Why Stars Chase the Sun (Forget Me Knot Series Book 1)

by C. R. Ellis

  He inhaled deeply through his nose, and I reached down to grip his fisted hands. “I’m okay, Dean,” I repeated.

  “He hurt you, J. I’m not just going to stand here and do nothing.” Dean’s hands engulfed mine and squeezed gently. “I get why you didn’t tell me, but you should’ve told someone.”

  “I told Hope.”

  “Not what I meant.” He stepped around me, heading for the door.

  I bolted in front of him and blocked the exit with my body. “Jas, a little help here.”

  Jasmine shrugged and made no attempt to move toward the door. “Sorry, JP. I’d like to see Andrew get what’s coming to him.”

  I groaned and looked back at my brother.

  “Move, Jade. Or I’ll move you myself. I’m not actually going to kill him. But I am leaving to take care of this.”

  Trying to talk Dean out of leaving would’ve been like trying to talk a wave out of crashing.

  “Promise me you won’t do something stupid, Dean. He’s not worth it.”

  He huffed an exasperated breath and crossed his arms over his chest. The look of total rage had subsided, but only enough that he looked ready to maim instead of murder. “My actions depend entirely on Andrew and how receptive he is to what I have to say. But you’re right, he isn’t worth jail time. I won’t be stupid.”

  I nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped out of his way.

  By the time we got back to the table, everyone was seated except Emmett and John.

  My stomach dropped. Please tell me he didn’t run into Dean on his way out.

  Jas reached over and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. Hope shot me a question from the corner of her eye, but I shook my head and mouthed tell you later.

  “Where did your brother go?” Mom asked from the seat next to Dean’s empty spot. Her eyes were scouring the area, looking for a figure she wasn’t going to find.

  “He had an emergency work call,” Jas lied smoothly.

  My mom frowned, and my dad shrugged like he wasn’t surprised.

  “Unbelievable. I thought the point of taking this job was to have normal hours,” she huffed.

  “Mom, it’s okay. Emmett will understand,” I assured her. Especially when he finds out why Dean left.

  Mom was still droning on about Dean’s absence five minutes later when I felt my phone vibrate in my clutch. I ripped it out, silently praying it was literally anything I could use as an excuse to get out of this conversation.

  It was a message from our driver, through the car service app, telling me he’d found Emmett’s note cards for his speech in the back seat, and could someone please meet him at the southeast side of the building to retrieve them in five minutes.

  Shit.

  But at the same time, score. This was definitely get-out-of-the-conversation worthy. Emmett probably didn’t need the cards—I’d heard him rehearse his speech at least a dozen times, but I knew he still felt a little apprehensive about it, so they’d at least be good for easing his nerves.

  “Emily, do you know where Emmett went?” I asked.

  “I don’t, dear, sorry. He and John went over to the bar a few minutes ago, but I don’t see them anymore. I’m sure they’re just caught up talking though. Something the matter?”

  I shook my head. “No. Our driver just found Emmett’s cue cards for his speech. I’m going to run out and get them. If he comes back, will you let him know I’ll be right back?”

  “Oh, goodness. What would Emmett do without you? Of course, I’ll tell him as soon as he gets back to the table.”

  I laughed. “Lucky for him, he won’t have to find out what he’d do without me.”

  I moved toward the hotel’s entrance as quickly as my heels allowed, until rounding the corner of the building and feeling every single hair on my body stand up at the sight in front of me. The limo was parked in the alley, lights on and trunk popped, but the driver was nowhere in sight.

  “Hello?” The eerie silence, magnified by the hum of the car’s engine, summoned unwelcome memories and fears I thought I’d overcome. “I’m here to get the note cards,” I called, looking for signs of the driver.

  The trunk suddenly slammed, and a figure stepped out from behind the back of the limo. “I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans, Jade.”

  The voice instantly sent daggers of panic through my chest.

  “What did you do to the driver, Will?”

