He fucking pales.
The world around me dims. “Sam, you promised to tell me the truth. Did you go there with Rowan? Is this photo real?”
He swallows. “You should talk to Rowan.”
I jump to my feet. “I’m talking toyou!”
“Look, I don’t know what to say—“
“The truth! Where did you really go that day?”
“Look, Blake—“
Outside, an engine rumbles. It's that distinct revving sound that always alerted me of my father’s arrival.
I interrupt Sam midsentence. “Do you hear that?”
He frowns, listening. “Sounds like a motorbike.”
“It’s my godfather,” I whisper.
Something shifts in Sam’s face. All traces of emotion disappear as he picks the gun off the coffee table. “Stay here.”
My eyes widen. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to go see what they want.”
“Sam, they’re dangerous. They’re—“
“In a gang. I know. Rowan told me.” He’s already up and moving toward the door. When he gets halfway down the hall, he pauses and glances back at me. “Grab a knife. Just in case. If anyone comes in, use it.”
My blood runs cold. I get to my feet and run, blocking him from going outside. “Let me talk to him. He might just be checking on me.”
Sam pushes past me and walks over to the window by the front door. He pulls back the curtain. “There’s at least four of them. Armed. Three on motorcycles and one in a van. There might be more men in there.”
Panic crawls up my throat. “Let me call the police.”
“There’s no time,” Sam mutters. “Lock the door and call Rowan.”
And then, before I can stop him, he steps outside and slams the door behind him.
I turn the lock and run to the kitchen and grab a knife like he told me.
By the time I return to the window with my phone clutched in my hand, Sam’s already talking to the leader of the four men.
My godfather.
I dial Rowan with shaking fingers and wait for him to pick up.
I can’t hear what the men outside are saying, but their body language is easy enough to read. They’re not chatting about the weather.
What does Uncle Lyle want? Fear zips through me.
“Blake?”
I readjust my grip on the phone. “Rowan, where are you? Uncle Lyle is here. He’s brought men with him.”
“Fuck. Lock the door and stay inside.”
