I kill the motor, and Eli tumbles off the bike behind me. Dad gives me a stern look as I take the helmet off, grinning back at him.
Glancing down at his phone, which vibrates in his hand. “Shit.” He whispers to himself, shaking his head. “You 2 and the bike stay hidden.” He demands me as he walks over, pressing his hand onto the button which drops a piece of the floor, exposing the hidden room underneath the kitchen.
“Whoa,” Eli gasps as he looks down the ramp.
“Come on.” Dad shouts at us as he grips the handlebars, pulling the bike towards the opening.
It only takes a moment for us to maneuver the bike underground
“Stay quiet.” He demands before he moves back up the ramp and the door returns into place.
“How did I never know about this?” Eli asks, looking around wide-eyed.
“Because I just found out about it.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, apparently it was a preventative for when Mom was racing.”
Pulling out my phone, I turn the flashlight on so I can see better.
“Turn that shit off.” Dad shouts at us. “And shut up.”
I can hear the gravel crunching underneath the tires as the cars come to the house.
“God, I’m so stupid.” Comes from next to me.
“Shh.”
“Zeke’s off touring. Z’s in the dorms, and I’m just here becoming exactly like my old man.”
“Eli, shut up.” I whisper to him again, as I can see the red and blue lights flashing and lighting up the space we’re down in.
“Ash,” I’m assuming the cop calls out.
“Help you with anything?” Dad’s annoyed tone doesn’t surprise me.
“We had a couple of kids ride off from a party we busted up on a bike. You know anything about that?”
Dad laughs in response.
“I’m just a failure.” Eli whispers to himself.
“Shut the fuck up.” I hiss back at him.
“I have nothing.” He looks back at me, his voice a little louder this time, and I can see the sadness in his eyes.
Dad starts. “The boys graduated already. Zeke’s touring with his band, and Zane’s at college right now.”
“What about the other one?”
“Drew?” Dad laughs.
“I have nothing.” Eli mutters to himself.
“For fuck’s sake.” I scoff, looking at him. “Get it together.”
He looks back at me. As he opens his mouth again, I shakemy head, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck and pulling him closer to me. Silencing him the best way I can think of at this moment without literally stuffing a sock in there.
