I should make it there all right.
The car grumbles as it heats up. It’s louder in the cold, not that the vehicle is ever particularly quiet.
Luca hurries outside into the cold. He’s not wearing a coat or shoes for that matter.
What the hell is he doing?
He rushes over to my car and gestures for me to open the door.
“You’re coming like that?” I snap at him. Has he lost his mind?
“No.” He tosses me his car keys. “Take my vehicle. You don’t need to drive two hours and break down in that thing right now.”
Silently, I nod, shutting off the engine. Luca rushes back inside and I head over to Luca’s vehicle, starting the car without so much as entering it.
It’s a nice ride.
I suppose there are some perks to working for Dante. Another minute passes, and Nova is hurrying outside with Ashton right on her heel.
I climb into the driver’s side and Ashton sits next to me, with Nova in the back. “Do you know anything about your sister and the shooting?” Ashton asks.
We had the living room television displaying the “breaking news” for Great Falls.
“Just that she’s holed up in a bathroom at the student center,” I say. I put the car in drive and head out of the neighborhood. Handing Ashton my cell phone, I glance at him. “Can you hook me up to Bluetooth. I want to stay in contact with my sister.”
“Of course.”
I instruct the voice activated recognition software to send texts for me to Sophia.
Me: I’m on my way.
Sophia: Seriously? You’re coming here?
Me: Yes, and I’m bringing Ashton and Nova. Hope you’re ready for a big ass slumber party.
Sophia: My roommate will be super thrilled. Maybe you can shack up with your girlfriend.
At least Bristol isn’t a secret girl I’ve been keeping from my friends. But spending the night seems unlikely, with the three of us and having to be back on campus in the morning with classes.
Sophia: Shit. More gunshots.
My hands tighten around the steering wheel and my chest seizes. I find it difficult to breathe as I try to keep my focus on the road.
Ashton rests a hand on my arm. “Do you want to pull over and let me drive?”
I shake away the cobwebs and fog from my head. “No, I’ve got it.” I swallow back the bile and refocus my attention on the darkened road.
I send Sophia another speech-to-text message, hoping she’s okay.
Me: Don’t leave me hanging, sis.
Several seconds which stretch on like minutes pass before I receive another text from my twin.
Sophia: I’m still in the bathroom. Three gunshots and lots of screams.
“Shit,” I curse and glance at Ashton.
His frown looks forever etched to his features. “She’s hiding; she’ll be all right.”
