Page 29 of Unmask (Crew of Elmwood Public #2)

KAYLOR

E van pulled away from the curb, the black town car gliding smoothly into traffic as Kreed and I sank into the leather seats. The sky outside had turned a muted gray, the threat of a more serious snowstorm heavy in the clouds as perfectly shaped white flakes continued to dance from the sky.

With us tucked warm inside, Evan drove us toward the other side of town. Nothing was going to plan. The pompous ass just thought he could claim me, kiss me whenever he wanted, touch me. The worst part was that I let him. I liked it. Too damn much.

Only Kreed could bring me so much pleasure and rage within the same minute. One second, he made me feel treasured, and within the next, I was consumed with zapping jealousy at the thought of him with another girl.

Why did he put that image into my head?

Kreed’s attention since I moved into his house had been solely on me.

I hadn’t seen him with other girls, and judging by my reaction, I didn’t want to.

It made me sick to think about him with anyone else, but how could I hate someone and still be so consumed?

Possessive? Affected? I didn’t know what I felt anymore other than he made me feel.

I leaned my head back, exhaling. I just wanted one day without the world crumbling underneath me.

Tipping my head to the right, I glanced at the thorn in my side, studying his profile. His lips twitched slightly, knowing my gaze was on him. He had cuts on his knuckles and bruises that I hadn’t noticed before. I grabbed his hand before I thought about it. “What happened?”

He shrugged it off, flipping his hand around to interlock our fingers. “Nothing. Just the repercussions of football.”

Frowning, I pulled my hand away from his. “Why don’t I believe you?”

A single dark brow shot up. “Are you worried about me, little raven?”

I snorted just as my phone buzzed in my pocket. Dropping his hand, I pulled out the device, Carson’s face popping up on my screen. I caught Kreed’s scowl as I answered and smiled faintly, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hey, Car?—”

His voice came through in a frantic rush, tripping over itself, so fast I could barely make out the words. “Kay—oh my god—it’s Kenny—I don’t know what to do—I can’t find her—no one’s seen her?—”

My stomach plunged. “Carson,” I said, sitting up straighter. “Slow down. Take a breath. Tell me what happened.”

Beside me, Kreed tensed, his focus snapping fully to me.

I hit the speaker button so he and Evan could hear too.

Carson took a shaky breath and tried again. “It’s Kenny. She’s missing.”

My brain stuttered, refusing to process the words. “What do you mean, missing?” My fingers trembled around the phone, a sinking feeling forming in my gut.

“No one’s seen her, Kay. Not since yesterday. She’s not answering her phone. Her parents tried everything. They’re filing a missing person’s report right now.” He was barely holding it together. “Have you heard from her? Anything?”

That desperate edge in his voice was raw and pleading, making my stomach churn.

I almost wanted to lie to give him a fraction of hope, but instead, I stared blankly out the window, city lights smearing against the glass like watercolors, and whispered, “No. Nothing. I haven’t talked to her since… the other day.”

He swore under his breath. “This is bad. I have a horrible feeling. Shit. I don’t know how it happened.”

The color drained from my face. “When was the last time you spoke to her?”

“Yesterday morning. Before school. We had a fight.” His voice dropped, thick with what I swore was guilt.

“A fight?” I echoed, meeting Kreed’s troubled gaze for a moment. “About what?”

There was a pause. “It was stupid. We were arguing about you.”

“Me?” My breath hitched. “What for?”

He didn’t answer right away, and that told me enough. Whatever it was, it mattered, and it wasn’t good.

Kreed shifted beside me, the leather creaking as he leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on mine.

Carson’s voice pulled me back. “It doesn’t matter. It was dumb. I should’ve let it go.”

“You don’t think she’s really missing, do you?” he asked, rushing his words. “Maybe this is just one of her stunts. You know how she gets. She’s impulsive. Dramatic. Maybe she just wanted attention or needed space or?—”

“I’m sure it’s something like that,” I said quickly, too quickly. “Maybe she got stuck somewhere. Her phone died. Her car broke down or?—”

“Her car’s been at school since yesterday,” Carson cut in. “She never drove home.”

That froze me. “Since yesterday?” I repeated, my brows furrowing. “Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

“I thought she’d show up! I really did. I kept checking my phone every hour, but then today, when she didn’t come to school, I panicked. And when I got home—” He gulped. “The cops were already there.”

