“Lacey.” His tone hardened. “The big day is tomorrow. I don’t know what just happened back there. I hope my partner can get the car before we lose him. I need to make damn sure that wasn’t a threat or an attempt to kidnap you, and right now, the safest place until my partner calls me with some information is Kade’s.”
Chapter 31
Kade
Chloe and I sat at the kitchen island going over slopes and other algebraic equations. We’d changed the tutoring venue from the library to my house since it was quiet and free of onlookers or gossipers. Since I wasn’t with Lacey anymore, the rumor mill was in full force. I got tired of hearing the whispers around school about why we’d broken up. It went from Lacey showed him who wore the pants in the relationship at his party to she was in love with Tyler. How they came up with those reasons was beyond me. All I knew was I missed Lacey like a crack addict missed their injections.
I also didn’t try to push Lacey into talking. When she was ready—if she was ever ready to talk or give me another chance—I’d be ready to listen. I wasn’t aloof about the breakup. I didn’t want to agonize and make myself sick or bring the mood down around my brothers. I saved my moping for nights alone in bed.
I also kept apprised of the Lorenzino situation through Hunt. I knew the big day of Mr. Robinson’s meeting was tomorrow. I’d asked if I could help and join in on tailing Mr. Robinson. Jeremy had said no, and so had my father. The best place for me was in school, making sure Lacey was safe.
Kelton waltzed into the kitchen and flipped on a switch. The kitchen lit up like an airport runway, the fluorescent lights glinting off the gold-specked black granite countertop on the island that my mom had handpicked when we moved into the house. “How can you two see?”
I had the pendant lights on over the island, which were enough for me. “Do you mind? I don’t need all those lights.”
“Are your migraines back?” Chloe asked.
“No, it’s just better on my eyes when the light is directed at the book.”
“You two almost done? I’d like to steal Chloe,” Kelton said. “By the way, your girl pitched like a star during practice today. I think she’s ready for those ASU scouts tomorrow.”
I snarled as he mentioned Chloe then grinned at the news about Lacey. Chloe and Kelton had hooked up about the time Lacey and I had broken up. Chloe had called him, and before I knew what was happening, they were snuggled up on the couch in the theater room just before one of her tutoring sessions. Part of me wanted to pry Kelton away from her. I had my own problems, and they were adults. I didn’t know what Pitt would think if he found out. Hell, maybe he knew.
On the other hand, I was stoked to hear Lacey was ready for the scouts. Her dream was close, and that sent a wave of warmth and a pang of fear through me. If I couldn’t make amends with her before she left for ASU, I might never get her back.
The doorbell rang.
Kelton made himself useful while Chloe finished her last problem. She’d been doing well. She was smarter than she thought. Her issue with math was that she tried to do everything in her head rather than work the problem out on paper.
Kelton returned with Hunt and Lacey. Her stiff body posture told me something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Hunt had one of his mean grizzly looks like he wanted to punch a wall.
Chloe jumped up. “Lacey.” She glided over to her cousin and threw her arms around her. One thing about Chloe—she liked to touch people. She often used her hands when she talked, either to wave them around or to touch someone.
“Hi,” Lacey said. “Math test again?”
Chloe beamed from ear to ear at Kelton.
“Well, that’s my cue to steal her,” Kelton said in a husky voice. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand. “We have time before your bodyguard whisks you back to Boston. I want to—”
“Kelton,” Hunt and I said together.
Chloe waved at Lacey as they left. “We’ll talk soon.”
Lacey removed her ball cap, her hand quivering. “I hate to say this, but I’m glad to see Kelton with someone who may give him a run for his money.”
“Or maybe he’ll get his private parts chopped off,” I said.
Lacey smiled weakly.
“What’s going on?” I asked, not moving from my barstool. I was afraid if I did I would carry Lacey off to my room, lock the door, and not come out until we were a couple again.
She blew out a breath. “A car came at me head on, on Meyers Road. Hunt thinks it might not have been coincidental, with the timing of tomorrow.”
I arched an eyebrow at Hunt.
“I don’t know,” Hunt said as he scrolled through his phone. “Hopefully Mike will track down the car that took off.”
Lacey went over to the sink and got herself a glass of water. “It was probably someone doing something that distracted them from the road. Can we go now? I’m meeting Shaun for dinner.” She peered at Hunt over the top of her glass.
Keep it together, Maxwell. Between the almost accident and dinner with Shaun, my insides were going haywire.
“It’s best if you cancel, Lacey.” Hunt’s tone was unyielding. “I’m responsible for your safety, and my gut is telling me something’s not right.”
She dragged her gaze from Hunt to me. I wasn’t about to take anyone’s side, at least not out loud. I agreed with Hunt. Precaution was the name of the game. I blanked my face as best I could.
Lacey gulped down her water then texted someone. Shaun, I imagined.
Hunt’s phone rang, and he walked out.
“Are you okay?” I swept my gaze over her, slow and steady. I hated to be so obvious, but she was standing in my kitchen, sweaty and way too sexy. My libido was fighting for control while my protective side wanted to comfort her.
“I’m good.” She lifted her chin.
