Chapter Thirty-Three
Get out!”
“Where are we going?” Gavin demands, shutting the passenger door.
I don’t have time for this. With a groan between clenched teeth, I shift the car into reverse.
“Tell me what the hell’s going on, Sadie. Or I’ll call Mom to tell her you’re running away and have kidnapped me.”
I shoot him a side-eye like he’s insane. “That doesn’t make any sense. And how do you have your phone?”
“You went inside for keys. I grabbed my phone. At least one of us is thinking clearly.”
“You shouldn’t even be here!” I yell at him.
“You’re about to do something stupid.” He grips the handle above the door as I take a corner faster than I should. “Especially driving like a lunatic.”
My knuckles are white as I grip the steering wheel. My eyes focus intently on the road.
“This is about Reeves, obviously.”
I don’t answer. Gavin gives up and leans back in the seat.
I only slow down when I turn the car onto Jonathan’s driveway. I coast up the dark drive, the car practically rolling in neutral, and turn the lights off just before we reach the end. I park the car on the far side of the garage, out of sight.
“Now you’ve got me worried.”
“Shut it,” I hiss. “Stay here.”
I knew he wouldn’t.
As soon as we get out of the car, I can hear them. I look at Gavin across the hood and press my door shut with a gentle click. Gavin’s eyes dart back and forth as he concentrates on the voices, trying to decipher what’s being said.
I didn’t think this far ahead. I knew there was a chance Hal would blame Jonathan for the cameras. He’s always punished Jonathan for mishaps at jobs or with supplies, no matter how absurd the reasoning. I wanted to be wrong. But I didn’t consider what I’d do if I was right.
A crash inside the garage turns me around. Gavin is beside me. “Stay here.”
It’s my turn to defy him.
We move to the front of the garage. The small windows along the top of the retractable doors glow from inside. Gavin cups his hands to look inside the filmy square panes of glass. I press up onto my toes to do the same, not wanting the retractable door to vibrate and draw attention to us.
Hal has Jonathan pinned against a work truck, his hands on his shoulders, holding him in place.
“I told you, I didn’t touch the cameras.” Jonathan raises his hands in attempt to placate his father. But his eyes are stones of defiance, as is the growl of his words.
Hal sends a lightning quick jab to Jonathan’s ribs. Jonathan groans and clutches his side but remains upright.
I bite my lip to keep from making noise. I force myself not to look away.
“That’s bullshit! You were there tonight.” Spit flies from Hal’s mouth as he screams in Jonathan’s face.
“At Sadie’s!”
“Don’t you lie to me!” Hal slams the base of his palm against the side of Jonathan’s head, knocking him against the truck. “That Livvy girl is a friend of yours. You helped her light that fire—I know it. If this comes back on me… I’ll lose everything, and you’ll wish—”
Gavin bangs a fist against the door, then ducks. I drop into a crouch. Panic pulsing through my body.
What the hell? I mouth.
I know Hal’s about to come out any second. And I don’t want him finding us out here, listening in.
“Who’s there?”
Shit.
“Call to Jonathan?” Gavin whispers. I look at him like he’s pointing a loaded gun at me. He insists, “Call his name!”
“Jonathan?” I squeak out. I stand and clear my throat. “Jonathan?”
I walk toward the entry on rubbery legs just as Hal yanks the door open.
“Uh, hi,” I say, raising my hand lamely. I’m trembling like I’m standing out here naked, but it’s fear that has me quaking, not the cold. Jonathan appears behind his father.
“What are you doing here?” Hal demands, his words clipped with impatience. His eyes narrow as surprise hardens into suspicion.
“Can I, uh, talk to Jonathan? It’s important.” When I try to connect with Jonathan over his shoulder, Hal shifts to block my way.
“No, you can’t. I don’t know why you think it’s appropriate to be here at three in the morning, but if you don’t leave, I’ll have to call your parents.” He takes a step back like he’s about to close the door.
“They’re the ones who sent me,” I say quickly without thinking.
When Hal looks doubtful, I add, “Livvy, um, our neighbor. Her house burnt down tonight. And my parents… asked if I knew her friends. Because… they don’t know who to call.
