Page 45 of Shattered Pieces

“I can tell him, but he probably won’t listen. I promise you’ll be out soon,” I murmured, knowing it was dumb to make a promise like that, but she needed something to hold onto. “I’ll work extra hard. The sooner you’re out, the sooner we can hookup, right?”

She thankfully laughed, but I knew it was hard for her from the way emotion filled her voice.

“You wish, Ortega.”

“I really do,” I chuckled. “You want another visit on Friday? I’ll see if I can swing it with the boss.”

“I must be getting depressed in here if I’m looking forward to seeing you,” she said dryly, and I smirked.

“Admit it. You don’t hate me.”

“You’re not the worst person in the world. Maybe the second worst though,” she teased. “I need to go, the phone’s about to cut off for the night. Thanks for answering my ridiculous call.”

“Hey, you know we’ll always answer. I’ll see you Friday,” I promised. “Get a good sleep, Princess.”

“You too,” she practically whispered, and she sat there for a second in silence before hanging up like she had to force herself to do it.

I ran a hand over my face, letting out a sigh as I put my phone down on the seat.

Why did I like that she’d called me? Out of everyone, she wanted to hear my voice?

“Is she okay?” Hunter said behind me, and I jumped, choking on my cigarette.

“Jesus, man,” I wheezed, finding worry on his face. There was a little bit of jealousy there too, he couldn’t hide it from me. “She’s alright. Today was just hard seeing us leave without her, I think. She wanted to tell me about her fight, and she didn’t want to bother you guys with it.”

“I don’t understand how she’s even in there. We covered it all up,” he hissed, dropping into the chair beside mine. “You seriously didn’t see anyone there?”

“Fuck no. If someone was sneaking around, I’d have handled it. They could’ve dragged us under too,” I bit out.

“This would be a lot easier if Skeet wasn’t being a prick. His connections are better than mine in the police department. I want to know what murder weapon they apparently have.”

“I’ll try and hack their system again and see if anything pops up.”

“They know we’re looking. That shit is locked down tight,” he warned, frustration seeping out of him. “Why didn’t she call me?”

“I don’t know, but at least she called one of us, right? I told her I’d head down on Friday, so you can tag along or I’ll take Ty.”

He blinked at me for a second before nodding, staring across the yard.

“Hopefully, she feels better once she’s seen the others tomorrow too.”

I really hoped he was right because I didn’t like how defeated she sounded from knowing Skeeter and Caden had turned their backs on her.

CHAPTER EIGHT

RORY

“What happened to you?” Josie demanded when I walked towards her at visitation the next day, her arms wrapping around me to keep me close as if to protect me from it all.

“I just got in a fight with one of the girls from my block. Nothing to worry about,” I promised, stepping back and glancing at Lukas and Jensen. “Hey.”

For a second, I didn’t think either of them were going to respond, but then Lukas muttered a curse and pulled me in for a hug, burying his face in my neck.

“I really miss you,” he mumbled, stepping back after a second to look into my eyes. “Are you okay?”

Jensen hugged me next as I answered Lukas. “I miss you guys too. I’m handling my shit.”

We all sat down, and Josie blinked back tears.