Page 74 of Beyond the Stix

“Do you want me to come?” The frown on the bodyguard’s face has me chuckling.

“No. I think I’m safe for right now.” I leave Pen, and head out to the backyard. The rain has stopped, but the chill and the wetness penetrate my body.

Ignoring my slight shiver, I climb the ladder and push open the hatch. Thank Christ, Dad had waterproofed the roof, because the last thing I want to do is sit in a soggy bean bag chair.

“Crap.” I had forgotten that I busted the damn thing the last time I was in here.

I clamber through the opening and I’m about to close the hatch when the small battery-operated lamp I put on the tiny table years ago suddenly lights up.

My blood instantly freezes in my veins and all the air leaves my lungs as I stare at Jessup kneeling in the corner. “Hello, sweetheart.”

TWENTY-FIVE

John

“What happened?”I growl, venom in my voice.

“Are you close?” Pen grates out.

“Tell me what’s happened to Connor.”

“I can’t explain. You just need to be here quick.” Pen then ends the call, which raises my anxiety to an epic level. “Get me to the Wild’s home. Something happened, but Pen won’t tell me.”

“Faster than the speed of light.” Fig puts the SUV into gear and we take off to Connor’s home, which is a block over.

I glance at Fig. He says the strangest things sometimes. “Really?”

He doesn’t bother looking at me as a wide smile crests his face. “I can’t help it. I’m a sci-fi geek.”

“It’s not the only thing you are,” I mumble under my breath.

Within minutes, Fig has the vehicle in front of the Wild residence. I rush through the front door, which was unlocked. A growl rises up in my throat as I see Pen standing by the back slider door. “You asshole, you forgot to lock the front door. Anyone could have come in.”

Pen glances at me for a moment before returning his attention to the backyard. “I just unlocked it, knowing you had to be close.” He then points outside, toward the tree house. “Connor’s up there.”

I glare at the bodyguard. “If he’s okay, then why in the hell am I here?”

“Because he needs you right now. He just unloaded to his mother about Jessup. All. Of. It,” he bites out.

Shit.

“You oughta go talk to him,” Fig relays as he takes a seat at the kitchen island. He picks up a fork from the counter and stabs a piece of meat off a plate.

“Fucktard, that’s mine,” Pen hisses.

“Where’s Amanda?” I ask Pen, but my focus remains on the tree house and the dim light in the window. There is a shadow moving about inside, and my gut’s telling me something’s off.

Without waiting for a response, I open the slider and rush over to the ladder. I pause, listening for any noises. And that’s when I hear them.Them.

Connor isn’t alone.

Jessup.

I quickly but quietly climb the ladder until my head touches the hatch door. From this vantage point, I can hear the ensuing argument between Connor and… His uncle.

“I told you I never want to see you again. What don’t you understand?”

“But sweetheart?—”