“What did he say? Where are you going?” Lizzieasked.
“I have to go meet the guys.” My phone buzzed with an incoming call, but I didn’t recognize the number—it certainly wasn’t any of the guys or Grayson. I ignored it and turned back to Lizzie as she moved away from therailing.
“Did they tell you what for?” sheasked
I shook my head, but I knew that it probably had something to do with Erika and Josh and H. B. Holdings. I needed to put my own anxiety and stress aside about my would-be relationships and focus on the matter at hand—finding Erika and making sure she didn’t sign her life away to clear Josh’s debt. I shuddered at thethought.
“I’ll see you later,” I said, swinging around the brick column and white railing of the front patio-porch of ChipleyHall.
“You’ll have to tell me everything!” I winced. I doubted I’d be able to tell hereverything, but I waved behind me anyway in non-answer.
I got to the duplex half expecting that all of the guys, plus Josh, would be there waiting on me. And I was mostly right. When I got through the front door, everyone was there,minusJosh and Knix. I looked aroundcuriously.
“Knix is with Josh.” Bellamy rose from the chair across the room and answered my unspoken question. “They’re talking with Alex about whether or not Josh should go back toCharleston.”
“Alex is here?” I stepped around the side and looked down the hallway. I could hear voices, but I couldn’t make out what they weresaying.
Marv moved forward, a hand on my arm and pulled me away from the mouth of the hallway. “They’re on a video call,” he said. “But we’ve already talked to Alex about what we should do about Erika and H. B.Holdings.”
He fell quiet and four sets of eyes were on me—Marv’s, Bellamy’s, Texas’, and Grayson’s. I blinked, realizing that Grayson was quietly sitting on the couch next to Texas. Pulling my gaze away, I looked up at Marv and prompted him. “And? What’s theverdict?”
“We can’t come to an agreement,” Bellamy admitted forhim.
I turned away from Marv, feeling his hand drop away from my arm. “So, we don’t know anything more? Why are they in there discussing whether or not Josh should get to go home then?” Frustrated anger rose within me. “It’s not fair. This is his fault. Why does he just get to leave and let us clean up hismess?”
I didn’t realize how brutal that must have sounded until Grayson flinched. I bit my lip. “I’m sorry,” I said almost as quickly. “I didn’t mean for it to come out likethat.”
Grayson avoided my gaze, his head shifted to the side, and his eyes skirted away as he stood and shrugged. “There’s nothing to apologize for if it’s the truth,” hesaid.
Even Marv was looking at Grayson curiously. The usual rage and burning distrust was muted. What was it with him? Ever since we left the rehab facility last night, he had been acting strange. Quiet. