Ford’s molars grind.“Our house is on fire.”
“What?”
Ford tosses his keys to Jagger.“You’re gonna have to drive.I had a drink at the bar.”
“I got it,” Jagger returns.
“So help me, if you scratch my baby?—”
“I said, I’ve got it,” Jagger repeats.He reaches down and threads his fingers with Violet’s, who is waiting in the hallway.Oh, good.She’s here, too.I wonder if she heard our sexcapades through the door.Wouldn’t that just be the cherry on top of tonight’s sundae?“Come on, Little Thief,” Jagger orders.“We gotta go.”
“What about Lex?”she starts.
“I can drive her back,” I offer.“Why don’t you give me your keys, and?—”
“You really think I’m letting you stay in Drift territory?”Ford scoffs.“Not a chance.”
“But what about Lex?”Violet insists.
“This is Lexie’s turf.She's fine.”Jagger gives his brother a pointed look.“I already covered the tab.Let’s move.”
35
FORD
Black plumes of smoke take up most of the skyline when we finally pull up the drive.After Cobie sent a picture of the fire, along with an SOS, Jagger drove my car like a madman with Violet in the front seat and June beside me in the back.Hawke took his bike after relaying the photo to Roman, though we haven’t heard back from him yet.
If he was in his room when the fire started, I fucking swear?—
My phone lights up, and I bring it to my ear.“Rome?”
“Tell me she wasn’t home,” Roman growls.
“Fuck, man.Where were?—”
“I said, tell me she wasn’t home!”
My brows furrow.“What?”
“Cobie isn’t answering her phone?—”
“Says the guy who’s been a ghost for the last twenty-seven minutes,” I grit out.Don’t get me wrong.I appreciate his affinity for looking after Cobie like she’s his own flesh and blood, but the fact that he’s pissed she isn’t answering her phone when he’s been doing the exact same thing since before we left The Body Shop is a bit ironic, if not annoying.I shift my cell to my opposite ear and wait for whatever bullshit excuse he’s about to give me.“Where the hell were you?”I repeat.
“I was visiting Rafe,” he grunts.Well, all right then.Since Rafe is in prison, Roman usually leaves his cell in his car during his visits.Not exactly what I’d call great timing, but at least his excuse is legit.“Made it to my car and saw your text.Now, I’m calling and driving and trying not to get myself killed, so will you answer the question or not?Where the hell is Cobie?”
“I’m not sure.”I peer out the windshield, watching the black twist into the dark sky and gray out the white clouds covering the full moon.The tires squeal as Jagger pulls up along the side of the house and shoves my baby into park with the finesse of an elephant before climbing out from the driver’s side without a backward glance.Violet follows him from the passenger seat, leaving me alone with a quiet June.She’s stressed.She’s been stressed since the moment Jagger intruded on us at the club.Or maybe she was stressed before then.Since the moment I ghosted her after I made her come at the carnival.Not sure it matters.Okay, that’s bullshit.Of course, it matters.It matters more than I care to admit, let alone divulge to anyone else, including the goddess beside me, but I’m fucked up.She should know that by now, shouldn’t she?
I’m still surprised she came.I’m not sure why.It’s not like she really had a choice, since I all but forced her into the car with us.But she could’ve thrown a fit.Could’ve started a fight.Could’ve told me she owed me nothing, let alone peace of mind.She would’ve been right, too.She owes me nothing.Not one damn thing after the last week of silence.Instead of leaving with a sore pussy and two middle fingers pointed in my direction, she grabbed my hand and followed me to my car before climbing into the backseat with me and resting her head on my shoulder for the entire drive.
“You’re telling me you don’t know where Cobie is?”Roman continues.Damn, I wonder how long he’s been bitching at me?“What the fuck does that mean?Where were you?”
June offers me a warm smile and reaches for the door handle.“I’ll be outside,” she mouths.
As she climbs out of the car, I shift my cell to my opposite ear.“We were at The Body Shop.”
“Why the fuck were you at The Body Shop?”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I mutter, “It’s a long story.”