You know, to find her parents. Livvy won’t talk to us. I thought… Jonathan could help.”
“Why didn’t they ask me? I’m the one working for the Hinleys.” He crosses his arms, challenging my lie.
I nod. Not about to tell him he got the Holisters’ name wrong. “Right. Do you know how to get ahold of them?”
“I don’t,” he says. “I’ve been working with their interior designer. But still, why not ask me first?”
“It’s pretty chaotic over there. I’m sure they would’ve if they remembered about the renovations,” I say, having no idea where this story is coming from. Or if I’ve convinced him yet.
He looks back at Jonathan. “Go with her. Be back before you need to leave for school.”
Jonathan motions to the back of the garage. “Need to get my jacket.” Jonathan walks to the back of the garage. I can’t get past Hal, who’s still blocking the entrance, so I walk around the side toward the other door.
Hal follows me around the corner and continues to the house. Samantha peers out the open door.
I give her a small wave and a strained smile.
“Everything’s alright,” Hal assures his wife. “Just a fire. One of Jonathan’s school friends—”
I don’t hear the rest. Jonathan holds the door open for me, and we climb the stairs in silence.
When we enter his room, Gavin is already there, filling a duffel bag on the bed.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jonathan demands. Gavin tosses him a backpack and then begins to fill a mid-sized suitcase.
“Get whatever’s most important to you,” Gavin tells him. “You’re leaving.”
“I’m what?” Jonathan challenges, like he doesn’t trust him. “Why do you think I’d leave?”
Gavin straightens and rushes toward Jonathan with a ferocity I’ve never seen from my brother before. He’s shorter than Jonathan, but in this moment, I’m not sure who I’m afraid for most. I try to step between them, but I’m not fast enough.
Gavin has a finger in his face. There’s fire blazing in Jonathan’s dark eyes.
“You’re important to my sister for some fricken reason I’ll never understand.
And I won’t let her witness what we just saw in the garage ever again.
Either you’ll promise to stay away from her or you’re gonna leave tonight so we can figure something out. ”
I’m stunned. Jonathan glances at me, red rising up his neck to his cheeks.
“And since I doubt you’re smart enough to leave her alone, I knew we’d be taking you with us.
So, get packing. We only have a minute before your father comes looking for you.
I’m sure he has a lot more to accuse you of, considering Sadie just showed up in the middle of the night with a lie not even Darcy would believe. ”
“Hey,” I scold on her behalf.
Jonathan takes the backpack and gathers papers from the desk, unpins drawings from the wall and folds the frame, slipping it into the front zipper. He scans the room, snatching a pair of swim goggles from a shelf and boots from the closet. Then puts on his jacket and grabs his truck keys.
We each select a bag and follow each other down the stairs.
“Which way should we go out?” Gavin asks Jonathan when we reach the two doors leading to the garage or outside.
Jonathan peers out the window of the side door. Hal’s on the porch with his arms crossed. “Doesn’t matter.” He turns to me. “If he tries to stop me, I need you to leave with your brother and not look back.”
I shake my head vigorously. He looks at Gavin instead, and they exchange a silent promise that I will break with all my might.
Jonathan leads the way.
“The keys are in the ignition,” I tell Gavin, following at Jonathan’s heels without seeking out Hal. My focus remains on Jonathan’s back as he strides to his truck, throwing the duffel in the bed.
Feet stomp down the porch steps.
Jonathan unlocks the truck as I near the passenger side.
My car starts in the distance.
I reach for the handle.
Jonathan opens his door.
My car backs up and swings toward us. Illuminating the pickup.
Jonathan’s door slams. But he’s not inside.
I remain motionless on the other side of the truck.
Hal’s fist collides with Jonathan’s jaw.
Keys fall to the ground.
My car’s engine revs.
Everything is frozen. Seconds tick.
A tear rolls down my cheek.
“If you leave right now, you can never come back.”
The air is a mist of breath. Mine. Jonathan’s. Hal’s.
The car revs again, expelling a cloud of exhaust in the darkness.
Eyes peer out a window in the distance.
The driver’s door opens across from me.
“Your choice, son. Come back”—his voice lowers, but his words cut through the frigid winter night—“and I will kill you.”