“Harold?”
“Wait,” he clipped.
There was something with these two that I did not trust—besides them being scum. Any other person still would have gone for the phone and called for help, so why did they not?
“What do you exactly want to know? We’ve already told you he doesn’t live here. He hasn’t for a long time, and if he is missing, as you said, he won’t come here.” His eye twitched. “What else is there to know?”
“I would like some water,” I said. I wanted to get in that house. These people were untrustworthy.
“Go get it elsewhere,” the woman said.
“One drink and we will go,” I tried.
“No,” the fat man replied gruffly.
“When was the last time you spoke to West?” Lucas asked.
“Two months ago.”
“I thought you said he doesn’t want anything to do with you. Why would he speak to you two months ago?” Kylo questioned, making an excellent point.
There was a pause, then the woman said, “I rang him to try and get him to come and see us. It wasn’t us who put distance between us, but him. He didn’t listen and refused to come home.”
Lies. I would never believe West to act that way. He was the most caring man I knew, and that said a lot when I knew many.
“Thanks for your time,” Lucas said. “Adrik, Kylo, we should get going.”
“Nyet—”
“Adrik. I’m sure West will show up at home.” The look he gave me told me he wanted me to drop this and let them go.
“Fine,” I snarled and stepped down off the porch.
“Don’t come back, or we will call the cops,” the father threatened. The weak, pathetic man slammed the door shut, and I heard the lock engage.
As soon as Lucas stepped off the porch, I was in his face. I threw out an arm. “What was that? They hide something. I know it.”
“They’re not going to let us waltz in there. We need a different plan.”
“I kill them,” I bit out.
Lucas swallowed, his eyes widening. “Well, not yet, until we know what they know.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I barked, “What we do then?”
“We keep an eye on them,” Kylo suggested. “Wait until they’ve gone out and then we’ll get in there.”
I shook my head. “We do not have time. I want answers now.”
A phone rang. Lucas shifted back and pulled his out. His eyes widened. “It’s Wade.”
“Answer it,” Kylo said as I looked back to the house. The curtain moved again.
Lucas squeaked. “Do I lie or tell them where we are? I’m not good at lying.”
Kylo snorted. “We know. You can tell them since we’ll be here a while now.”
“Good, okay…. Hey, Wade, what are you doing?”
“He sounds guilty. He would never be good with torture.” I glared at Lucas, who gave me the finger. Any other would piss themselves before they acted such a way with me. He did have balls, after all, but Wade must be his weakness. It was understandable. I could see the love they held for one another.
“No, Adrik didn’t say torture.”
“But I did.”
Kylo chuckled beside us. I crossed my arms over my chest and shifted my gaze back to the house. I half listened to Lucas explain what we were doing while I ran my eyes over the house.
“Shut it,” I demanded on a growl.
“What?” Lucas snapped.
I covered his mouth with my hand. “Listen.” I was sure I heard something out of place. There were no birds, no neighbors, so what was it?
My eyes widened when I heard it again.
Screams. I looked down and saw a tiny window for a basement. “There.” I pointed. I took a step forward when the screaming got louder. “They have him,” I snarled, racing for the front door.
West
Whimpering woke me and, as I tried to move, I cried out and realized the whimpers had come from me. I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep, but from what I could see through the small window, the sun was out. There wasn’t a part of my body that didn’t scream in pain.
But most of all, I could really use a drink.
I laughed at myself. After everything I’d been through, all I could think about was a drink.
Prying my tired eyes open once more, I tried to shift my body to the side, only to still.
Had I?
Yes, there were voices.
Someone was here.
I must have lost the plot because, even though it was faint, I was sure I heard Adrik’s rough and gruff tone. I laughed at myself for that one.
A door slammed. Footsteps descended the porch above me. There were people here. I picked up the chains and rattled them. I banged them against the floor and opened my mouth to yell.
My voice failed me. A small sound fell out instead.
Were they leaving? They couldn’t leave.
Please, please, help me. Please.
I cleared my throat and tried again. It stung, but it was louder. Tears welled and dropped when no one came rushing back to the house.
The basement door opened, and I knew my chance to get free was shortening.
Opening my mouth, I ignored the pain and screamed with everything I had left in me.
Please, please, please.
Chapter Ten
Lucas
They have him,” Adrik shouted before he started for their front door.
“Fuck.” Kylo went after him.
“Wade, I have to go.”
Wade growled through the phone, “Don’t you fuckin’ dare—”
He would kill me for hanging up on him, but I had to follow the others after hearing that scream. The goose bumps still hadn’t faded from when the sound pierced the air.
My heart was in my throat. Adrik didn’t knock. No, he shouldered his way through the door, and it opened with a bang, hitting the wall behind it. He raced in, yelling, “West.”
“You can’t be in here,” Grace screamed, coming at us from down a hallway with a rolling pin.
She was close to Adrik when he palmed her face and pushed her to the side. She stumbled, dropping the pin, and fell to the floor.
Kylo pulled a gun and aimed it at her. “Move, and I’ll shoot.”
“West?” I yelled.
“Where is basement door?” Adrik demanded from Grace.
She glared up at him, saying nothing, but he caught, like I did, the flick of her gaze to the side. Adrik started for the door. I followed. He swung the door wide and flew down the stairs.
I slipped on one when Adrik’s roar echoed around the space. When I hit the last step, I stopped cold.
No. God, no. Oh my God, please no. Not West.
Adrik advanced on Harold, who backed up. I heard a snap as Adrik roared again. Harold’s body dropped to the floor. Lifeless.
A sob broke free. I hadn’t realized I’d walked over to West until I dropped to my knees beside my best friend, who flinched back with a whimper.
“West,” I whispered.
“I’m not evil,” he croaked.
“No, honey, you’re not.” Dryness caked around his lips, and there was vomit on the floor before him. He didn’t even open his eyes. My tears fell while my heart shattered for him.