  A sardonic smirk met me from across the limo. He slowly walked toward me, chipping away at the strength the distance between us gave me. “Nothing he’ll die from. Yet,” he replied from a handful of feet away.

  Ignoring the panic threatening to liquefy my bones, I stood my ground and angled my gaze upward until I met his face. His likeness to Emmett was there, but so was an overwhelming edge of hatred, setting him apart from his brother. It was etched into his features; everything from the tick of his jaw to the lines between his furrowed brow radiated rage and unpredictable actions fueled by his misplaced hatred of his twin.

  His hands pulled free of the pocket on his hoodie, and with them came an object glinting in the dim light. Emmett’s loose cannon of a brother was holding a pistol, and there was absolutely nowhere for me to run.

  “Don’t do this. Someone will come after me any second,” I bluffed. I had no idea if anyone would actually realize how long I’d been gone.

  Will’s hollow laugh made my hands squeeze into fists. “Fine. The more the merrier.” He closed the rest of the gap between us as he waved the gun around to dismiss my comment. His eyes, which were dilated and glossy, scanned up and down my body until settling on the small dip of my dress’s sweetheart neckline. “Tell you what, I’m feeling generous. You can either willingly come with me now and be my only company for our little trip, or we can wait around and see who’s lucky enough to come with us. Personally, I hope it’s your friend. I’d find lots of ways to pass the time with both of you.”

  My skin crawled. I felt sick. No. No freaking way was I about to let him get any more satisfaction out of this twisted situation than he already was.

  I bit my lip and hesitated in a last-ditch stalling attempt.

  “Well? What’s it going to be, Jade? The anticipation’s killing me.”

  “Where is this trip going to take us?”

  He made a tsk-tsk sound and shook his head. “Emmett has always liked the smart ones. It wouldn’t be any fun if I told you now,” he added, using the hand his gun wasn’t holding to slowly trace a path down the length of my arm.

  I shivered, but refused to let him see how rattled his actions made me. “Why are you doing this?”

  Cold, emotionless eyes met mine. “Emmett took something from me four years ago. I want him to know what loss truly feels like. She was never his. We were supposed to run away together.”

  Tracy.

  I chose not to acknowledge his admission for now. “Let’s go, Will,” I said with a grimace-smile, doing my best to look pleased at the thought of going anywhere with this lunatic.

  For a second, the steady look of anger faltered and shock took its place. He quickly recovered though, and stepped back, gesturing for me to get into the passenger’s side of the limo. Sucking in a deep breath, I followed his lead and made it all the way to the door when a voice called out and stopped us both.

  “Let her go, Will,” Harrison shouted, rounding the corner and quickly drawing the gun from his shoulder holster.

  In a flash, Will’s arm was wrapped around me, hauling me up against his body. I felt the cold barrel of a gun press against my skull. Time stood still as my dress and the shawl flapped in a chilled gust of wind. His head shook against mine. “Not gonna happen. Drop it, or this wall gets a fresh coat of blood.”

  My entire body trembled as Will pulled me tighter into his body. An itchy trigger finger was all it took for Will to end my life.

  I knew nothing Harrison did would talk Will off the ledge of insanity right now.

  “Harrison, you need to go. Ge
t back to the party,” I called, hoping he could see the message in my eyes about Will being completely unhinged.

  His brown eyes locked on mine. I’m not leaving you, they said. He shook his head and kept his gun trained on the man behind me. I struggled against Will’s grip, hoping in vain I could wiggle free. “Not a chance, Curious Jade. I’m with you.”

  Something in Will’s breathing changed, and before I could shout a warning, or do anything, he raised his gun from my head and aimed it at Harrison. “That was cute. But I’m afraid I don’t have time for this anymore,” he called before pulling the trigger.

  I’d heard gunshots before, but never from so close, and never without ear protection.

  My ears rang, and my head felt like it’d been split open. Adrenaline flooded my system, and I jerked away from Will’s arm when he was thrown off balance after firing the gun.

