4. Ozzy
FOUR
ozzy
She wouldn’t look at me.
Wouldn’t even speak to me as she slammed her bedroom door down the hallway when we arrived back from Levi and Torin’s crime scene and subtly stated she doesn’t want to be bothered by anything going on.
That was three days ago.
Cairo is pissed, pacing the backyard, and on the phone every five minutes.
I know she’s losing her mind in there.
I can feel the thick tension underneath her door. Bay’s completely locked herself in a state of misery and despair, and I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.
I haven’t strayed far from it in case she needs me in any capacity, but she hasn’t reached out, nor do I think she’s going to.
Regardless, she needs to eat. Cairo banged on her door multiple times today, begging her to come out, but she refuses to give any sign of response except for the loud bang of something she threw at the door yesterday when Cairo threatened to break it down.
I’m starting to get anxious.
Cairo asked if I wanted to go search for De Leon, but I couldn’t leave her here. I’d probably be the last person she’d ask for. If anything, she’d bitch at Cairo and demand something, but I remain cemented to her family room and patiently waiting for anything.
Any sign of her coming out, a sound, an inkling something might be wrong.
Meanwhile, outside of Bay’s newly acquired prison cell, Mae won’t leave me alone. The kid’s ability to read the room is nonexistent because she keeps asking me to play various board games while Ellie tries to distract her with something else.
I can appreciate the backup, and the fact Ellie is old enough to notice something is obviously wrong with Bay. She’s already noticed that I’m not a big talker, but sometimes I catch Ellie staring at me. As if she can sense the unspoken relationship we have but doesn’t feel the need to talk about it.
I’m not looking to get close to Bay’s sister, and I’m glad she doesn’t remember me. There’s nothing I can offer her, and I’m not looking to divulge about our parents. Those memories have almost faded into nothing anyway.
Besides, Ellie has Bay, and that’s all she needs. I’m just an add-on. Something dark and dreary in her bright world that doesn’t need to be present, and I’m content with it remaining this way.
And maybe that’s what I am for Bay.
However, maybe she’s starting to see she doesn’t need me and would rather I leave her alone.
Just like she’s told Torin to do a bunch of times.
The idea makes me uncomfortable.
It forms tight knots in my chest that I can’t untangle. A sharp incline of adrenaline shoots through my veins next, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I’d say some of it is for Torin, but I’m still upset about what he did. Regardless, he’s alive, the way fate wanted it to be. If anyone would be taking Torin down, it’d be me or Bay. Matteo De Leon doesn’t have a pot to piss in when it comes to how stubborn my brother is.
“Can we play in the treehouse?” The ungodly voice of the same little girl pries my attention off the back of Bay’s door to find Mae bouncing around like she’s high on something. Her dark brown curls keep hitting rosy cheeks, and I just want to shove her out of my way and tell her to fuck off.
“Mae, he’s busy,” Ellie says, coming from the fridge and shoving a wrapped cherry popsicle in her face. “C’mon.”
“I want to eat it in the treehouse.”
“Fine.” The moment the word leaves Ellie’s lips, Mae sprints to the sliding glass door and rips it open, causing Cairo to steal a glance before going back to talking on his phone.
“Something is going on… What is it?”
I wish Bay’s dad were here right now so it’d give Ellie someone else to talk to.
Or Reeve.
Reeve would be better. He’d entertain them and make them laugh. He’d get their minds off Bay and on something else so I could focus on what to fucking do.
“Ask Bay.”
“I’m asking you .”
Steering my unamused attention back to Ellie, she’s a mini version of the girl whose bedroom I’m staking out. Her blue eyes are sharply narrowed in on me. She’s getting irritated by my lack of response and, honestly, I couldn’t give a shit.
However, in this world, you need a chip on your shoulder and strength to build character over shit like this.
Bay would be proud.
I’m still not amused.
“Bay is mad at me,” I semi-lie because I don’t know if it’s necessarily true. Plus, no one has told her about Levi, and she hasn’t asked.
Yet.
Ellie’s eyebrows knit together, but I see some of the unsettledness leave her face. “Oh…”
She glimpses over her shoulder, and I return my eyes to Cairo, who’s currently throwing an exasperated hand in the air outside.
I should be out there.
Yet I can’t tug myself away from Bay’s door in case she comes out and needs something.
Cairo’s gaze meets mine, and he holds up a finger for me to stay put, probably having some information to relay. I’m hoping it’s not anything more than what we’re already dealing with. I’m sure he’s figuring out what to do with Torin and when to get him home. Reeve is still out in the weeds somewhere, and it’s time I locate him, but my brain only wants to focus on Bay being literally holed up here.
“I’m going to go see Bay.”
I don’t acknowledge Ellie’s comment. All I can think of is good luck and may the force be with you . She’s going to need it.
Meanwhile, Mae is jumping up and down again like a terrorist. Circling Cairo’s body like a shark for whatever damn reason, I don’t know. I never saw her go outside, but—note to self—someone needs to keep a better eye on her.
The girl has mini-Bay Astor written all over her.
Honestly, I’m almost tempted to get a tranquilizer kit for the girl and put her down, but Bay has already had child-protective services called on the girls, thanks to my cousin.
It probably wouldn’t work out for the best, but who’s going to know?
“Bay’s gone!” My feet immediately move toward Ellie’s voice before my head has even snapped to the hallway leading there.
Fear fills the forefront of my brain for the first time ever.
Bay’s gone.
My brain clicks into action mode as I sprint for the front door. All hopes are dashed when Cairo’s car is still parked in the driveway.
Unless …
I move down the rest of the sidewalk until I’m in front of the garage. The Nova is still there and in place.
No signs of anything else amiss.
Moving quickly back into the house to get Cairo, I can’t even bring myself to feel anything else but hurt and fucking angry. She’s beginning to change things inside me, and I don’t like it.
I don’t feel in control.
And she’s not either.