“Fuck! It’s that bad?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“I can’t believe things got so out of hand. How’s Shade?”
“He isn’t good,” I said while peeking out of the glass doors. “I think Ocean might have figured out who did this to Jassi though.”
“Ocean’s there?”
I nodded. “Yeah, he just made it in a little while ago, and he’s livid.”
“Damn. I need to come up there and make sure he’s okay. Shit, I know he’s not okay.” I could hear her fumbling around. “You know what? I’m going to get changed. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Before I could respond, the line went dead.
Stepping a little closer to the exit, I tried to see if I could make out what Shade and Ocean were saying. But it was hard to read their lips.
All I could see was rage in Shade’s eyes. Then I saw him reach for the gun in Ocean’s waistband and bolt toward the parking lot, but Ocean stopped him. He whispered something in his ear, his words calming Shade down instantly. But his sudden calmness was almost eerie.
“Whatever you’re thinking, you’re right,” Trace said as he stood next to me, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Now that we’ve got that out the way, don’t bother asking him about it. He’s not going to tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s trying to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?”
“From knowing.”
“Knowing what?”
“Anything,” he replied.
“So, you’re saying they know who did this to Jassi?”
“I’m not saying anything.”
“Who was it? At least give me a clue, Trace.”
“I don’t give clues.”
“Well, what the hell do you do?” I blurted in frustration.
He glanced at the candy bar in my hand and smirked. “Go eat your snack, Nyx.”
“But—”
He was gone before I could finish, and I knew better than to go after him.
The person behind Jassi’s accident was about to suffer in the worst way. Shade was going to make sure of it. I just hoped it didn’t cost him everything, including his life.
52
SHADE
I leaned forward slowly, elbows on my knees, dragging my hands down my face.
Seven days.