  I didn’t even register what I was doing until I dropped to my knees next to Harrison and immediately pulled my shawl off and pressed the material into his bleeding chest. Oh, god. Tears filled my eyes and blurred my vision.

  “I’m here, Harrison. I’m with you,” I echoed. “You’re going be okay. Just stay with me,” I pleaded through my tears.

  Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. “Jade…go. Now.”

  I ignored his command and grabbed his hands, pressing them into his chest. “You have to keep applying pressure.” He nodded, but his eyes slipped closed. “No! Stay with me!”

  “Look what you fucking made me do,” Will bellowed. Desperate, angry hands gripped my waist and tried to pull me away.

  “No! No, no, no,” I screamed, kicking wildly in his direction. An oof told me I’d connected with Will at least once. I pressed down on Harrison’s chest and tried not to think about how much blood was seeping through the fabric. “I’m not leaving you.”

  I blindly pressed against Harrison’s chest and kept my eyes locked on his so I could be sure he wouldn’t close them.

  Until everything went black.

  Chapter 27

  Emmett

  “Where’s Jade?” I asked, looking from my sister to Jasmine to Emily.

  “We’re not sure. She was supposed to meet the driver to get the cue cards for your speech. But that was ten minutes ago, and she’s still gone. And she left her phone at the table,” Emily quickly explained.

  “My cue cards? They’re right here,” I said, patting the breast pocket of my jacket. “Where was she supposed to meet the driver?”

  “The southeast corner of the building, I think so he wouldn’t be blocked by the valets.”

  I frowned. Something about that felt off. “Jas, tell Dean to meet me around back,” I called over my shoulder as I stalked toward the exit.

  “Emmett, wait. Dean’s not here,” Jasmine replied, jogging to catch up with me. “There’s something you need to know. She’s gonna kill me for telling you, but I’ll deal with her wrath when we know she’s okay.”

  “Spit it out, Jasmine.”

  She swallowed, nodding and walking with me. “Jade ran into Andrew earlier, and things got out of control. He grabbed her by the arms. She wanted to wait until after the party to tell you because she knew how important tonight was. But he threatened her, and I think he could’ve had some kind of break. Dean overheard Jade telling me and left to track Andrew down.”

  Motherfucker.

  Everything inside me went up in flames of excruciating anger. I wanted to find Andrew myself and throw him through a wall. Knowing Dean was already hunting his ass down should’ve brought me some comfort, but it didn’t. I couldn’t stop picturing that asshole’s hands wrapping around Jade’s arms.

  If he followed her here and got her alone…

  “Stay here, call Dean, give him an update, and tell him to call me,” I ordered before breaking into a sprint toward the entrance.

  In the thirty seconds it took me to bolt out the doors and head for the corner, my mind filled with various scenarios, and each one made my blood boil. This can’t be happening.

  I’d die if anything happened to her. Jade was the piece of my soul I’d never known was missing until I met her. She made me whole again when I didn’t think I ever wanted the feeling back. Every sunrise we watched, every shooting star we spied, every ‘I love you’ we exchanged would be all I had to cling to if something happened to her. It wasn’t enough. Eternity wouldn’t be enough, but I’d settle for the next sixty years.

  I just had to find her, and then she’d laugh about my irrational fears and tell me I was crazy for letting my imagination get the best of me. I rounded the corner and tripped over outstretched legs of a long, large body resting against the wall.

  “Fuck,” I groaned, falling beside Harrison and assessing the gaping wound in his chest. “Tell me you’re still with me, Harrison,” I called, pressing down on his chest with one hand and gently cradling and shaking his head with the other.

  Harrison groaned and peeled back an eye. “Will…Jade…he took her,” he croaked.

  Will?

  Jesus fucking Christ. My mind had been so focused on thinking it was Andrew that Will hadn’t even entered the realm of possibilities. In a weird, unexpected way, this was better. At least I could try to predict what Will would do and where he’d go.

  “Shh, don’t talk,” I ordered, even though I was desperate for more information about what happened. I ripped my phone out of my pocket and dialed without even processing my actions.

