AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gio: Lazarus held back the truth about your dad. He’s alive. He’s asking for you. But I’ll only talk to you, Ryth, not your fucking asshole brothers. So, if you want to know, then it needs to be done in secret and tonight.
I reread the message, my pulse thundering as my phonebeepedagain.
Gio: It’s now or never. Come to the address I sent. I’m waiting right now.
Nick’s heavy steps sounded before theslamof his bedroom door. “Fuck you, Natalie!” he screamed. “Fuckingbitch!”
My brother raged as I shoved upwards, my heart in the back of my throat. I couldn’t stop staring at the text.If you want to know, then it needs to be done in secret…and tonight.
Dad…
If he was out there, I had to know he was safe. I went to my door and quietly turned the handle. But if I told Nick, there was no way Gio would talk. Not after what they’d done. I could be there and back before they knew.
Only then I’d know where dad was…
That thought drove me as I crept past Nick’s door and headed for Tobias'. I stepped in, hurried to his desk, and grabbed the keys for his Jeep. I’d be back within the hour. They’d never even know I was gone…
FORTY-TWO
ryth
I grippedthe steering wheel of Tobias’ Jeep, wincing as I ground his gears and glanced at the map on the screen of my phone. God, if I broke his damn car, he’d never forgive me. I shoved my foot against the clutch and forced the gear until it clunked.
My phone gave abeep.Tobias' name flashed across the screen. I ignored it, and the two more texts that came after it. When Nick’s name followed them, I swallowed a flare of pain and drove my foot harder against the accelerator. I’d call them as soon as I got there. Once I explained, they'd calm down. Would they be pissed? Yeah, especially knowing it was Gio, but if I kept the call open and they heard everything he said to me, then they’d know I wasn’t going without a plan.
I knew they didn’t like Gio, knew they’d rather put him in the hospital than allow him any kind of contact with me. But if he was in a coma, he couldn’t tell me what I needed to know, and right now, the need to find out where my dad was outweighed their possessiveness.
My phone started to ring, and Nick’s number flashed over the map Gio'd sent me. “Shit.” I swiped the screen.
“Ryth—” Nick started.
“Wait,” I snapped, still a little pissed from earlier. “I can explain.”
“You'd better,” Tobias growled in the background as I punched the clutch and geared down around a corner. “Jesus…is that my damn gearbox?”He shouted.
“Yes, and if you don’t stop talking, I won’t be able to tell you I know where my dad is.”
“You do?” Caleb broke in. “Where?”
“Well, not right now. But I will—”
“Ryth,” Nick’s voice grew cold. “I want you to tell us exactly what the fuck is going on?”
I tried to concentrate on the unfamiliar roads and the fact this was only my third ever attempt at driving a stick shift…and I used the term‘attempt’loosely. “Promise you won't get mad?”
Nick let out a growl. “Not as mad as I will be if you don’t tell us what the hell is happening.”
“Gio sent me a message—”
“Sonofabitch,” Tobias snapped. “Goddamnbastard.”
“I’m trying to tell you and not crash here,” I yelled.
“Tell us.” Nick sounded panicked.
“He said that Lazarus was lying,” I explained. “He said that he knows where my dad is.”
“And he wasn’t going to tell you with us there,” Nick added.
