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James’ knuckles turn white against the steering wheel. “So, Devon?” I ask, changing the subject before James gets himself fired. “You know where he is?”
“We tracked him to an address nearby.”
I frown, wondering why he’s so close but still not attending Carnegie. I close my eyes, trying to remember the last time Dee spoke about him. Of course, nothing comes to mind. It was always Keegan for her.
In all honesty, I felt bad for Devon. He was the only Forbes I could stand, but his dad and Keegan’s father never got along. It’s what I imagine Sir Jarvis’ relationship with Leo’s father was like. One thing the shitty men in this world hate worse than women is men who can’t hack it to their standards. If they aren’t cruel, heartless bastards, they get eaten alive. Only the ruthless get ahead in our world.
“I hope he’s okay.”
Oliver shrugs. “I know you like him, but just remember that, to our knowledge, he hasn’t shown up at all after Dee’s death.”
I tilt my head at him. “You think that’s suspicious?”
“He left Carnegie suddenly…” Oliver trails off as if he shouldn’t have to clarify his meaning.
“I’m sure there’s an explanation for it. Maybe something happened that we don’t know about yet.”
“I guess we’ll find out,” Oliver says as the car slows on the desolate back road. The snow from overnight has turned to slush, untouched as James steers the car down a driveway.
Tall, barren trees line the road. Brown leaves stick out of the melting snow covering the forest floor. In the summer, you probably can’t see all the way to the house from the road, but you can now. If I was expecting him to be hanging out in luxury, I’d be wrong.
Before us is a simple log cabin, smoke wafting up from the chimney only to be carried away by gusts of wind. “What is this place?”
“Certainly doesn’t look like a Forbes hangout,” Oliver remarks.
James pulls to a stop, and I peer out at the small cabin that can’t be bigger than a few rooms. “You’re sure this is the place?” I ask, attempting to peer into the windows, but ice is etched around the corners. A single rocking chair sits stagnant out front.
“One hundred percent. Don’t doubt Watson, Edie.”
I roll my eyes, wondering if Oliver is getting a little too carried away with all of this. It might be hard for him to assimilate back into normal life after we’ve found who killed my sister. But I’ll take that problem any day instead of the mystery hanging over my head like storm clouds all the time. I won’t rest until she can.
“Only one way to find out,” I say as I push open the door.
A shot rings out, and I stumble back into Oliver. He wraps his arms around my waist and holds me to him. The gun shot echoes and echoes, seeming to go on forever with nothing to absorb it.
My heart beats in my chest like crazy as I dart my gaze around. James starts to take off, and I have to scramble to stop the door from crushing my leg.
“It’s okay. Stop!” I demand, holding the door open.
I search the property for any trace of what just occurred, but I come up empty, even though the sharp bang still reverberates in my ears.
What the fuck was that?
Off to the left, I spot motion, and I stare between the rough trunks until a figure dressed in camouflage steps out of the trees holding a double-barrel rifle.
My heart stops beating for a moment as my mind takes off in a million different directions. I push back into Oliver, and he tightens his hold. Seconds later, the figure looks up, and I nearly crumble with relief.
It’s Devon.
He takes off a dark brown beanie that’s adorning his head and glares toward the car.
My legs are shaking, but I unwind Oliver’s grip from me and attempt to get out of the car again. Devon’s hold on the gun tightens, and I nearly come out of my skin. I’ve never seen him look like this before.
When I unfold from the car, his jaw unhinges. For a second, his eyes glaze over, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that he’s seeing Delilah in his head.
“Did you…try to shoot me?” I ask, going for levity, even though my heart still pounds so hard I can feel it in my wrists.
“Eden?”