“I’ll think about it,” I told him. “I’m going to New York tomorrow. I’m chasing that American girl, because I’m in love with her.”
Hodges inhaled sharply. It was satisfying as fuck.
“Yeah, you heard that right. I’m in love with her. Tell everyone. When I get back to Woodville, I’ll call if I’m interested in partnering on Mike’s Place with you. I might not; I might sell everything and move to America. I don’t know. Either way, I’m going to call the shots on my own business, and it’s going to be a big success. Let’s chat when I’m back in a few weeks. In the meantime, see if you and Michael can get the Shailor-Chapmans removed from the Association. I believe in you.”
He huffed. It might have been a laugh. “Thanks. I believe in you too, Mike, mate.”
I didn’t need him to. I had enough people who did.
But it was nice all the same.
The rain was ceaseless. My wipers whipped over the windshield, barely clearing a path before rain filled it again. It had been dry for so long here, all the water was just sitting on the earth.
The usual route to the airport was closed because of landslides, so I had to take the longer way through a gorge.
I usually avoided this particular road, but there wasn’t another choice today.
My lights were on, my hands at ten and two. When a red Toyota Hilux overtook me approaching a blind corner, at a speed that was beyond foolish in this downpour, I swore and eased further off the accelerator. It was hard to see even a few meters ahead, and the road was winding and narrow. Reckless driving made me tense?—
A fearsome bang split the air, followed by screeching. My car rounded the turn, and there wasn’t time to make sense of anything. Red metal spun like a propeller over the road, and there was a blur of white steel embedded in the road safety barrier over the cliffside.
I frantically worked the wheel, trying to stay topside, trying not to hit anything, trying, trying—but my truck slammed into the railing.
Lights out.
CHAPTER 28
NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A
LYSSA
I was at Caroline and Chase’s apartment when Kevin called to say Mike had been in a car accident.
In that moment, everything slowed down and gained a reverb effect. There was a piercing ringing in my right ear. I fought it, trying desperately to listen, to think, to keep breathing.
Mike was in an accident.
Mike was in an accident.
“Is he okay? Will he be okay?” Caroline asked, her voice high and frightened.
Chase whipped out his phone and started booking flights.
Should I do that? Could I do that? I stayed glued to the spot as my brain rolled with panic, waiting for Caroline to say more, to say he was okay. He had to be okay.
Mike was in an accident.
Kevin said something else and Caroline’s whole body sagged.
“Thank god. Okay.” She mouthed he’s okay to us.
I exhaled shakily.
“I’ll be there …?” Caroline looked to Chase, who hit a few more buttons.
“Tomorrow night,” he said. “First flight out.”
Kev started explaining what had happened. Caroline fumbled with her phone but eventually got it on speaker.
