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I nod once, muscles stiff. “He is a bit different, though. My dad. Being out of prison and supposedly not using. He’s just…” Calm? Nice? Caring? I shake my head, not sure if there is a perfect word.
Lo narrows his eyes, concern in them. “He’s the enemy, Paul.”
“Nah, I just thought he was the Hamburgler. Been planning on getting him to steal a Quarter Pounder for you.”
He pops a tortilla chip in his mouth. “And suddenly, I’m vegetarian.”
“More for me,” I say lightly and lean back.
He dunks another chip in salsa. “I also hate Van Halen.” He stares at the old, ripped Van Halen tee I’m wearing like it’s radioactive. He’s throwing darts at my favorites when I thought he’d mention how I need a new wardrobe. Gotta get a new fit to impress his daughter and all.
“That’s alright, Xander’s dad. Not everyone has good taste.”
He reaches for his water on the desk. “That’s exactly what I was thinking about you.” He flashes a dry smile.
“Like minds.” I give him arock ongesture.
“Yeah, no—” He’s cut off by his phone’s loud Skrillex ringtone. He answers fast. “Hey, Lil.”
“Lo, we have a problem.” The office is so quiet that her side is audible without speakerphone.
“Mom!” Luna yells in pure fear.
Adrenaline shoots in my veins.
Lo fists the phone. “Lily!” he shouts, panic crashing him forward in the chair. I’m on my feet and unclipping my radio. The cord is wrapped around the device, unplugged. Turned off. I’m not in contact with the security team.
Where the fuck is their security? Where’s Frog? Monroe?
“Luna?” I call out, and once Lo puts the phone on speaker, I hear her heavy breaths.
“We’reokaywe’reokay,” Lily slurs, panting for breath too.
Lo has a tense hand on his forehead.
“Mom is awesome,” Luna says in a steadier voice.Is she alright?
I plug in the mic cord. Are they on the road?
“Where are you two?” Lo asks with urgency while I fit in my earpiece. “Shouldn’t you be at the putt-putt place already?”
“Paparazzi are chasing us,” Luna says.
Fuck.“Where’s security?” I ask her.
Lily answers, “They’re meeting us—” A loudcrunchingnoise, like a collision, blares over the line. Luna intakes the sharpest, gasping breath.
It jars every instinct in me. To go. To find her.
“What the hell was that?” Lo shoots to his feet, looking volatile but terrified for his wife and daughter. No one answers.“Lily?!”
“They’re bumping into us, Lo—”
“Pull over.” He speaks sharply into the receiver and comes around the desk. He motions for me to hurry with security.
I’m about there. I click my mic and whisper, asking about Frog’s location.
“No,” Luna cuts in. Fear is still clung to her voice. Something’s not right.
