At first, it doesn’t register. It takes me a moment to realize the car is coming in my direction, fast.
Everything slows. The car moving toward me, the sounds…and in my mind all I can see is Rachel’s face. I pull the door handle in my hand and leap inside the car, shutting the door just as a black sedan zooms past, right over where I was standing, so close it almost scrapes the side of my car. The sedan comes to a screeching halt a few feet away.
Even before I push the door open and follow Joe as he approaches the other car, I already know who the driver is, and when Evans climbs out, grinning and weaving on his feet, I can barely control the urge to punch him.
By the time I get to where he’s standing, Joe has him in a viselike grip.
“Are you insane?” I can barely keep the anger from my voice.
“Come on!” he slurs, his eyes going from my face to Joe’s. “It was an accident. I lost control of my car for a moment.”
He’s lying, and he knows we know it.
“You’re a disgrace,” I retort. He flinches and I continue. “Look at yourself, for God’s sake, and try to take responsibility for once.”
“Fuck you, Landon. You think you’re better than me? Fuck you.” He sneers. “You’ve always thought too much of yourself. You think you can go around taking anything you want. I’ll show you.”
“Take him home,” I tell Joe, ignoring Sinclair’s outburst. I hear him spit at me as I walk away, but I don’t bother to respond. He’s a drunken fool and I will not waste my time with him.
Rachel is standing beside our car, watching me with worried eyes.
“Are you all right?”
She nods then glances in Evans’ direction. “He tried to kill you.”
“He’s stupid and drunk.” I open the passenger door and wait for her to climb in, then I go around the hood, getting in the driver’s seat. “Joe will drive him home and make sure he doesn’t hurt himself, or someone else.”
“Shouldn’t you call the police or something?” She’s staring at me, her eyes still wide with fear. “He could have hurt you.”
I don’t want to think about it. “Let’s go home.”
She’s silent throughout the drive, and I can’t even imagine how she must have felt seeing that car come toward me. In the apartment, I can barely let go of her hand. The adrenaline recedes and I’m suddenly aware of how real the danger was.
Rachel is shaking, and when we get into bed, she clutches me tight.
“I’m fine,” I whisper, over and over. “I’m fine.”
Nothing will take me away from you.
I’m up early, especially since I spent the night unable to sleep. In my study, I make a few calls. When I dial Ava’s number, her voice tells me she’s not surprised to hear from me.
“I heard about what happened, Landon. I’m so sorry.”
I can’t keep the impatience out of my voice. “You know that doesn’t cut it.”
She makes a sound. “He’s crazy.”
“And dangerous.”
“Landon…I don’t know what to do. I’m worried about how all this could end.”
The uncertainty in her voice gets to me. I’ve spent the last few months pushing her away without caring if she had any other support. Now, it makes me feel slightly guilty.
I sigh. “I would have called last night, but I didn’t want to wake you. He’s your brother, and he’s out of control. It’s time to stop talking and do something about him.”
“But I don’t know what to do! I’m worried, about him, about you…what he could do. He’s barely functioning, and the drugs aren’t helping.”
She’s crying now.