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This was bad…whatever it was.
He raked his fingers through his hair, agony flaring in his eyes. “Ryth.” He started forward, then stopped, glancing at the laptop in my hand. “I’ll drive you to school.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s okay, I’ll—”
“I said I’ll drive you to damn school,”he snapped, then stopped and took in a trembling breath before muttering, “I’m sorry. Look…I’m sorry, okay?”
I took a step closer, unable to look away from the blood. “Is everything okay?”
He wasn’t okay, that was easy to see. He was…frantic. I’d never seen him like this, not unraveled, notscared.Memories of home came flooding back, the home I'd had with dad before he went to prison.
Creed forced a smile, his focus on me. “It’s fine, Ryth. I just want to drive you, okay? Will you at least let me do that?”
I wanted Nick and fought the need to call out to him.
“Please, Ryth,” emotion choked his voice as that pain-filled stare seized mine.
I stepped forward, nodding before I knew it. “Sure…sure, Creed.”
He took a step closer, his shaking hand clenching to a fist before he glanced at the laptop. “I’ll…I’ll take you now.”
I’d seen people in shock, seen them do some crazy shit. I’d even seen some act like they never remembered a thing. Was that Creed? I didn’t follow as he turned for the door, just glanced over my shoulder, fighting the urge to call for Nick and tell him I was leaving.
“Ryth?” Creed opened the door and waited. “It’s just to school, honey.”
I tore my gaze from the stairs and walked out. The sun was glaring, causing me to lift my hand to shield my eyes before I yanked open the passenger door of his Mercedes. I leaned forward, stowed my things on the floor, and turned to scan the windows of my brothers' bedrooms.
The engine started and we were moving down the driveway when the blinds shifted at Nick’s room. We drove a little too fast, hitting the asphalt with a jolt before Creed braked hard. My phone wentbeep.
I gripped the seatbelt, hanging on as Creed punched the accelerator, his hold on the steering wheel heavy, jerking the car hard.
“Looks like the meeting didn’t go so well.” I tried to make conversation as I grabbed my phone.
Nick: What the fuck, princess?
I gripped the phone, trying my best not to cry out as Creed spun the wheel and cut across the traffic.
“No,” he said. “Not as well as I’d hoped, anyway.” He jerked his gaze to me, something unhinged coming to life in his eyes. “But there’s always more than one solution to a problem, wouldn’t you agree?”
I didn’t know what to say, so I just gave a small nod and opened up the messages, typing out a quick reply.Creed made me get in his car. He’s driving erratically. Nick, I’m scared.
Cars flew past almost in a blur. I grabbed the seatbelt and looked at the speedometer. “Creed, please slow down. You’re starting to scare me.”
He didn’t seem to hear me. His hands clenched around the wheel as he muttered, “More than one solution…more than one solution…more than one—”
Creed's phone started to ring, the number splashed on the screen between us.Nick.But Creed didn’t answer. He acted like he didn’t hear it at all. I leaned forward and, with shaking fingers, swiped answer.
“Dad?” Nick’s voice came through the stereo.
I glanced at Creed, catching his lips moving as he muttered the same thing over and over again, only there was no sound.
“Hey, I think there’s a problem with Tobias,” Nick declared, his words falling on deaf ears. “Hey, can you hear me?”
“N-Nick,” I spoke. “I don't think Creed’s feeling well.”
“I feel fine,” Creed answered, and turned the corner hard. “Just fine.”
“Wanna tell me what’s going on?” I could almost feel the desperation in Nick’s voice. “I was supposed to do the school run, remember? You put me in charge, right? You put me in charge after mom died.”
