170
LYRIC
The spoon dropped from my hand as I picked up my phone and called fim. My heart thumped at lightning speed,
threatening to leap right out of my ribcage.
Thankfully, Jace answered when I called.
“I–I saw your text. Is it true? She’s alive?” I rushed the words.
“Yes. But her sister isn’t letting me speak with her yet. I just think you should get down here. Maybe if she sees you…” “Yeah. Okay. I–I’ll be there. Just give me some time. Is it at her sister’s place?”
“Yes. Hurry, Lyric.”
I was confused for a minute. Getting to that location would take me about five hours. It’d be midnight by the time I get back here. Would Jaris be fine without me?
I felt scared leaving him alone, but I had to put my kids first.
I went into the guestroom and looked through the drawers for a short. I found a black one which I was sure belonged to Jaris.
I replaced the boxer I had on with it and was brushing my hair in front of the mirror when he showed up at the door. “Going somewhere?”
I was out of words for a moment. I was actually going out to look for ‘our‘ kids.
“Yeah. I just need to meet up with someone real quick.” I grabbed a ribbon to park my hair.
“And you had no intentions of telling me?”
“Of course, I did! I–I was just about to come tell you as soon as I was done dressing.”
He didn’t look satisfied. “Where are you going? We should go together.”
What?!
“No!”
“Why? Are you going to see another male?” There was a colder edge to his voice.
“What the hell?” My brows creased in confusion.
His eyes suddenly grew soft. He battened down the shutters of his eyes, let his head float back, and released a long breath.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. You should go.” He walked away.
I stood still for a moment, replaying what had just happened.
I finished with my hair, grabbed my car keys and went out to meet him in the living room. He was just on the couch, staring into space.
“Y–You could come with me. But please, promise me you’ll stay in the car when we get there.”
His eyes were cold as they pinned me with a stare.
A lot could actually go wrong here. What if he suddenly becomes blood–hungry and hurts me or someone else?
“I will,” he muttered, rising to his feet.
Walking to the door, he grabbed the keys from my hand.
The mood got better between Jaris and I when we hit the road. Looked like he only wanted to be around me–which was cool but unusual.
I was devastated when he told me Caden had hacked into my phone which was how he got to know about the diner. I felt so stupid for not thinking about it.
But then, it wasn’t something that was common. The guy was just a psychopath.
I put a mental note to get a new phone tomorrow. Thank goodness Jace and I hadn’t shared any texts concerning our location.
After five excruciating hours, we reached the l
Successfully unlocked!
“Still won’t tell me who’s in there?” Jaris asked, staring out the window, at the house.
“It’s just someone I need to ask some questions. I’ll be quick, don’t worry.”
I left the car and went out to meet with Jace who also came out of his own car when he saw me. I already told Jaris Jace
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and I were visiting someone.
As we walked toward the house, I kept glancing back at Jaris. I really hoped he’d keep to his promise and stay in the car.
We knocked severally on the door until Cora opened up.
“Why the hell won’t you leave me alone?! Do I have to involve security?” She rasped.
“Ms. Cora, please,” Jace pleaded. “I already told you we’re not dangerous. My friend and I only have a question for your sister. I know she was the one I saw through the window. You know it too.”
“Fine! You already proved you’re not dangerous. Still, I told you my sister can’t help you. Why won’t you just listen and back off?”
“Because we can’t back off!” I stepped in, my heart teeming with wrath. “It isn’t that easy, you know? Considering the kind of information I need from her. Not to mean any disrespect, Cora, but if you don’t let us in, we might have to break in ourselves.”
Her face paled. “How can you tell me-”
“You heard us right,” Jace cut in. “It’s really that important we talk to your sister.”
Finally–something that now seemed unbelievable–she let us into the house.
“Penelope hasn’t been the same,” she told us as she led us toward a bedroom. “I really don’t know if she’d be able to help.” We reached the room, and I wanted to scream in relief when I found Penelope standing by the window, her hand nervously rubbing her arms.
“You let them in?!” She squealed. “What if they’re here to-”
“It’s fine, Penelope. They’re good people,” Cora interrupted her.
I watched as Penelope took a hard gulp, still regarding us with suspicious eyes.
Something seemed off about her.
“I’ve been looking for you,” I began. “You called me that night but we didn’t get to-”
“What night?”
“Tenth July. You called and was saying something about-”
“I don’t remember anything.”
My heart stopped beating in my chest. Okay. I must’ve misheard her.
“Penelope-”
“I don’t even know who you are.”
“What’re you talking about?! It’s me, Lyric! You were going to tell me about my kids. How can you say you don’t remember?!”
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