The words warmed my insides even as they made my chest ache. “I guess it’s hard to trust it after everythin’ we’ve been through. She’d barely come back to me. She didn’t even tell me how she felt. We agreed that words only got us into trouble, and we should wait until she came back ag’in to say anythin’. So we could talk properly.”
Angel rested her head on my shoulder. “I can assure you, she loves you. More than she’s ever loved anyone. The fact that she was willing to move away from her family just to try things with you is proof of that.”
We started talkin’ in circles, runnin’ back over the ground of who could have taken Phoebe and why. It wasn’t helpin’ me get to the track, but I didn’t particularly wanna be in a public area with so many paps after me anyway. Even though I was expected back there, at least I had no major commitments for the day. I had no idea how I was gonna survive in the Daytona 500 on Sunday though.
Then again, if the rumors didn’t get sorted soon, a race was gonna be the last of my concerns. After all, as long as the spotlight was shinin’ on me, it wasn’t shinin’ on the real culprit, whoever that might be.
I moved to the windows of the hotel, tryin’ to see the front door of the hotel to see if the waitin’ hoard was still there. Although I didn’t have a great angle, I could see enough movement to confirm they were.
“I’m gonna call Mr. Richards and let him know I don’t think I’ll be out of here anytime soon. Not without fightin’ through that or negotiatin’ somethin’ with the hotel manager, but I’d rather save my favors for Sunday.”
Angel nodded.
“D’ya mind if I use the room for a li’l privacy?” It made more sense seein’ as though she was set up on the sofa already.
“Not at all.”
Reaching for my phone, I headed into the bedroom to call Dale.
“Is there any truth in the rumors?” he asked almost immediately after our greetin’.
I rubbed my hand over my eyes. “Course not. How long have ya known me?”
“I have to ask. It’s the livelihood of the entire team we’re talking about here.”
I hummed to acknowledge the words. There was nothin’ else to say.
“We’ve already got the PR team involved to sort out the situation, but I think you’re best lying low today and tomorrow. I’ll have something sorted out for getting you out of the hotel Sunday.”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure I’d heard him right. He’d already gotten the PR team involved and was tryin’ to clear my name? Yet he still needed to ask me whether I’d done it?
“What if I’d said I was involved?” The question left me before I could stop it.
“What?” The response was distracted. It was clearly somethin’ he hadn’t expected me to ask.
“What if I’d said I was involved in Phoebe’s disappearance?” I was tryin’ to keep calm, but it was takin’ everythin’ in me not to shout at him. Would he have swept it under the rug? Continued to roll out the PR train to keep his precious team tickin’ over? What would he do if he discovered another team member was involved?
“Well, we would’ve had to deal with that as a separate issue. But it doesn’t matter, does it, because you didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“Are ya kiddin’ me?” The words weren’t nearly strong enough. I wanted somethin’ that would leave him with no doubt over how pissed off I was that he would’ve tried to cover up Phoebe’s disappearance if I’d been involved. If he learned the truth about who it was—if Cash was involved, for instance—would he keep that quiet? Would he truly sacrifice Phoebe’s safety for a few goddamned races?
He sighed, no doubt pickin’ up the irritation I was radiatin’.
“I never should’ve agreed to let that Reede girl in. It’s bad luck having a female in such a key position.”
Phoebe’s words at the kart track echoed to me from that day. Although I knew I’d irritated her when I’d said she could drive good “for a girl” and she’d explained the reason for her irritation, I’d never truly understood the struggle she’d talked about. Never needed to worry about bein’ talked down to and not taken seriously.
Now, I saw it.
Dale’s attitude was exactly the sort of thing she fought so hard against. The fact was despite her bein’ a girl, and a young one at that, she knew what she was doin’. I’d witnessed that durin’ the kart race, and I’d seen it again durin’ her first test laps. Even though she’d been flustered at first—no doubt as a result of Jase’s presence—she’d managed to get the car around the track better than most rookies.
I understood her frustration to be taken seriously. Tryin’ to fight for her in her absence was only a glimpse into the struggle she’d faced daily, and yet it was more than I could handle without blowin’ up with rage on her behalf.
“Are ya fuckin’ kiddin’ me?” I shouted the words loud enough that the door to the bedroom crashed open and Angel charged in. She took one look at my face and stopped in her tracks.
“Don’t worry about it,” Dale said. “Forget I said anything.”
I wished I could, but I was startin’ to lose all respect for not only him but for the team. Did anyone care that Phoebe could be anywhere? Sufferin’ anythin’. I didn’t say anythin’ more to Dale, just hung up my cell phone and threw it onto the bed with a growl on my lips. The temptation to hurl it at the wall was strong, but I didn’t wanna lose my one link to possible leads about Phoebe’s whereabouts.
Angel approached me slowly, cautiously. “Are you okay?”
“No, I ain’t.” I started to pace, but Angel reached out for my arm and stopped me.
“What’s wrong?”
I shrugged out of her hold and stalked away.
“No one cares that Phoebe’s missin’.” I rubbed my hand over my eyes. “It’s like my heart’s been torn from my chest, and no one else realizes the world stopped spinnin’ the moment she disappeared.”
The words spilled from me without stoppin’, but somethin’ about Angel reminded me of Phoebe. Made me almost comfortable to show my vulnerability. Mostly, I knew that of everyone, she’d understand how I felt.
She didn’t try to comfort me or tell me I was wrong. Instead, I heard a sob from behind me, and I slowly spun to see her on the edge of the bed, clutchin’ the pillow, cryin’.
“I’m sorry, Angel, I didn’t mean to upset ya.”
“It’s not that. I just didn’t think anyone else understood how it felt when the world just keeps going on even though there’s a huge fucking hole in it. How can the world do that? How can it keep going on?”
“I guess ’cause the rest of the world doesn’t know Phoebe like you and I do,” I said as I bundled her up into my arms so she could sob against my chest. “They don’t know what’s missin’.”
MY PHONE STARTED ringin’. When I saw Mr. Reede’s number on the screen, I answered it without hesitation.
He didn’t even say hello. “I’m in the basement of the hotel. You have five minutes to get Angel down here, or I’ll come up there and make your life a living hell.”
“What?” I was certain I must have misheard him.
“You heard.” The line disconnected.
Goddammit. He thought I was guilty too. I was certain of it. That would be the only reason for his arrival in Florida, his cold voice, and the urgent demand.
“What’s wrong?” Angel asked.
“Nothin’.” Knowing she’d likely argue in my defense and refuse to go if I told her the truth, I decided to pretend Mr. Reede’s arrival was part of a bigger plan, at least until she was in his care. “Pack your things, you’ve got a way outta here.”
“What?”
“Mr. Reede is downstairs and is away from the paparazzi for the moment, but he’s not sure how long he can keep ’em away, so we gotta move quick.”
“What? Mr. Reede’s here?”
“Surprise,” I said, tryin’ to force myself to show a happy face. “He’s gonna take ya away from the circus and keep
ya safe, ’kay?”
“What about the help I was going to give you at the track on Sunday?”
“It’s all right, li’l miss, we’ll be able to get someone else to help Jackson out.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of the words I’d used or because her bullshit detector was soundin’ the alarm.
“Now, can ya please get ready before Mr. Reede’s efforts are for nothin’?”
“Sure thing.” She cast me another skeptical glance before headin’ back into the bedroom.
Thankfully she had very li’l unpacked and was ready before long. I led her to the elevators, determined to ride down with her. That way at least no one could step on at another floor and harass her. She was a beautiful girl, and the last thing I wanted was to be responsible for her bein’ harmed or hassled.
I rested my hand on the base of her spine to lead her into the elevator car before steppin’ away as soon as we were inside. We stopped at a few floors as people climbed on and off the elevator.
“So what’s really going on?” she asked when we were alone again.
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”
She raised her brow and fixed her emerald gaze on me. “I’m talking about this cloak-and-dagger bullshit. You’ve been acting differently ever since that phone call. Is Phoebe’s dad really here?”
“Yes, ma’am, he is.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
She sighed. “You’re acting like some goddamn automaton or something. Not like the you I’ve come to know over the last few days. So unless you’re really a robot in disguise, why don’t you spill?”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. If I told her the truth, she could refuse to leave me and that would possibly make things worse for us both. But if I didn’t tell her, she might refuse to leave the elevator until I had. Or worse, my lies of omission to protect her could become reasons she stopped trustin’ me. “Phoebe’s daddy wants to take more precautions to keep ya safe.”
Her eyes pinched together again. She was smart as a whip, and I doubted she’d have too much trouble puttin’ two and two together. “He wants to get me away from you.”
I didn’t confirm or deny her words.
“He believes what they’re saying and thinks you’re involved,” she continued, following her train of thought to the end. “But that’s silly.”
There was no point remindin’ her that she’d believed it for a moment too—however briefly. “Still, I think it’s best to cooperate with his request,” I said. “’Sides, he really can get ya out of the hotel easier than I’ll be able to. The press’ll be lookin’ for me and for you, they won’t be lookin’ for him. Not yet.”
“I’ll go, but I’m not happy about it. He’ll be getting a piece of my mind.”
I turned to her and rested my hand on her shoulder before meeting her eye. “Don’t go too hard on him. He ain’t havin’ an easy time. If I’m goin’ outta my mind with worry, I can only imagine how he must be feelin’.”
“How can you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Care so much about how he’s feeling when he thinks you’ve done something terrible?”
I stared at my hands. “’Cause I know it’s what Phoebe would want me to do.”
The elevator stopped at the basement parking lot and the doors slid open. I grabbed Angel’s bag and placed my other hand against the base of her spine to lead her to the car Mr. Reede was waitin’ by. He met us halfway and grabbed her bag from me. It was like some ridiculous custody battle with Angel, the child, caught between two warrin’ parents. Without a word, he spun back to put her luggage in the car.
Angel took me by surprise, wrappin’ her arms around my neck and draggin’ me into an embrace.
“Stay strong in light of these false allegations, Beau. Phoebe would want you to keep your head up until the idiots who think you’re guilty find out the truth.” She said the words loud enough that Mr. Reede could hear them. I watched as his back stiffened when they struck.
