Page 74 of Set Play

“Frère?” I croak. When he doesn’t respond, I force myself into a sitting position.

Holy fuck, that hurts!

My ribs scream in pain, but the look in Henri’s eyes terrifies me more than the idea of a broken bone. I need medical attention, but it’s clear that he has shut down, so I slowly climb to my feet and check my pockets.

Thank goodness I left my wallet and keys in my jacket.

With one more look at a brother who looks more broken than ever before, I limp toward the elevator with one word repeating in my mind.

Hospital.

1. Quel est ton problème? C'est la semaine des requins ou…? = What is your problem? Is it shark week or…?

2. Un mois = one month

3. Où vas-tu? Tu ne peux pas simplement partir comme ça. = Where are you going? You can’t just leave like that.

4. Non! Parle-moi, s'il te plaît! = No! Talk to me, please

Chapter 41

Mateo

Today 7:05PM

Me:

that’s it. I’m coming over.

Delivered

Chapter 42

Niamh

I’ve just sat down with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s when someone starts pounding on the door as if they are trying to wake the dead. “Oh for feck’s sake,” I grumble, setting the pint down on the coffee table and snatching up my phone.

A woman can never be too careful when alone at night.

I make my way over to the door and stand on my tiptoes to peer out the peephole at my unexpected visitor. The darkness that greets me reminds me that we still haven’t replaced the damn lightbulb in the porch light. Thankfully, a truck drives by and provides just enough light that I can just barely make out Mateo from where he paces a few steps away from the door.

When I open the door, he turns with a smile that quickly dims when he realizes it’s just me. “Oh, hey Niamh. Is Élise home?”

I shake my head, watching as he runs a hand through his already rumpled hair several times. Shite, he looks super stressed. Didn’t she tell him anything about her trip?

“Have you heard from her? Is she okay? I haven’t heard from her in like a week, and I’m starting to worry. Last we spoke, I told her the truth about the rivalry and she was pretty shaken up.”

Guess that answers that question.

Almost as if she knows we’re talking about her, Élise’s ringtone pierces the moment. I quickly hold up one hand to Mateo and answer her FaceTime call with the other.

Her video is black, but from the random flashes of light that briefly illuminate her silhouette, it’s clear she’s in a car. “Hey Éllie, how’s Canada? Did you talk to Hen yet?”

She inhales sharply, but something about it sounds off. When a muffled whimper of pain follows it, every hair on my body stands on end. Something is very wrong here.

“Hey Nim, it’s okay and kind of.”

I glance at Mateo who has halted in his pacing and motion for him to come inside. Hopefully, he gets the inherent “stay quiet” part of the message. If I’m right about this feeling, then he needs to know where she is and what’s going on, even if she doesn’t want him to.