AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mom’s name flashes on the screen and I take her call immediately. She rarely calls me while spending time with Addison, so it’s got to be some kind of news—good or bad, who fucking knows. “Mom?” I rush out, hovering in the open doorway.
Her sobs cut through the silence and my heart shatters.
“What happened? What’s wrong?”
She sniffles and sobs and I put my food down by the door and step out into the warm night, listening as she tries to calm herself enough to tell me what the fuck is going on. “She stopped breathing,” she tells me, every word breaking her even more. “The doctors intubated her and she’s on a ventilator to help her breathe.”
I drop into the grass, my head falling to my knees. “Is she … is she dying?”
“No,” Mom says. “The doctors are still hopeful that she will come through this. Her heart is strong and there’s still positive brain activity. They say … they say it’s a common occurrence and that we shouldn’t worry.”
“Shouldn’t worry?” I demand, my voice rising with fear. “She has fucking tubes keeping her alive. Mom—”
“No,” she cuts in, trying to keep from breaking. “I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no. Your sister needs you here with her, she doesn’t need you locked up in a cell. She is going to pull through this, Tanner. You have to have faith. She’s strong enough to pull through.”
I drop my phone into the grass and hit the speaker button before rubbing my hands over my face. “I know, Mom. I know she’s strong enough. She’s going to get through this, but I just can’t let him get away with it. Have you heard anything from the police?”
Mom goes silent and I laugh, the agony of the situation weighing me down. “You’re fucking kidding me,” I murmur. “They let him go, didn’t they?”
Mom sighs. “They didn’t have enough evidence to hold him. He claimed he wasn’t even there that night and now we’re back to square one. He hired that asshole from next door and the next thing I know, he was walking free. But don’t worry, Tanner. We will catch this guy, whoever it is, he will pay for what he’s done to my little girl.”
I shake my head, not believing it for one second. The moment the name Colby Jacobs was thrown into the mix, I knew it was him. I knew it deep in my gut. There have been other names tossed around, but none of them felt right, but this … this one is personal. I know it was him and the fucker is about to walk free, especially with Orlando Channing working the case. That bastard has never lost a case, and not because he’s just that good. He’s fucking shady and wins on intimidation tactics and false evidence.
Not on my fucking watch.
“The doctors are here to take her for more scans. I’ll call you if there are any updates.”
“Alright. The second you know anything—”
“I know, love. You’ll be my first call.”
With that, the call goes dead, and I remain sitting in the grass, my elbows braced against my knees as I stare at my hands, devastation washing through me.
“Hey,” a voice calls from behind. Glancing back over my shoulder, I find Brielle sitting out on the roof, looking sorry for herself, a bottle of tequila hanging between her fingers. She holds it up. “Wanna drink?”
My brow arches and I stare at her for a moment. “How long have you been out here?”
“Long enough,” she tells me, letting me know that she’d overheard my whole conversation. “Your sister isn’t at a performing arts school, is she?”
I get to my feet and stare up at her, not ready to answer that question out loud, it’s not my place. “What are you doing out here?”
She shrugs her shoulders before taking another swig of tequila. “Had a fight with my mom,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. “Apparently the fact that Jensen Channing may or may not be a rapist isn’t my business despite living with the guy, and now somehow I’m the bad guy because I pointed out that she’s turning into Orlando’s groupie and throwing all her morals out the window.”
“Shit. Tough break.”
“I’m not looking for your pity.”
“And I’m not looking for yours.”
“Good.”
She takes another swig and I let out a heavy sigh. That bottle is nearly full and if she drinks that whole thing on her own, she’ll be finding a bed right beside Addie’s. “You hungry?”
Bri nods and without another word, I walk back into my house, grabbing my dinner by the door and searching for two forks. A moment later, I emerge back on the lawn and walk around the side of Channing’s home, effortlessly pulling myself up on top of the fence before hoisting myself onto the roof.
