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In an effort to pull him out of hell, I followed him too far this time. And as my eyes drift closed, so does any chance I have of dragging us out.

CHAPTER ONE

2016 - NOW

“We found him.”

I go still, my gaze locked on the tile floor of the bathroom. My hand tightens around the phone.

We found him.

I don’t even ask who. There’s only one name that could follow those three words. One ghost important enough to uproot my entire world.

“Is he okay?” My voice sounds rough, like it’s in as much shock as the rest of me.

“He’s alive. That’s all I know. I’m texting you the address now.”

My nod is instinctive. My brain is already somewhere else. “I’ll leave tonight.”

“Uh, no. You won’t. You have two shows this weekend.”

I hate that this isn’t a video call, so our manager can’t see my glare. Or mymiddle finger.

“Are you kidding me, TJ? We found Luke! Forget the shows. I’m going to see him.”

“Casey…” His tone has morphed from friend to manager. “Don’t make me regret giving you this information. You have to do the shows. The Label pulled all kinds of strings to get you in. Another screw-up and you guys are done. You know this.”

I clench my eyes shut, breathing hard. He’s right. I know he’s right. Our career has been sputtering into nothing since Luke disappeared. Night Shifts Black without Luke Craven is like pizza without the crust and cheese. For almost a year now, we’ve been limping from city to city as a glob of decent tomato sauce.

No one wants to see that. Well, no one except the diehard fans still in denial and the delusional dreamers who think this next show might be the one where Luke comes back. They don’t know the real story behind the disappearance of their idol. They didn’t pass out beside him on a cold gravesite and wake up alone in a hospital.

“We found him.”

Three words I prayed for every day, until so much time had passed I forgot to keep praying.

“You still there?” TJ’s voice is grating now.

My mind is already packing a bag, jumping on a plane, and flagging a cab to whatever address he’s about to send to my phone.

But I can’t. I can’t do anything except what I’m told now that Luke’s absence has made the rest of us irrelevant.

“Fine. But I’m going during the break before the Calisto Festival.”

“I understand. Just…” His voice fades, and even through the phone I sense his hesitation. His concern.

I clench my eyes shut at the words he’s not saying.

Don’t get lost again. Don’t you dare abandon us too.

“I won’t. Not this time. I promise.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “Good. Be careful.”

I don’t respond as I hang up, open the text stream with TJ, and wait.

My heart hammersas I stare at the numbers on the door of the hotel suite.

4. 0. 3.