  “Emmett…he’s in the limo,” Harrison warned, squeezing my hand with a fraction of his typical strength. “You…have to go.”

  “I will, as soon as the ambulance gets here. Save your strength, Harrison.”

  I heard sirens in the distance and prayed they were for Harrison.

  My phone rang, and I answered immediately. “Dean, listen to me,” I barked, not even giving him a chance to speak. “Will took her. Harrison’s been shot. I’m out on the southeast corner of the hotel and I need you to get back here right the fuck now. He took Jade,” I repeated, hating the way those words felt coming out of my mouth.

  A string of expletives was Dean’s first reaction before the sound of screeching tires rang in my ears. “I’m coming. Wait for me.”

  Minutes ticked by, feeding my desperation until it nearly paralyzed me. Dean had until the ambulance got here, then I was done waiting. I forced myself to think like Will. He never did anything without having a reason. Wherever they’d gone was chosen specifically. Jade was a pawn Will wouldn’t hesitate to use in the one-sided game he’d been playing against me since childhood.

  “Emmett!” Dean’s hand clamped down and shook my shoulder before I even realized he was there. “The paramedics are here,” he shouted, gripping the material of my shirt and pulling me away from Harrison. “Let them work.” Dean quickly spouted off what little information he knew about the situation—information I should’ve been conveying but couldn’t find the words to articulate.

  He pulled me up off the ground and shoved me toward the front of the hotel. When I still didn’t speak, he dragged me toward his car and pushed me in. “Where are we going? Emmett,” he called when I still remained mute.

  “I don’t know.”

  His hands slammed down on the steering wheel. “Emmett! You better figure it the fuck out, man,” he shouted angrily. “My sister’s life depends on you.”

  My head whipped around to glare at Dean. “I’m trying! Don’t act like you’re the only one with something to lose, Dean. I love her too.”

  His shoulders slumped, and his hands loosened their vice grip on the wheel at the same time he released a breath of frustration. “I know. Look,” he paused, twisting in his seat to face me. “If anyone can figure out where he’s going it’s you. You know him better than anyone. He’s not familiar with the area, so chances are he’ll stick to what he does know. I’ve got some people standing by, just give me the word and I’ll tell them where to go.”

  Dean’s words bounced around in my head as he called so
meone from work and quickly rattled off the information about the hotel and a description of Jade and Will, then repeated the same information to a cop friend.

  What does Will know about the city?

  Where would he take her?

  Seconds ticked by as my brain searched for answers.

  It had to be somewhere he was familiar enough with to drag an unwilling hostage and not be seen, and at the same time somewhere with a personal significance for me. What does Will know about where I’ve been with Jade?

  My head snapped up. “Dean, I know where he’s going!”

  The tires on Dean’s Camaro squealed before I’d even finished giving him the address.

  This had to be it. I wouldn’t let myself consider any other possibility.

  Chapter 28

  Jade

  I’d never been afraid of the dark as a child. It was comforting, the perfect bedtime companion. Even now, forcing my eyes open, the darkness didn’t scare me. What did terrify me to uncharted heights was knowing Will was somewhere close by, probably figuring out his next move. The exact sequence of events was a blur, but I remembered enough to know, for the second time, Will was responsible for my loss of consciousness. At least this time I wasn’t totally incapacitated. My limbs moved freely, though it felt like a tiny troll had burrowed in my brain and brought a jackhammer to do some renovations to my skull.

  The sight of Harrison’s blood-soaked torso and the sound of his labored breaths were flashing in my mind, evidence of the acts of insanity Will was capable of committing. Tears burned my eyes at the thought of Harrison, but I couldn’t let them consume me.

  I needed a plan.

  I surveyed my surroundings as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I was on a bed, and there was a covered window to my left. A small dresser was in front of the bed with a familiar floor lamp to its right. I scrambled off the bed, turned on the light, and yanked back the black plastic covering the window.