No, she wasn’t. She was trying hard not to show how flustered she was. “Are you ready for the game tomorrow?” I hated small talk and the awkwardness behind it. However, if it kept Lacey here and talking, maybe the topic would shift to our relationship.
“Nervous about the scouts. Nervous about my dad. I hope by the time I take the mound everything is over with and he has the ledger. But then the question becomes what next? He’s not certain what he’s going to do with it yet. If the ledger is even in the safe deposit box.”
Everyone was assuming that the ledger resided in that box. “I’m sure if it’s there your dad will make the right decision.”
Hunt came back. “Mike was able to get the license plate of the car before he lost track of it. We’ll check into it.”
“Again, it was probably a false alarm,” Lacey said, sounding as though she was trying to convince herself it wasn’t the mob trying to kill her.
Hunt growled.
Any other time I would’ve smacked anyone who growled or snarled at Lacey. But Hunt had every right. He was on edge. He had a job to do. She didn’t need to be riding him for protecting her.
“I’m going to use the bathroom then say goodbye to Chloe.” She marched out of the kitchen.
“Breathe, dude,” I said, finally stretching my legs. “She’s nervous too.”
“How much do you know about Shaun, that new guy on the team?” Hunt asked.
“Not much. I know his name is Shaun Spears. Lacey mentioned he moved up from North Carolina. He likes to hang with her and Becca at school. He’s a good pitcher. I don’t like that Lacey was meeting him for dinner. But that’s my own jealousy coming out. Why?”
“No reason. I’m just making sure I have all bases covered. He was following behind us, but they were headed to Wiley’s. Keep an eye on her at school tomorrow. It’s a home game, so she shouldn’t have any reason to leave school property. The bodyguards will be on extra alert too.” He scratched
his neck. “When are you two going to kiss and make up?”
“Now, if she’d let me.”
“She’s a great gal. You can’t lose her,” he said.
Don’t I know it.
Chapter 32
Kade
After seeing Lacey last night, sleep was impossible. Every part of my body ached. I craved to have her in my arms again—to feel her velvety skin against mine, to taste her watermelon lips, to feel her fingers in my hair, to hear her soft mewls of pleasure as I kissed and licked every inch of her body. Fuck, I was torturing myself.
I got up and took a cold shower. By the time I’d dressed, a ray of morning light beamed through the barely open curtains. I buckled my belt as I padded to the kitchen. I grabbed a container of juice from the fridge and closed the door as my father walked in. His footsteps were heavy on the wood floor.
“You’re not working today?” I asked, snagging a couple of glasses from the cabinet adjacent to the sink.
Normally, he’d at least be dressed in his suit pants and not sweats. He rubbed his eyes as he straddled a barstool. “I’m working from home this morning, then I have a full afternoon of patients.”
I poured juice in both glasses then gave him one.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to do after graduation?” He drank his juice, his gaze fixed on me.
Where did that come from? When something was bothering my father, he didn’t beat around the bush. I didn’t question him, and it was too early to argue with him.
“I haven’t. I was hoping Mom would come home, and I’d get to spend some time with her. With you working, I could help by taking care of her and the house.”
He scrubbed a hand over his unshaven jaw. “Son, I appreciate how dedicated you are to this family. I love the man you’ve grown into. It’s time to stop worrying about us. It’s time to let your brothers make their own mistakes. I know you want your mother home. God, I do too, more than anything. But live your life. Find something you want to do. It doesn’t have to be college, although I’d love it if all my boys went to college. But sometimes a year or two out in the world gives you time to decide. Has Lacey been accepted into Arizona State?”
“Dad, remember we’re not together anymore. I do know she submitted her application a couple months ago.” Lacey would be heartbroken if she didn’t go to ASU, and even more so if she didn’t get the baseball scholarship.
“Son, give it time. She’ll come around. In the meantime, why don’t you think about taking a year to travel? It would be a good experience for you.”
The idea of wandering around the country had a certain appeal—even more so if Lacey could join me. But that was unlikely. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Let me know how things go with Mr. Robinson and how Lacey does at her game.”
I trudged back to my room to brush my teeth. On my way, I noticed a faint light coming from the guest bathroom. I poked in my head. A cell phone sat on the sink, lit up with an incoming text message. Lacey’s phone.
I jumped out of my truck and hightailed it into school. I had five minutes to find Lacey and give her phone to her before the bell rang.
The smell of fresh cut grass hung in the air as the sun’s rays beat down. I hurried past a slew of kids and through the main entrance into school. The halls were jammed. Normally, I’d find Lacey either at her locker or hanging outside of her homeroom class, talking with Becca. But when I reached her locker, she wasn’t there. I went down two doors to her homeroom class. She wasn’t inside. Becca wasn’t around either.
I called Hunt. “Lacey at school yet?”
“She’s running late. I took extra time turning over my shift to the bodyguards. I wanted to make sure everyone was on their game.”
“I have her phone.”
“You were my next call. She realized it this morning. I’ll let her know.”
“The bodyguards ready then?” I asked, blowing out a breath.
“Chill, dude. I’ll check in with you after I get some sleep.”