My heart continued to drop as I shifted my grip on the phone. I was shocked I could still hold it. Nothing in my body seemed to want to function properly. “Did you track her phone?”

“Yeah. It’s still pinging at the school. Like it never left. Can you try calling her? Maybe she’ll pick up for you.”

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “I will. I’m coming over. You shouldn’t be alone.” I blinked hard against the pressure behind my eyes. “I’ll talk to her parents. The police, if they’re still there. We’ll figure this out. Together.”

There was a ragged breath on the other end. “We have to find her, Kay.”

“We will,” I vowed before ending the call. I stared out the window again, watching the world pass in a blur of gray and blue.

Kenny was missing.

Those words didn’t fit in my mouth. They didn’t feel real.

She was loud. Smart. Funny. Loyal. Literally the best friend anyone could ask for. She wasn’t supposed to just disappear.

I fumbled with my phone in my hand like a lifeline. Kreed hadn’t said anything, but his gaze was on me, waiting patiently. I didn’t turn to meet it. I couldn’t. Instead, I whispered to the dark interior of the car, “This can’t be happening.”

Not to Kenny.

Please, not to Kenny.

My call went straight to voicemail when I tried her number, and my texts went unread, but I had to try.

The last fifteen minutes to my old neighborhood were fucking harrowing.

I didn’t know what to do with myself, my mind spiraling to the darkest possible scenarios.

Kreed pulled my fidgeting hand into his, steady and strong, two things I desperately needed.

We pulled up to Kenny’s house a few minutes later, the town car barely coming to a full stop before I was pushing the door open and stepping out into the cold.

Evan called after me to wait, but Kreed was already there, rounding the car and falling into step beside me. “You’re not going in alone,” he stated.

I didn’t argue.

There was no time.

As soon as I spotted the two cop cars, my chest seized; for a brutal, endless heartbeat, the afternoon bled away, and I was there again, standing in the cold, my parents’ blood slick on the driveway, the wail of sirens clawing through the air louder than my own silent scream.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” Kreed said.

I nodded, drawing in a breath and lifting my chin. I can do this. For Kenny, I would do anything.

The porch lights spilled weakly across the dusting of snow, illuminating Carson’s pale, stricken face as he yanked open the front door before we even reached it. “Kay,” he said, pulling me into a desperate hug. His entire body shook. “God, I’m so glad you’re here.”

I hugged him back just as tightly, feeling the rim of his fear scrape raw against my skin.

When we pulled apart, Carson finally noticed Kreed behind me, his eyes darting warily between us.

I gave a small shake of my head and a pleading glance.

The last thing I needed was the two of them to start shit.

Carson seemed to understand, but he touched the side of his lip where the cut Kreed had left was still healing

Kreed kept his hand on the small of my back, a silent gesture of support I needed. “What the fuck is going on? Have they found her?” I rushed out. “Found anything?”

Carson had tears in his stormy, dark blue eyes. “She’s gone. I don’t think this is a prank. She’s really missing.”

My legs trembled, and I sank into Kreed, my back falling into his solid chest. I had to get a hold of myself. The only way we could find her was if we all kept our composure and a cool head. Falling apart wouldn’t bring Kenny home.

The house smelled like coffee and something burnt, as if someone had forgotten a pot on the stove.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with despair.

Kenny’s mom sat on the couch, her face buried in her hands, shoulders heaving silently.

Her dad stood stiffly by the fireplace, jaw clenched, talking to two uniformed officers with grim faces.

The severity of the situation hit me.

“Kaylor.” One of the cops turned toward me, recognition flashing in his eyes. “We might need to ask you a few questions. Specifically, about the last time you spoke with Kennedy.”

No one called her Kennedy. Not even her parents. “Kenny,” I corrected. “She goes by Kenny, and whatever you need,” I replied, my throat dry. “We last spoke a few days ago.”

Kreed hovered a few feet behind me, his entire body humming with silent tension. He was a living weapon, poised to act if needed.

For once, I was glad he was here, not that he needed to know that.

The officer gave me a sympathetic smile and motioned toward the kitchen, away from Kenny’s grieving mother. I followed, Carson and Kreed at my back like twin shadows.

As I walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling coiling in my gut, the same sick twist of dread that had haunted me ever since Carson’s call. Those girls who kept going missing over the last six months flashed through my memory.

There’s no way she’s one of those missing girls. I didn’t even want to think about it.

Not Kenny.

Not my best friend.