“You’re worried Kara’s still at their place?” Curtis asked.
“Charlie said she stayed there.”
“Doesn’t mean she’s still there now,” he replied, pulling out his phone. He tapped the screen and put it to his ear. “That vein in your neck might be throbbing for no reason.”
“She’s still there,” I replied through gritted teeth. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew she was still at her apartment.
As we got closer to our apartment complex, I cursed as I realized that my gramps was right. They had closed off the main road.
“Go around,” Curt said, jerking his head toward a side road.
I nodded and drove slowly down the street. It was eerie how empty the roads were. There were no cars in driveways, no kids playing, no lights shining. Everyone had already gone.
As we pulled in the back entrance of the complex, my hands tightened on the steering wheel. There were cops everywhere, knocking on doors. The sight made me vaguely nauseous.
Chapter 3
Kara
“Can I help you?” I asked the police officer standing outside my door. My stomach rolled. I knew him.
His fist was still raised from knocking, and he looked startled that I’d answered. “Miss, this area is now in the level three evacuation area. We’re asking all residents to evacuate now while they can do so safely.” There was nothing wrong with his words, but there was something in his expression, or maybe his tone, that rubbed me the wrong way. Instantly, I remembered every other encounter I’d had with him. They played quickly through my mind in Technicolor. I couldn’t stand him, I didn’t want his help, and if I didn’t know that it would make things worse and hadn’t been taught since birth not to antagonize the police—I would’ve told him to fuck off.
“Thanks for the notification,” I replied tightly, taking a step back so I could swing the door closed.
My mouth nearly dropped open in shock when the door stopped short, held in place by his boot. I shouldn’t have been surprised.
“Did you need something else?” I asked, tilting my head as I double checked that my phone was in my pocket.
“You need to get your things together and evacuate,” he said condescendingly.
“I heard you the first time,” I replied calmly. I made a show of looking down at the floor. “Please move your foot.”
When I glanced back up, his expression had changed from condescension to anger. He opened his mouth to reply, but I spoke first.
“Legally, I don’t believe you can make me leave the premises,” I said, straightening my spine, forcing my voice not to shake. “And I haven’t let you in and you don’t have a warrant, so please get your foot off of my carpet.”
“Bitch,” he said under his breath, not moving. Instead of making him angrier, he looked almost like he was enjoying the fact that he was making me nervous. The realization disgusted me.
“Kara,” a voice called, the sound coming from behind the officer. “You almost ready to go?”
For the first time in years, the sound of Curt’s voice made me sag in relief. The officer stepped back, nodded at Curt and Draco, and then strode down the breezeway. Of course he did. Bullies didn’t stick around to face people as big as they were.
“I just have to pack my car,” I told Curt as I swung the door to the apartment open. “I got everything together.”
“Damn, woman,” Draco said with a laugh, the sound shooting like electricity down my spine. “This all you’re takin’?”
“Ha-ha,” I replied dryly. “I know it’s a lot, but I had too much time to worry about it and I just kept finding more stuff to take.”
“No worries,” Draco said as he moved toward the pile of stuff. “It’ll take two minutes to load it up.” He picked up the backpack and slung it over his shoulder, and it took everything in me not to pull it away from him.
“I’ll grab the crate,” I said lamely, as the guys loaded their arms with my things. I hadn’t had to ask for Draco’s help—he’d pitched in anyway, just like always.
“Just grab the keys, sweetheart,” Draco said gently as he stepped toward the door. “I’m guessin’ your Jeep’s locked.”
“Always,” I said, rolling my eyes as I dug my keys out of my purse. There had been a string of car break-ins in our apartment complex and nothing had been done about it. Management refused to put up any cameras and the cops kind of just threw up their hands and said there was no way to find out who did it. We’d learned not to leave anything in our vehicles and always make sure they were locked.
Draco picked up the mask I’d left on the back of the couch earlier. “Good thinking,” he muttered to himself. He held it out in my direction as he pulled a bandana up and over his nose. “Put this on, baby.”