And we are going to find her, one way or another. We are going to make this family whole again. We have to. But there are some things Jade is better left out of. I couldn’t handle another person in this family getting hurt because I was incapable of taking care of them.
The doorbell rings, interrupting the moment with my twin. “Who’s that?”
“I don’t know.” She pulls back from me in confusion and asks, “Is Cason here?”
“Nah, he hasn’t come home from last night.”
“Maybe it’s for Dad?” she mumbles with a shrug of her shoulder.
“No, him and mom went to a business lunch and won’t be back until family dinner tonight.” A sinking feeling settles in my stomach. “Jade, stay here.”
The doorbell rings again but this time it’s followed by a pounding on the front door. “Jade, I’m serious. Don’t come down until I say it’s safe.”
I drag Jade into her room and level her with a stare, one that I hope conveys just how serious I am. “Lock the door behind me.” She nods, and I spin on my heels and shut her door with a slam. I practically run downstairs to the front door where whoever is on the other side is getting impatient. The pounding is only getting louder and more frequent.
I try to peek through the window in the front door but the only thing I’m able to tell about our visitor is that they are not very tall. I decide that whoever it could be is someone I could likely overpower if the need arises and open the door. I’m surprised when I see who it is.
Narni is standing on the porch with her fist in the air mid knock. I blink a few times to make sure this isn’t a trick. The last time she graced my doorstep was odd enough, but two times now makes it completely strange.
“It’s about time you answer the damn door,” she says. Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s so out of breath that she’s practically panting. Like she’d been running.
“What the fuck do you want Narni? Cason isn’t here,” I growl as I lean on the door frame.
“Yeah, I fucking know that asshole,” she says as she steps to the side and gestures with her hand toward her left. I’m not sure I believe what I’m seeing. Cason is sitting on the porch, slumped over against the railing. But that’s not what has me in shock. His face and arms are mottled purple and bloody, and if I had to guess, I’d say his torso is probably covered in bruises, too.
“Cason!” The shellshock wears off when Jade yells out. She runs past me, straight for Cason. Her hands are moving so fast over his body, checking every inch of him like a mother would do for her child.
I turn to Narni. “Who the fuck did this?” I slowly step towards her with straight-up murder on my mind for whoever messed with my family. Again.
“How the fuck am I supposed to know? He showed up on my doorstep like this,” she snaps at me. She doesn’t back away like most girls do. I guess that would be too easy for me, and right now, easy isn’t coming, well, easily.
“Jesse, can you stop raging for one damn moment and help me get him inside?” Jade yells at me. The panic reverberates in her voice.
I move towards Jade and Cason as she slowly tries to lift him onto his feet. He’s awake and moaning, but he’s beat the hell up. His head lolls as she struggles to hold him upright. I brace his other side but eye Narni. This bitch has showed up too many times in last few days to be a coincidence. And each time, it’s been with even worse news.
I can’t figure out how she fits into all of this, but she has a place in it somewhere.
Narni holds the door open for us as we carry Cason inside the house. He’s barely able to support his own weight so I shoulder most of it. I let Jade think she’s helping because I know she needs to feel involved in some way.
“Let’s put him on the couch for now,” I tell Jade. We gently lay him down across the suede cushions and, despite our efforts not to jostle him too much, he moans in pain.
“Jade, why don’t you get a wet towel to wipe the blood off so we can see what we are dealing with here?” I suggest. She nods and quickly disappears around the corner into the kitchen—and out of ear shot of what I’m about to say next.
As soon as Jade is out of sight, I turn on Narni.
“Who the fuck did this to him?” I ask her as I step towards her and get right in her face. Narni isn’t dumb; she’s street smart. She knows she’s prey until she gives me a reason to believe otherwise. And right now, I’ll treat her just like that—like I’m a hunter with her locked in my sights.
“How the hell should I know? He showed up on my doorstep like this,” she says, “One minute I’m eating breakfast, the next minute Cason’s bleeding all over my front step, freaking my mom the fuck out.”
“Why the fuck would I believe that? You show up with him looking like he got ran over and you expect me to believe he showed up at your fucking house needing help instead of just calling me? His best friend, his brother?” I’ve got her backed against the door now; we’re nose to nose. I don’t see any signs she’s lying but the part of me that knows my brother doesn’t trust people easily, especially women, doesn’t believe a damn thing she is saying. She steps back away from me, but doesn’t cower against my advance. She hasn’t dropped her eyes,
