Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Ayden
TWO DAYS AGO
After the call from Laney ends, I try again repeatedly, but it cuts out each time. Zane’s phone does the same thing.
Fucking hell, this isn’t good.
I decide to reach out to Oliver. He was looking for my dad, so I know he’s gotta be close by.
“Hey, I’ve checked—” He starts as soon as he picks up, but I cut him off.
“Go to Laney’s. There was an explosion. I can’t get ahold of either of them.”
“Holy shit. I’m goin’ now.” The squealing of tires echoes through the phone.
“I’m packin’ a bag and gettin’ on the first flight to Houston. Whatever happened, my dad’s involved. You find him, you hold him for me. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Text me and keep me updated. I’ll let ya know when I’m headin’ down.”
“Will do, sir.”
Once we hang up, I race to the airport and send Garrett a message on my way.
My heart hammers for a solid three hours. The one hour it takes to get on the flight and the two it takes to fly there are the worst. When the plane lands in Houston, I read text updates from Oliver that Laney and Serena were taken to the hospital. Then as I drive to Beaumont, I call him.
“Zane didn’t make it,” Oliver tells me as I speed to the hospital.
My stomach sinks. “Fuck, man. I’m so goddamn sorry.”
“I have your father. Found him behind the house on the ground. He must’ve been too close during the explosion, and it knocked him out.”
“Is he alive?” I ask.
“Well, his heart’s beatin’ if that’s what you’re askin’. Broke his nose and knocked him out a few times for killin’ my friend. Now what do you want me to do with him?”
“Keep him for a bit. I gotta make a couple calls, then I’ll let ya know.”
“Will do.” He hangs up.
Next, I call my lawyer and give him an update.
“I heard. The whole town’s buzzin’ with rumors on what happened. I suspect your father.”
“Yeah, Oliver has him. I’d like to deliver him to Judge Carmichael myself and let him decide what to do with him. Think you can arrange that?”
He’s silent for a beat before he clears his throat. “It’s almost four in the mornin’.”
“I’m sure he’s awake,” I say dryly. There’s no way he isn’t with a killer on the loose after that explosion.
He huffs. “Yeah, gimme a few.”
I should tell Oliver to take him to the police department, but something tells me Boyd wouldn’t mind dealing with him behind closed doors. He’s already missing, so whether he keeps him permanently missing or not will be up to him.
As soon as I arrive at the hospital, I rush inside, and Laney’s mom and Serena greet me in the waiting room. I called on my way to the airport to tell Ms. Bennett what I’d heard, and she was one of the first people to arrive at the scene after they pulled Serena out of the car. They look exhausted.
“Daddy!”
“Oh, thank God.” I swarm my little girl in a tight hug. “You okay?” Kneeling, I spin her around, checking for any injuries.
“I’m okay.” She holds out her arms so I can check.
“Good. Where’s your mama?” I ask
“Restin’,” Ms. Bennett says, approaching behind Serena. “She’s banged up, but she’s a fighter.”
“Will they let me see her?”
“I told the nurse you’d want to as soon as you arrived, and she said you could for a few minutes.”
I kiss the top of Serena’s head. “I’ll be right back, sweetie.”
“She has a concussion, and we gave her pain meds, so she’ll be out for a while,” the nurse tells me as she leads me to her room. “She’s got some bruises but should fully recover in a couple months. Broken ribs have to heal on their own with rest and limited activity.”
Fuck. I shake my head with anger.
The nurse taps my arm. “It could’ve been a lot worse. Someone was lookin’ over them.”
Howie.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
She nods, then leaves.
I hold Laney’s hand and kiss her knuckles. Then I press my lips to her forehead. “I love you, sweetheart.”
A few more minutes pass before the nurse enters and tells me I can return during visiting hours. I give her my number and ask her to call if there are any updates or if she wakes up.
“You two should get some sleep,” I tell Laney’s mom.
“What about you, Daddy?” Serena asks.
“I’m gonna stay here in the family waitin’ room until visitin’ hours start. I won’t be able to sleep anyway.”
“I’ll bring you some food when we return,” Ms. Bennett says.
“Thank you.”
I give Serena one more hug and kiss before they leave.
Once they’re out the door, I call my lawyer again.
“Boyd wants us to bring him to his house,” Shane tells me. “You sure about this?”
“Positive.”
Oliver picks me up from the hospital, and we drive to Judge Carmichael’s home outside of Beaumont as my father lies unconscious in the trunk.
“He’s alive?” I confirm as Oliver drives us.
“Last I checked,” he deadpans, his grip firm on the steering wheel.
“I’m sorry about Zane,” I tell him again. “He was a good guy.”
He nods but stays quiet.
As we approach the judge’s house, it’s eerily quiet and still. Trees line up the driveway to his two-story home.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Oliver murmurs. “Like dead bodies are buried out here.”
I snort. “If there aren’t now, I have a feelin’ there’s about to be.”
Boyd stands on his porch as we approach. He’s in jeans and a black jacket, both hands covered in dark gloves. We get out of the car and meet him by the trunk.
“Let me see,” he says lowly.
Oliver pops the trunk, and I stare down at the man who brought me into this world. A sad, pathetic man now covered in his own blood.
“You were never here, Ayden. Understood?” Judge Carmichael says.
“Crystal clear,” I reply.
He nods before his gaze shoots to Oliver. “Leave him on the ground. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Oliver obliges, lifting my dad out of the trunk and not-so-carefully tossing him to the concrete. My father makes a disgruntled groan as he hits the pavement.
“Argh. Howie.”
“What’d he just fuckin’ say?” I ask.
Oliver shrugs.
“Say it again,” I demand, kneeling closer to his face.
It must take every ounce of strength my father has to pull in a breath as he repeats himself. “At least…I got…Howie.”
My blood boils as he says my best friend’s name and the implication of his words.
“You had him killed,” I murmur, swallowing hard. My words are painful as I spit each one out.
My father’s eyes struggle to stay open as he goes silent.
“Why?” I shout, demanding answers. When he shakes his head, I stand and kick him in the ribs.
It’s the first time I’ve touched him. And damn, does it feel better than I imagined.
“Rot in hell,” I hiss, then spit on his frail body.
Oliver pulls me aside as if to make sure I don’t go overboard.
“I owe ya one,” Boyd says. “Off the record, of course.”
“No, sir. I owe you.” I give one final glance at the man who ruined my life.
“Time to leave,” Oliver says, slamming the trunk closed.
I walk to the passenger’s side. “Let’s go.”