“People don’t need ‘protectors’ like you,” Drake reads from Tate’s post, a wry grin on his face. “From where I’m standing, looks like the people you’re trying to bring down are doing just fine without you. I invite you to look up contract numbers for the Kings online.” Drake chuckles. “He literally linked the website, but posted a screenshot of your salary circled with a ‘haters gonna hate’ GIF. You’ve got people behind you, man.”
I smile. “Like you. You’re here when you probably want to be spending a morning with Charlie.”
Drake takes a drink from his bottle. “You’d do the same.” He sets his drink on the ground. “So, you came up here to pump up your ego about all the people who love you, or what?”
“No. I came here to plan the next steps. Look at this.”
I dig out the wooden box from my pack.
Drake’s eyes widen. He grins. “Really?”
“You up for helping me out?”
“Always.” He clasps his hand with mine and helps me off the bench. “Tell me what you need.”
I suppose I could thank Mitch. His vindictiveness broke the final sliver in my walls. There are a few roads to take: one alone, but it’s dark and rather dreary to go on believing there is no one who wants to walk beside you. Or, take the one where there are people firing bullets on your behalf.
I choose the latter. And I’m done waiting. I’m done wasting another second.
Ava
“You’ve gotto have a bit more faith in your relationship, sweetheart,” Mom says, wiping my tears.
“He’s not answering.” I let my head flop forward, hiccups and death sobs slopping out all over the tops of my hands.
“Honey, he’ll call you. It was a surprise, and he needs time to process.”
I saw the stupid podcast two hours ago. I’ve fielded calls from Wren, Alexis, and Skye. No one has seen Ryder. No one has spoken to Ryder. All I want is to find him, hold him, and tell him a thousand times nothing that jerk ever says holds any weight.
Not with me.
A knock comes to the front door, but a moment later the hinges creak and someone comes inside.
“Marianne.” It’s Laura.
“In here, hon.”
Laura steps into my mom’s kitchen. Her eyes are red, and one look at me has her chin quivering. “Oh, Ava.”
She hugs me, and I fail miserably at keeping my emotions in. “Have you heard from him?”
“No.” Josh enters, a vicious glare on his face.
“Honey,” Laura says, pleading.
“What?” Josh snaps. He never snaps. “That sorry excuse of a man thinks he can bad mouth my son and expect to keep living? I don’t think so.”
I’ve always loved Josh.
Laura turns away from her husband and faces my mom. “Drake called. He asked us to meet him here. He’s not on duty is he? Because what if Ryder—”
“He’s not on duty.” My dad steps out of the garage. He gives Laura a side hug. “But he dropped Charlie off pretty early. Kid went right back to sleep upstairs.”
“Drake was here?” My mom asks.
“For a second.”
Does Drake know where Ryder went? My fingertips tingle. If I could even get a text from Ryder, I’d breathe easier.