“Thank ya, Angel,” I said, pattin’ her back before she pulled away. “And thank ya for givin’ me some company and for your help at the track.”
She kissed my cheek before moving to the passenger side of the rental car. After she pulled open the door, she offered me a little wave.
I tried for a smile as I returned her good-bye. Phoebe’s daddy caught the exchange, but didn’t say anythin’ as he shut the trunk of the car.
“’Scuse me, sir,” I called out. If he was gonna treat me like a criminal, I wouldn’t refer to him by his first name like he’d asked. “Can I have a moment, please?”
He pressed his jaw together and clenched his fists before closin’ the distance between us.
“What is it?”
“I just wanted to let ya know I understand, sir.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as his eyes widened. Perhaps he thought I was gonna try to talk my way out of the situation or plead my innocence. There would be time for that later, once Angel was safe and the paparazzi weren’t circlin’.
“If it was my daughter, I would suspect anyone and everyone, and I’d wanna keep her friend safe too.”
His eyes pinched as he took a backward step. “I need to follow every lead. Especially strong ones.”
“I understand,” I said. It wasn’t easy for me to see the doubt in his eyes—the ones so dang similar to the ones I missed so much—but that didn’t mean I didn’t understand why it was there. “Just promise me ya won’t be too hard on Angel if she insists on my innocence.”
The anger in his eyes softened, makin’ way for indecision. “I’ll be arranging for her to go home as soon as I can. I can’t risk her safety too.”
“I understand, sir. And I believe that might be for the best.”
He nodded and then headed back to the car before stopping halfway and turnin’ back to me. “I’m sorry it went down this way, but I have to find my daughter.”
I nodded, knowin’ no more words were needed.
Angel waved out the window once more just before they disappeared from view. At least without her, it would be easier runnin’ the gauntlet to the taxi when I had to. Not that I even knew if I was wanted at the track. Perhaps the sponsors would prefer not bein’ involved with me. Either way, nothin’ had been said to me. Until I heard anythin’ different, I had an obligation to be there. That was the only thing stoppin’ me headin’ home—or at least to North Carolina to pick up my truck and find some breathin’ room there.
Spinnin’ on my heels, I headed back to the elevator to go back up to my room. With no one at my side, I had no distractions from my own guilty conscience or any way to silence the voice naggin’ me about all the ways I’d failed Phoebe.
It was gonna be a long wait until Sunday.
SATURDAY, I ORDERED room service and hid away with my own dark thoughts.
Sunday mornin’, I was up and dressed far earlier than necessary. Tuggin’ on a baseball cap and pair of sunglasses, I faced the paparazzi as best as I could—keepin’ my head low, my tongue bit, and my hands shoved into my pockets rather than formin’ fists at my side. I’d checked out of the hotel, had my suitcase with me, and had my exit plan all set—not only for the race but for Florida entirely.
By the time I reached the track, I was on edge. The idea of goin’ into another race without Phoebe—and without even havin’ Angel at my side to remind me of her—was almost too much. Phoebe shoulda been there. Shoulda been racin’ in the other car. Shoulda been givin’ me a run for my money behind the wheel.
To avoid drawin’ too much attention to myself, I found places to hide most of the mornin’. When it came time to face the music, I dressed in my gear and headed out. The waitin’ crowds cheered Cash past, and then booed when I followed. It wasn’t somethin’ I was used to. I was always the one only in the spotlight for the right reasons—now I was bein’ regarded as a murderer, and God only kn
ew what else.
“It’s always the quiet ones,” someone in the crowd called to his buddy.
“I always thought there was something shady about him” was the response.
A few fans pushed to the front of the crowd to profess their belief in my innocence, but I couldn’t pay them any attention. It was takin’ everythin’ in me to not turn around and just leave.
I didn’t say two words to anyone the rest of the day—refusin’ even to do any interviews. Durin’ the race, I purposefully set times that weren’t my best. Winnin’ would mean press. Press would mean questions. Questions would be reminders of the way I’d failed Phoebe. Failed her family. Failed myself.
When I climbed from the car, I needed some space so I headed to a quiet area of the pit.
“I understand, Bee.” The sound of Xavier’s voice caught my curiosity and I followed it, even as it took me further away from the crowd gatherin’ around Cash to celebrate his podium finish.
“I said I’ve got it. How’s everything there? Any luck?” As he paced around the darkened space, he nodded as if Bee was in front of him not on the other end of the phone line. “Well, give her my love and tell her I’ll be home soon.”
His next stride saw him turnin’ to face me. When his gaze met mine, his eyes widened before he said a quick good-bye to Bee and hung up the phone. “Mothers, you know how they are with the way they worry.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. We didn’t know each other well, but it wasn’t a state secret that I had no livin’ family.
“Tough luck out there today,” he said.
I waved off his concern. “I couldn’t care less about the race.”
His mouth twisted. For a moment, it looked like he was smilin’, but then his grimace was firmly set. “I guess you’ve got a bit of other stuff goin’ on.”
It was the understatement of the century, and yet somethin’ told me he was talkin’ about the reporters, and not Phoebe’s absence.
Beastly (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story #3) Page 12