Page 50 of Not Her Day to Die (Star-Crossed #2)

“ D on’t leave a message, I don’t check my voicemail.”

Axel’s voicemail plays out for the thirtieth time as I drive down the road. I have tried to reach all of the brothers, but none of them have answered the phone.

I don’t have much more time.

“Fuck!” I scream, throwing the phone down next to me.

My knuckles grip the wheel tighter in anxiety.

Each turn causes a flash of terror that I am going to somehow roll the truck.

I haven’t driven a vehicle since…well, since the short distance to the restaurant when I acted as bait.

And Darius’s truck is large, loud, and clunky.

But it is getting me there. Closer to Maxwell.

But then what?

The phone call plays over and over again in my head.

“Oh, so you do recognize my voice. You took everything from me, Sunday School. My brother, my home, my women. Even my fucking mother! She cared more about you than she should!” Maxwell’s voice was pitching in every octave, unhinged and incredibly chaotic.

“So I took Veronica and her sniveling brother. I was just going to kill them both for their betrayal, but then I realized…you are the cause of every single thing in my life. I’ll tell you what church girl.

Meet me where Tripp and Augustus died. If you do I’ll let Veronica and William go. But if you don’t?”

The threat hung for just a few seconds before he continued.

“Tick-tock, Sunday. Before sunset.”

And then the call had disconnected.

“Fuck!” The sun was setting, slowly sinking down and down. Barely any light was visible as I made my way towards where it all began.

Towards where Rayden shot me.

Towards where Auggie and Tripp died.

Towards where I found Julia’s body.

When I am five minutes out, the sky opens up, rain begins to pelt the windshield and my ability to see diminishes.

At a stop light, I shift my attention to my phone.

Grabbing it, I dial the number that had been calling me on repeat.

“Where the fuck are you? I showed up at the restaurant to get your ass and you were gone.”

“I need your help,” I say as I turn on the bend of road I will be parking on.

“Of course you fucking do. What have you done this time?”

“Listen, Luna. Maxwell, he called me. He has Veronica and William.” My voice is panicked, erratic.

Luna goes silent. The air in my lungs is expanding painfully as I wait for her response. I pull off on the shoulder of the road, putting the vehicle in park.

Lightning illuminates the sky.

“Sunday,” Luna’s tone has changed. “I’ll call my mom. Where are you? We’ll be there soon.”

She doesn’t even bother mentioning to call the cops. Even if William and Veronica are the sheriff’s kids that doesn’t mean anyone in town will help them.

Sterling was able to get out on bail.

I tell her where I am exactly .

“Wait for us.” Luna’s voice is more distant now and then I hear tapping away.

It’s my turn to go silent.

“You’re going to storm in there, without a weapon or anything, aren’t you?”

With my free hand, I dig into the glove compartment, pull out the gun I found in Grayson’s desk drawer, and set it carefully on my lap.

“I have a weapon. I just really don’t want to have to use it.”

Nor am I exactly sure how to.

Luna curses. “Sunday, please girl, don’t die. What if it restarts everything all over again? What if you aren’t meant to be there?”

“Luna, I’m sorry, but”–I open the door to the truck, the rain is falling even heavier now and it is nearly covering the sinking sun–“I have to go.”

Disconnecting the call, I create a group text with my three men.

This is reckless and stupid and I promise I tried to call you all to join me, but I can’t let Veronica die. I wouldn’t be able to survive it. I love you all. I’ll be at the bend. Where Tripp and Auggie died. I’ll be okay, I promise.

With the rain continuing to ramp up, I drop my phone on the car seat and grab the gun.

Jumping out, I slam the door shut and tuck the gun in the waistband of my shorts, doing my best to cover it with my now soaked shirt.

In the distance, nearly out of sight and around a bend, I can see a flickering light bulb of a street light.

Following it like a beacon, I make my way towards the end.

Because after this? It will all be over.

Once and for all.