29. Domenic
Chapter 29
Domenic
It’s the day after the baseball game.
“Your birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. What do you want to do for it?”
I’m in my father’s living quarters while he plays at being a good dad. I appreciate that he’s making an effort with me, but the whole thing makes me kind of uncomfortable. It’s like he’s trying too hard.
I shrug. “Nothing, really. It’s no big deal.”
“You’re going to be twenty-two. You should make the most of it. Wait until you’re my age, and then you can really start to say it’s not a big deal.”
“I just want to hang out with Mackenzie and the guys. Maybe we can go and grab something to eat in Arlington. Get away from this place for a few hours.” I realize he’s alone. “Where’s Lucia?”
“She’s gone to talk to the head of the kitchen. She thinks they need to mix things up a little. Apparently, we’re not eating enough vegetables.” He rolls his eyes at that.
It’s childish, but I take a little pleasure from knowing that perhaps not everything is perfect between them. Serves him right if Lucia is nagging him about his diet. Not that he looks like he’s overweight. He keeps himself fit.
His phone rings, and he answers it.
“What?” he barks down the line.
Aah, that’s more like the man I know.
He listens for a moment, and then his expression tightens. “What? You’re sure he’s one of ours?” There’s silence again, and then he says, “Okay, we’ll be on alert.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, stiffening.
“A man’s body has been found on the side of the road just outside of the campus grounds. Looks like someone deliberately tried to hide it.”
“How was he killed?”
“Strangulation, by the looks of the marks around his neck, but it’s not like we’ve had time to do a fucking autopsy.” He’s snappish, but that’s understandable, considering.
“Shit.” I rub my fingers across my lips. “But we don’t know who he is yet?”
“No, he’s been stripped of his clothes, and doesn’t have any ID on him.”
“Why would someone strip him?”
“How the fuck should I know, Dom? I just found out about this seconds ago. I need to get to security and make sure we elevate the threat level and lock shit down if need be.”
Immediately, my thoughts go to Mackenzie and the others. What are they doing right now? I think Kirill is in the gym, so I hope Mackenzie is hanging out with Tino somewhere. They need to know if something’s going on.
I take my phone out of my pocket and call Tino first. He doesn’t answer. “Fuck,” I mutter to myself.
My dad has already stepped out of the room, but I can hear him barking orders to people. There is no world where a body being discovered doesn’t mean bad news.
I try Mackenzie next, but, just like with Tino, the call clicks to voicemail.
Damn it. If they’re too busy to answer the phone, it probably means they’re fucking. I’ll kill them. Not because they’re fucking, but because now I’m frightened for them, and they’re too distracted by each other to ease my fears.
I try Kirill next.
He answers almost right away. “What’s up?”
He’s breathing hard, and there’s the clank of weights being lifted in the background. Music plays tinnily.
“Do you know where Mackenzie and Tino are?”
“I think Mackenzie went to her room. She was going to do some yoga practice.”
“And Tino?”
“No idea. Sorry. What’s going on? You sound worried.” Now he sounds worried too.
“I’m not sure, but the college is possibly going into lockdown. There’s been a body found on the side of the road outside of the grounds.”
“Shit. What does that mean?”
I glance toward the room my dad is in. “Not sure, but it’s not good. I want to make sure everyone is safe. I’m with my dad now, and he’s trying to find out what the fuck is going on.”
“Okay, you keep your ear to the ground. I’ll go and find Mackenzie.”
“I can go. She’s only a couple of doors down.”
“No, you ought to stay by your dad’s side so you can keep tabs on what the fuck is going on.”
I growl a little under my breath but then sigh. He’s right. “I suppose so.”
“I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“And make sure Tino is, too,” I add.
I don’t know what any of this means, but I want to make sure the people I care about most in the world are safe.