Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Dragon
“Of course, Dragon. What do you need?”
I pause a moment. The generosity of this man never ceases to amaze me. I nearly ruined the concert tour in the UK and Europe, yet he forgave me. Even when I admitted I had taken the drugs, which I lied about in the beginning, he forgave me enough to allow me to stand next to him at his wedding to Brianna, Diana’s sister.
“I need to borrow some money. Not a lot, and I’ll be able to pay you back soon.”
“Fuck, man. Did you fall off the wagon?”
Anger curls at my neck, but I breathe through it. He has every right to ask me that. And if I had? He’d support me every step of the way.
“No.”
“Thank God. What do you need?”
“I have to drive to Taos, New Mexico. I don’t have a car with me here in Denver, and I need to get there right away.”
“What’s in Taos?”
“My parents… I think.”
“Seriously? You said you never wanted to see those fuckers again.”
“I don’t, but they’re the only link I have.”
“To your past life?”
“No. To my sister and what happened to her.”
Silence for a moment. Is he going to interrogate me? Because I’ll tell him everything. He’s the only one, besides my therapist, who knows about my past with my parents, with Griffin.
Finally, “All right. Whatever you need.”
“You don’t want to know the details?”
“If you want to tell me, I’m happy to listen. But if you don’t, that’s okay too. We’re brothers, man.”
That’s not the first time Jesse has said that about us and our friendship. Neither of us have any brothers. Jesse has three sisters, and I… Well, until recently, I thought I only had myself.
But if Griffin is still alive… Jesse deserves to know.
“I can only tell you this, Jess. I have reason to believe my sister may be alive.”
“Oh my God. And she might be in Taos?”
“I don’t know where she is. Someone might be pulling my leg. But my PI located two people in Taos who may be my parents. That’s where I’m going to start.”
“Oh, man…”
“I’ll be okay. I just need to rent a car and get down there as soon as I can.”
“Yeah, absolutely. I’ll wire you some cash.”
“You’re the best. I’ve got to go right away because Thursday evening I start a new job giving percussion lessons at a local music store.”
“Hey, that’s great. And in a couple of months, the band will be back in business.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to that.”
But am I? That means leaving Denver—and Diana’s penthouse.
I can’t think about that now. I have to go. I have to get to Taos and check out these two people.
If they’re my parents, I have no idea how I’ll react or what I’ll say to them.
I have to stay laser focused on the goal.
Find out everything that happened the night Griffin disappeared and then find her…if she’s still alive.
“No problem. Keep me posted, will you?”
“Yeah, I will.”
“You going to tell Diana?”
“About Griffin? Hell no, Jess. You’re the only one I’ve trusted with that information. Well, you and my most recent therapist.”
“I don’t know Diana very well, but of course Brianna speaks highly of her. They have their sibling rivalry, of course, but I’ve learned a lot about the Steel family since I got involved with Brianna. They’re good people, Dragon. Really good people.”
“I’m beginning to see that,” I say. “Thanks again, buddy. I promise I will make it all good between us.”
“Dragon, it’s all good between us. No worries about that.”
I end the call, and within a few minutes, five grand comes through on my cash app from Jesse.
I was expecting a couple hundred. Jesse’s more than generous with me. I’d like to think I deserve it, but I don’t. I’ll have to earn that.
Of course, now that he’s married into the Steel family, five thousand dollars is a drop in the bucket to him.
Doesn’t make me feel any less weird about taking money from him, though.
But my pride isn’t important right now. Finding Griffin is.
I get online, find a car rental place within walking distance, and reserve a sedan to pick up within an hour. I go to my room and throw some things in my duffel—I only need enough for a couple days—and bring it back to the door.
Should I leave Diana a note?
She’ll no doubt wonder where I am. But she’s so busy with work.
I send her a quick text.
Hey, I have to take off for a few days. I’ll be back by Thursday afternoon. I start my job that night.
I hit Send, shove my phone in my pocket, put on my black leather jacket, grab the duffle, and open the door?—
Only to run into Diana Steel.
She gasps.
God, she’s gorgeous. Today she’s wearing a black skirt and gray silk blouse. A few hairs have come loose from her ponytail, and all I can think about is grabbing her and plundering that succulent mouth.
“Where are you going?” she demands, her tone laced with anger.
“What are you doing home?”
She shakes her head. “You wouldn’t even believe it if I told you.”
“I just sent you a text.” I pat my phone inside my pants pocket. “I’m taking off for a few days.”
“Why?”
“It’s…personal.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yeah, I’ll be back by Thursday afternoon. I have to be. Your friend Antonio called and said that’s when I’ll be starting my lessons. That evening.”
“Oh. I see.”
I cock my head at her. “Are you going to answer me?”
“Sorry, what?”
“Why aren’t you at work?”
She shrugs. “Seems I don’t have a position there anymore.”
I stop my jaw from dropping.
“What the hell happened, Diana?”
“Like I said, you wouldn’t believe it. Where are you going, anyway?”
“Taos. It’s in New Mexico.”
She exhales sharply through her nose. “I know where Taos is, Dragon. It’s a cute little town. Very artsy.”
“Great. I’ll check out some galleries.” Except I won’t. I don’t give a shit about art. I’ll be checking out my parents.
“How are you going to get there?”
“I rented a car. Jesse loaned me some money.”
“You know what?” She lets out a sigh and puts her hands on her hips. “Give me about five minutes to get out of these stupid work clothes, and I’ll go with you. We’ll take my car. You don’t need to rent a car.”
I shake my head. “Diana… I said it’s personal.”
“And I suddenly find myself with a car on my hands and nothing better to do. So I’m going with you, Dragon.”
I open my mouth to argue, but then I close it.
It will be nice to have her company. Being with her makes things better. God knows I’ll need something to keep my spirits up during this trip.
The only problem?
It may mean leveling with her.
But I don’t have to level with her yet. I’ll still need some of the money Jesse wired me for a hotel room, but I’ll be able to give most of it back.
While Diana is changing and packing a bag, I pull up my map app. A little under five hours to Taos.
Five hours in a car with Diana Steel.
I don’t hate the idea.