I had no reason to worry. Up to this point, Hunt and his partner had done a great job on the night shift, and the dayshift bodyguards were great too. Given that today was the big day, I’d feel better when I knew Lacey was in class. With her running late, I anticipated she wouldn’t get into school until midway through her first period. The bell was about to ring for homeroom. Since she had English after homeroom with Kelton, I sent him a text.
Lacey will be late. Let me know when she comes in. I have her phone.
You got it.
By the time my first period class ended, I hadn’t heard from Kelton. So I dialed him. Kross came out of class behind me.
“Did Lacey show up?” I asked into the phone.
“No, bro,” Kelton said.
My body went ice cold. I checked the time. Even with traffic lights and stop signs, she lived—at most—fifteen minutes from school.
“What is it?” Kross asked. Lines were stitched in his forehead.
I was trying to stay calm while my system wanted to slam the panic button. “Lacey isn’t in school yet. I have her phone. Hunt said she’d be late, but I didn’t think he meant over an hour.”
A river of kids filed up and down the hall as Kross and I huddled against a bank of lockers.
“Call Hunt,” he said.
“Nah. He’s probably home sleeping by now.” I called Steve, one of the bodyguards on the dayshift. “Steve, where’s Lacey? She’s not in school.”
“Kade? What do you mean?”
“Where is she?” My hand gripped the phone like a vise.
“I’m not on her detail today. We have Pitt’s personal guards on her.”
I shut my eyes, praying so fucking hard he didn’t mean the steroid twins. “Not the one with a scar on his face?”
“Yeah. Jerry and his partner, Paul. I’ll call them then call you back.”
Motherfucker.
I counted to ten, my mind racing. “Let’s go,” I said to Kross. “Hunt didn’t tell me they switched out her normal bodyguards today.”
“Why?” Kross hitched his backpack on his shoulder.
Fuck if I knew. I’d specifically asked Wes not to put those morons on her detail. “No idea. Let’s check the parking lot. Can you call Kelton and tell him to call us if Lacey shows up?” I had to keep my line open for Steve.
Kross got out his phone and filled Kelton in.
A pain latched onto the back of my neck as Kross and I went in search of Lacey. We drove around the school’s main lot and the lot of the sports complex. No sign of Lacey’s Mustang. We phoned Kelton again. Still no sign of Lacey. Then Steve called back. He couldn’t get ahold of the steroid twins. I was resisting the panic button as best I could, but the stabbing pain in my temples made it hard for me not to smash the damn thing.
My stomach felt like Kross had used it as his punching bag as we drove through the streets of Ashford. I knew Lacey’s route from her house to school. I also knew she liked to stop at a coffee shop in town to get a latte beforehand.
“Red light.” Kross braced his hands on the dash.
“I see it.” I braked then scanned the street up ahead.
Shops lined the small town of Ashford on both sides. The coffee shop was up on our left. People were going in, and a girl with long brown hair hurried out. I did a double take, but when I focused, it wasn’t Lacey.
“Green, dude.”
Swallowing the razors I had stuck in my throat, I pressed on the pedal as gently as my nerves would allow.
A side parking lot cut a path in between the coffee shop and the local bookstore. I eased into the lot and circled around back. My blood froze, and a pounding beat in my ears.
“She’s here,” Kross said excitedly.
Somehow I didn�
�t think so. The scar-faced twin stood next to Lacey’s Mustang, talking on his phone and waving wildly with one hand. I jerked the gearshift into park and jumped out. My hands were balled into fists and my jaw was glued together as I stalked up to him.
Kross caught my arm. “Wait.”
“Kade just showed up. I’ll call you back,” Scar Face said.
“What the fuck is going on?” I peered inside Lacey’s car. Her backpack was on the passenger seat. “Where is she?” I was about to fillet him like a fish.
“What happened?” Kross asked Scar Face in a placid tone.
Thank God he was calm.
“Paul and I lagged one car behind her as she came into town. Out of nowhere a delivery truck stalled in the intersection, blocking us. When we finally got around the truck, she was walking out of the coffee shop. So we parked here, and Paul got out to make sure we had eyes on her. By the time he got around to the front of the building, she was gone. We’ve searched the area and talked to everyone inside. Paul is in the coffee shop now checking again with anyone who might’ve seen Lacey or anyone with her.”
“Steve tried to call you.” I got in his face. “Why didn’t you answer?”
“Back off.” He pushed me. “I was doing my job, trying to get answers.”
I lunged at him, pinning him against his vehicle. “You’re a fucking moron.”
Kross peeled me off him.
“She’s long gone, asshole,” I snarled. “You can’t even do your fucking job. Why the fuck does Pitt trust you two?”
“Bro, direct your energy elsewhere,” Kross said. “This isn’t helping to find Lacey.”
I shrugged off my brother and marched onto a side street, swearing. I called Wes. No answer. I called Hunt. No answer. I called Pitt. No answer. I was about to throw my phone when Kross drove up in my truck. I hopped in.
“That other dude, Paul, came back,” Kross said. “An employee in the coffee shop remembers waiting on Lacey, but she didn’t see anyone with her. No one did, according to everyone they spoke to.”
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