Chapter Sixty-Eight
TYLER
Glancing at my watch, I see that it’s already seven thirty, which means we’d eat dinner soon. Which means I’m another step closer to going home to Sunny. I smile at the idea of her being there, waiting for me.
I get to go home to Sunny.
Sam’s leg bounces as our father talks about the campaign coming up. She clutches her glass like she always does. It makes me wonder if painting gives her the same outlet sparring gives me.
I’m sorry, Sam. I tried to protect you.
He won’t shut up about the campaign, because work apparently is the only thing that brings value to his life.
I don’t know the details of what happened after the night I left Matthew in the hotel room. And quite frankly I don’t care. All I know is no one has bothered me about it, and that’s all that matters.
“Everyone is going to be there. It’s going to be so spectacular. We’re going to feel like celebrities, honestly,” My mother chimes in as her eyes light up at the idea.
I try not to roll my eyes. Celebrities.
“You two need to be on your best behavior.” Mitchell points a finger at us as if we’re eight years old again.
Sam rolls her eyes and a smile slowly spreads across my face. Maybe we are still eight years old.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, but my reach is interrupted.
“Our agreement was no phones, remember?” Diane eyes me.
“Woman please, he’s the heir to our fortune and company, and we have a huge event. It could be work.” Mitchell waives a hand.
I stare blankly at them for a moment and then pull my phone out, seeing a text from Sunny waiting for me.
“Well by the looks of that smile, I don’t think it’s work,” Diane scoffs into her drink.
It’s that moment I realize I do have a too wide grin pulling my lips. They both still aren’t happy about me breaking Shelby’s heart a second time, especially my mother.
Moving my eyes back to the screen, my smile quickly fades.
He got my number.
My body tenses as I read the words over and over, refusing for it to be real. How did I miss this?
“Tyler? What is it? Is everyone okay?” Sam asks.
“I need to go.” I stand up.
“What’s the matter, boy?” Mitchell grunts.
“Tyler, you're scaring me,” Sam says, standing with me.
“He got her number,” I respond, trying to call Sunny. My call won’t go through, making the panic rise in my chest.
Sam’s eyes turn wide as she grabs her purse, ready to leave.
“You guys!” Diane says sternly. It’s honestly the most assertive I’ve ever seen my mother. “What is going on?”
“Our friend Sunny needs us.” Sam grabs her coat out of the closet.
“Sunny? Are you kidding me?” Mitchell spits out.
“Sunny, the girl you brought to our events? Why does that concern you, Tyler?” Diane asks
“Oh, for the love of god, Tyler.” Mitchell rolls his eyes, standing up. “Are you fucking her?”
Still having the phone pressed to my ear, Sam hands me my coat, but the call won’t go through. I try again. Fucking nothing.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “That doesn’t concern you,” I snap at Mitchell.
“Tyler!” Mitchell yells after me. “We have talked about this how many damn times! What if you get her pregnant? You can’t have a bastard child.”
I see my mother wince at his aggression but I don’t have fucking time for this.
“You have a reputation to hold!” Mitchell yells.
I bring my phone to ear, trying Cole. “Fuck your reputation,” I seethe.
Then I slam the door shut behind me.
By the time we make it to my place, I notice none of the lights are on in the house. Which probably means Sunny isn’t here. I already called Cole and Anthony, and they’re on their way.
Ryan could fucking be here.
“Stay in the truck,” I order Sam.
Words are lost on her tongue when she stares at me wide eyed as I pull a gun from the glove box. “What the fuck, Tyler!”
I rack the glock, do a chamber check and then meet her eyes as I shove the extra magazine in my pocket, right next to my knife.
I grip the back of her neck to make her look at me. “I said stay in the fucking truck, Sam.”
Running up to the entrance of my home, I find Sunny’s cell phone smashed on the ground. A quick glance around gives me nothing. No Sunny. No Ryan. I take the phone and pocket it.
My mind runs through a series of different possibilities. Panic makes it impossible to think. When headlights break through the dark night, I see Cole and Anthony pull up and get out of the car. It's at this moment I didn’t even think to check the cameras. Instinct had me driving here.
What if he has her? Is that why her phone is smashed? Because she fought him?
“Do not go in that house alone!” Cole yells, running up with a gun in his hands.
“What’s the plan?” Anthony asks.
Find her. Is all that keeps echoing through my mind.
“Cole, you and I will clear my house, then hers. Then we’ll scour the fucking city. Anthony, call every airport, every airline, every fucking hospital to make sure she isn’t there. He could be here and have her.” The reality dawns on me.
Before, it was Sunny everything, everywhere, all the time. And now it’s fucking nothing. She’s nowhere. It’s fucking dark.
I hear Sam running behind me. “Sam get back in the fucking truck.”
“I can go to Martha’s?” she breathes, shivering from the cold.
She couldn’t have left. She wouldn’t do that. Right?
“Tyler, she wouldn’t at least leave without a goodbye,” Sam assures.
As much as I want to give Sunny the benefit of the doubt, I know it isn’t true.
Ryan makes her do out of character things.
She knows that not only will it compromise her own safety, but all of our friends too.
That’s why she left her own home to begin with, not just to protect herself, but her family, too.
Because at least if Ryan was trailing her, she could lead him away from them. From us.
“Okay, let’s get going. Time is of the essence. Anthony take Sam home. Then call every single place you can think of,” I order.
“I’m not going home when she is out there!” she yells as Anthony grabs her by the bicep trying to pull her away.
We were so close, Sunny. We were so close.
Cole looks at me. “You ready?”
It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to do this. It won’t be our last.
“I’m ready,” I say as I unlock the door.