!” I exclaimed.
My phone started vibrating and I almost threw it across the lawn. Especially when I saw Hannah’s name pop up. I didn’t need her shit right now. What I needed was to find Max. I needed to get to him. He needed my help.
Something was very wrong, and the Red Thorns needed my help.
I ignored her phone call and headed back for my car. She called me again and I ignored it again, shooting her to voicemail. But I didn’t even get the car cranked up before she called through yet again. I growled to myself. I got the engine running and picked up the phone call through my car’s Bluetooth hook-up. I didn’t need this. Talking to her was the absolute last thing I wanted to do.
But, if she was going to call me incessantly, I needed to get her to stop.
“Dani?” she breathed.
“What?”
She paused. “I need to tell you something.”
“What is it? Make it quick.”
My mind was already back to Max. Where was he? Where had he been taken? What the hell was going on? More than an hour had passed since he was due to pick me up on campus. Something was definitely up in all the wrong ways. But all I could do was wait for someone to show up at the house. So, I hunkered down into my seat.
“Spit it out, Hannah. I don’t have all night.”
She spoke quickly. “I’m sorry but I called your father!”
I blinked. “You did what?”
She sighed. “I called your father, Dani. I was worried. I’m scared for you. I still am. And I know this might make you hate me but I had to do it because you’re my best friend. There’s only one way this thing with Max is going to end and--”
“Your gut reaction was to call my fucking father about it!? Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I’m your best friend, even if you don’t want to accept that right now. You're in trouble, and I know your father can help you.”
“Yeah, help me get away from Max, just like you want. Why the fuck can’t you just accept things? Why the hell do I always have to be like you? Why can’t you just shut your fucking face!?”
She sniffled. “I’m sorry. It’s the only thing I could think of.”
I stumbled over my words. “What? When? Why--how--how the hell do you even have his number?”
“He gave it to me at the beginning of our freshman year. Said that if you ever struggled or needed anything and you wouldn’t reach out, to call him. He said college was hard, and that you might--”
I leaned up. “I might what?”
She paused. “That you might not be truthful with them once you got out into the real world.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What did you do? Tell me exactly what you told him.”
“I told him about Max. I told him who he was. What he is. And I told him you were in over your head and I didn’t know how to help you.”
My head spun. I wanted to kill her. For the first time in my life, I understood why people killed other people. My hands gripped the steering wheel. I felt my anger spiraling out of control. How the hell did I get this girl out of my life? How the fuck did I cut her out for good?”
“You listen here, you meddling little bitch--”
