“We’ve got a problem here. A big . . . a big fuckin’ problem. I need your help. I have nobody else to talk to and . . . can you come over?”
“What’s happened?”
“It’s better if you just come here and see for yourself.”
“Are you . . . hurt?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “But it’s worse than that. Please, just come here. I need you to come to me.”
Oh god.
This feels bad.
It feels so fucking bad.
I glance over to Alarick, who nods very softly. I glance at Mykel, and the look on his face screams that he is going to protest the moment I hang up the phone.
“I’ll be there soon.”
I disconnect the call and try to leave before anyone can stop me. It doesn’t halt Mykel, though. He stands and demands, “You’re not fuckin’ goin’ over there.”
“I have to head back,” I say, grabbing my things off the bench and turning to where everyone is now gathered. “I have to.”
“You’re high as fuck, for a start,” Mykel growls. “You can’t drive. Secondly, he sounded like he’d just fuckin’ murdered someone, and you’re about to walk in on that. It didn’t sound right and you shouldn’t be over there.”
He’s right; it didn’t sound safe.
But I also know I’ve made a commitment to this club, and I very much plan on following through with it.
“I have to go,” I say.
“I’ll drive you,” Merleigh says. “I’m not high. I’ll get you as close as I can. You’ll probably have to walk the rest of the way so I’m not seen.”
“Thanks,” I say.
“She shouldn’t be goin’, Pres,” Mykel snaps at Alarick.
“We’ll send some back up to stay nearby in case anything goes down. This could be huge, and it could be somethin’ we can use. She’s gotta go.”
“You’re not carin’ at all about her safety.” Mykel snarls, baring his teeth in an angry way that has even me taking a step back.
“Back down, brother. This is not your fuckin’ call.”
“Isn’t it?” Mykel barks. “I think we all get a fuckin’ say in this, and I say it’s fuckin’ dangerous.”
“I agree,” Briella says. “I don’t think she should go. She’s under the influence of drugs, and we can’t be close enough to protect her if anything goes down. It’d be different if she was in a clear headspace, but she’s not.”
“Gotta agree,” Cohen pipes up. “Tonight it ain’t safe.”
Fuck me.
They’re all making sure this doesn’t happen.
“Last time I checked,” I say, grabbing a coat, “it’s not up to any of you. I’m going. You can try and stop me or you can have my back. I’ll keep you all updated, and I’m not that high that I can’t think straight. I’m doing this.”
“Fuck,” Mykel growls and looks to Alarick, knowing that if Alarick tells me not to go, I won’t.
But he’s the only one who I’ll stop for.
The only one.
“You feel like you’re okay?” Alarick asks me. “You feel like you can think clearly?”
“I feel okay. High, but not to the point of not being able to make the right decision. I’ll keep my phone on me, and just see what it is Dax needs. Then I’ll report back and come home.”
“He didn’t sound right, Flick,” Briella pleads. “He sounded like he was off, in a really bad way. He said he was hurt. Anything could be going down there; it could be dangerous. If it is, there isn’t much we can do right away to help her once she’s at his house.”
Alarick runs a hand down his face, and exhales loudly. “Fuck, Waverly, I can’t let you go.”
What?
He can’t be serious.
“Alarick . . .” I try, but he puts up a hand.
“Briella is right. I can’t help you once you’re in there, and you’re not of clear mind. Not to mention we literally have no fuckin’ idea what you’re walkin’ into.”
“Dax won’t hurt me . . .” I try to say, even though I’m not entirely sure that’s true.
“We can’t be certain of that.”
“I’m only here to get information for you. Whatever happened tonight could be crucial. He doesn’t just call for no reason . . .”
“I’ve said no.” Alarick growls, his voice firm. “Respect it.”
Fuck.
Fuck.
I can’t.
I just can’t.
What if one of those girls has been hurt? What if something really important has happened that can bring this to a close once and for all? If I don’t go now, Dax may very well lose all respect for me, and then what? I’m going to be no different to the other girls and he’ll try sell me off as soon as he can, and any information I could have gained will be gone.
No.
I’m going.
I turn and walk towards the door.
“Waverly!” Alarick calls.
“I’m going,” I say.
“Fuckin’ stop,” Mykel barks.
I run out the front and towards my car. I know I’m making a huge mistake doing this, but I also know I’d be making a huge mistake if I didn’t do this. Either way, someone is going to lose here, and tonight, and I don’t want it to be another innocent girl.
I get into my car and hit the lock button before starting it up. Mykel is coming towards me at a pace that has my heart racing and my hands trembling. I throw the car into drive and lunge forward, before speeding out of the driveway.
I’m going to be punished heavily for this. I know that.
But I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.
Something has gone down at Dax’s place tonight, and I’m going to find out what that is no matter the cost.
10WAVERLY
“Dax, what have you done?” I whisper, staring at the bloodied man lying on the ground, completely lifeless.
Constable Bennett.
I know who it is—Alarick once told me all about him and the role he plays in everything Dax is doing. Not to mention that my sister is a cop and has had issues with Bennett since she first started working in the department. He’s as crooked as they