AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Can you walk back up to the road. I need to ask you something?’
‘I’ll be there in a few minutes.’ She packs up her things and hurries up the path back towards the road. Gregg’s car pulls up beside her when she steps out from the path. He reaches over and opens the passenger door.
‘Hop in.’
She climbs in and Gregg takes off before she’s fastened her seatbelt. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Tate’s been taken into custody.’
Chloe turns to look at Gregg, fully expecting him to break out into one of his stupid grins and laugh at her. But he doesn’t.
‘I’m being fucking serious, Chloe. They took him from the studio. Apparently, they received a tip-off that Tate was seen in possession of drugs. They found heroin in his truck, Chloe.’
‘But they can’t have. That doesn’t make sense. He’s clean.’
‘Don’t know what to say to you. You know as much as I do now. Ellen went to the station but they won’t let her talk to him until they’re done questioning him. None of my old mates are talking to me about it. Fair enough I guess. Anyway, we’re all regrouping in Tate’s parents’ place until we know what’s happening. His folks are in Canada for a few weeks visiting their grandkids so we’ll have the place to ourselves.’
The rest of the drive to Tate’s parents’ house takes place in complete in silence. She heard every word of what Gregg said to her, but the meaning is taking time to sink in.
When she woke up beside Tate this morning everything had been perfect. She’d had an incredible party last night. She’d watched in proud awe as Tate and the guys performed for her family and friends. He’d dropped her home this morning then left to go to work. It was as close to normal as it could be when you’re with someone like Tate. So where did it all go so very wrong? How, in the space of a few hours, had that happy picture turned to Tate being arrested? It made no sense.
And where had this anonymous tip come from? He may have had a drink recently but surely they would have known if he was taking drugs again? She may miss it but she has no doubts Gregg would see the signs a mile off. After his reaction to Tate drinking again she knows he would have made his feelings clear if he suspected anything else.
She comes out of her thoughts as Gregg turns off the road and drives down a narrow gravel track. It opens into a vast parking area in front of a stunning farmhouse. This is absolutely a house she can see Tate living in.
A grey Audi is parked outside and the driver steps out when Gregg stops the car. The woman hugs Gregg then holds out her hand to Chloe.
‘I’m Ellen, Tate’s manager. I presume you’re Chloe?’
Ellen is very different to what she imagined. She must be in her early forties with short brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Her jeans and shirt show off her lean figure. When Chloe shakes her hand she has to hold back a wince. The woman has a powerful grip.
‘Nice to meet you, Ellen. Any news?’
‘How about we go inside?’
Gregg unlocks the door and they sit on the couch facing Ellen. ‘Did you call Dillon and Luke?
‘Yeah. They’re on the way. Should be here in a bit,’ Gregg says. ‘So, what’s happening?’
‘I know as much as you do. There wasn’t a lot I could do for him and he has his lawyer with him. All we can do is wait.’
∞
Tate pulls into one of the empty sheds around the back of his parents’ house and turns off the engine. All he wants to do is have a shower. He feels grimy and so does his truck. Who knows how many people have been crawling around in it for the last few hours—starting with the fucker who put the drugs there in the first place.
Tate glares over at the glove box. Whoever put the heroin in there wasn’t the most inventive. Leaving the package on the fucking seat would have been just as obvious. At least he knows he wasn’t losing his mind last night. Someone had been messing with his truck outside his own house. Bastard has balls.
He slumps forward and rests his head on the steering wheel. The last hour had been spent with his sponsor. Tate had called him as soon as he was released, and it was the best decision he’s made for a while. Better than calling Eddie which came a too close second. He doesn’t doubt that if Eddie appeared like his Fairy Godmother in the car park he would have happily taken anything and everything he was offered.
The urge to use had died down but he’s calling on everything he has left to keep it under control. Just a shame he’s running on empty. He barely has enough energy to get out of the damn truck. At least if he’s here he’s got a house full of people who will be watching him like a hawk.
He catches movement behind his truck and looks in the rear view mirror. Chloe is standing outside the shed with her arms wrapped around herself. She looks just as shattered as he feels. No point putting this off. Tate climbs out and locks the truck. Not that locking it means a damn thing. Someone had still managed to get into it and fuck him over.
She pulls him into a hug, the feel of her arms wrapping tightly around him is just what he needs right now. When she lets him go he rests his forehead against hers. ‘Are you okay?’
She laughs and rubs the side of his face. ‘I was just about to ask you that.’
‘Can we go inside? I need to talk to you.’ She takes his hand and he follows her into the house to face Ellen, Bria, Gregg, Dillon, and Luke. ‘Having a party without me?’
