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He thinks I did it, that I pushed her--just like the screaming girl in the stairwell.
Parker leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead, murmuring, "I'll take care of everything."
I take a step back, at a loss. He truly believes I'm capable of that?
"What's going on?" Joey asks from behind Parker. "Some guy said ... "
Parker turns to face his brother.
"Lana?" Joey looks from me to Parker. "Everything okay?"
"No," Parker responds, his spine lengthening with his cursed Confidence. "A girl fell down the stairs. The EMTs are taking her to the hospital, but I need you and Lana to leave in case the cops show up." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a car key. "There's a door on the opposite side, downstairs. Go through it. Take the elevator to the first level. Your Jeep will be there along with your phone. I'll get her friends and meet you"--he hesitates for a moment--"at the golf course. Wait for me."
Parker looks to me again, caressing my cheek, "Say nothing."
Joey takes hold of my hand. "I've got her."
Parker looks down at our clasped hands and scowls.
In the next second, Joey is guiding me along the mezzanine. I look back just as Parker disappears through the black door leading to the stairwell, talking into his cuff.
Joey navigates us down the stairs and around the perimeter of the crowded dance floor. Bodies brush by in a streak of color and jostling of flesh. I can't focus on anything other than the hand holding mine and the blue shirt in front of me.
When we reach the black door concealed in the dark corner, Joey knocks and an unseen hand immediately opens it. It falls closed behind us after we pass through. A tall guy with a blond buzz cut stands behind it silently. He struts over to what looks like a closed garage door and pulls on a strap, revealing a freight elevator. We enter and the door comes crashing down behind us, shutting us off from the booming music and chattering voices.
Within the quiet box, the inner chaos overtakes me--Vic's threats, Allie's fall, the girl's screaming, Parker's warning ... I collapse against the wall, my unfocused eyes trained on the floor. My mind is whirling. My pulse is thrumming. I clench my shaking fists and concentrate on breathing, trying to free myself of panic's strong hold.
"Lana." Joey's voice finds me, firm and soothing.
I lift my head.
Joey has the elevator control in his hand, his eyes steadied on me. He doesn't say anything for a moment, just holds me in his brilliant blue gaze.
"Nothing bad's going to happen to you, I promise." He sounds so certain, like he has the ability to control our fate. "Do you believe me?"
I blink away the tears stinging my eyes and swallow against the lump lodged in my throat. "It's too late."
I cover my eyes with a hand, wanting to hide from the cruel reality. Images too real and graphic to ever forget ... Allie sprawled motionless, her blood seeping into the concrete around her. The cold disconnect in Vic's eyes just before he shoved her. And me, standing above Allie with her bright pink wig clenched in my fist, unable to move. Then there's that scream ... that high-pitch, horror-movie scream. I swear it's still ringing in my ears.
And I left Allie ... at the bottom of those stairs. I abandoned her. I should have stayed with her. I don't even know if she was still breathing.
"We need to go back. I need to make sure she's still alive," I plead, strangling a sob.
"The girl? You were there?" His tone is gentle.
I nod. "It was Allie, the girl from the truck. I tried ... " My voice breaks as I struggle to speak. "I tried to reach her before he pushed her, but I couldn't."
"Who pushed her?" Joey asks cautiously.
"Vic." His name escapes before I can capture it. I bite my lip to keep from saying more.
I'm not usually this careless. I blame my chemically altered state for allowing the honesty to slip out. This isn't me. I don't overreact like this. I'm the one who holds it together when shit gets bad. But right now, I don't have control over my mind or my body, no matter how hard I fight for it.
Joey's quiet. I watch him carefully, attempting to read the contemplation reflected in his eyes. I try to convince myself that this wasn't a secret I needed to keep. Vic isn't someone I need to protect. But Joey is. And now that he knows the truth, I'm not sure what he'll do with it.
Joey drops the elevator control and slowly walks to me, encircling me in his arms. As soon as he touches me, my breath evens out and the crushing sensation in my chest releases. I squeeze him tight, burying my face in his shoulder, but I don't allow myself to cry. He holds me until the tension in my muscles dissipates and the shaking subsides. His lips press against my temple, and the last tendrils of panic fall away.
