When she answers, she walks away, and I continue watching to the point I get worried Corbin is going to notice and blindside me with a punch while I’m distracted. Her back is turned and her voice is quiet, but I notice when her body goes rigid.
Without saying a word, she frantically slings the patio gate open and takes off running. I stand up, ready to chase her down, but then I hear the roar of her Camaro and tires squealing out.
“Where the hell did Ruby just go?” Kode asks before I can, looking over at Corbin.
He looks just as confused as we all feel, and he pulls out his phone.
A bad feeling sinks into my gut, and I walk over to him as he talks to her. Well, it seems more like he’s listening than talking. His eyes go wide and dart up to mine, and fear spikes my pulse.
“I’ll head that way,” he says. “Okay, then tell me when I can come,” he says after a beat. “I’ll be there if you or she needs me then,” he sighs, looking frustrated as he hangs up.
I swallow around the lump of dread in my throat.
“Go. Bo’s place. Now,” he tells me. “She was just attacked, and—”
I don’t hear the rest of his words because I’m already sprinting down the road, not even taking the time to get in my car. People jump out of my way when I barrel down the sidewalk, racing toward her apartment building, and my heart hammers in my chest as I dart across the street without waiting on the crosswalk light to change.
Horns blare and tires skid, but I keep running, not stopping when the doorman yells at me either. I throw open the staircase door and keep running, taking the steps three at a time up fifteen flights without slowing down.
When I burst out of the door on her floor, Amani is waiting by Bo’s door, training his eyes on me like he might rip me in half. I’m too preoccupied to be surprised to see him.
“You can move or we can finally settle this problem between us,” I threaten, stalking toward him without one single reservation.
Turning to face me, his lips twitch, and I crack my neck to the side. I really don’t have fucking time for this shit.
Chapter 48
BO
Three hours ago, I was found in the alleyway by a policeman shortly after I had been knocked out. Unfortunately, he called several people from my contact list, including my father who was stil
l in town.
He’s missed three shows in the past week because he’s stayed in town, waiting for me to talk to him. My father has never missed a show since he started performing over twenty-seven years ago.
Amani was with him when he showed up, since he’s Dad’s security this week. Mom was also with him, since she’s apparently been staying with him in hopes I’d see her too.
Now she’s in the kitchen and baking cookies. Well, burning cookies. My mother doesn’t cook, and she’s been trying to make a single batch turn out right since she got here and broke down in tears when she saw me.
My dad is sitting across from me in my oversized bedroom chair, while Bora is curled up on the bed beside me, slowly running her fingers through my hair. I used to do that for her all the time when we were younger and she was upset. This is the first time she’s ever done it for me.
It’s almost like we’ve swapped places lately.
The police have just left, because they took forever to take my statement, and I’m tempted to call Ruby. However, I know she has a party at her house right now. I don’t want to ruin her fun with yet another problem from me.
“I kicked his ass,” Dad says randomly, looking over at me with exhaustion in his features. I’ve never seen him look tired, and he’s a rockstar, so that says something.
“Whose ass?” I ask absently, ignoring all the guilt I feel for snapping at everyone all week.
Even Shanna is here, trying to teach my mother how to bake cookies, and she hasn’t yelled at me once. No one has. I entered an alleyway by myself and approached a man alone, uncaring if he was dangerous or not. Yet no one has even raised their voice to me.
They’re all on eggshells, because this is the first time I’ve let them be around me, and it’s because tonight I could have gotten myself killed.
For once, I deserve to be yelled at, and everyone is too afraid to do it because they’re scared I’ll cut them out again.
As if my head isn’t already hurting enough from the cheap shot I took.
“That jackass’s,” Dad says, reminding me we’re having a conversation.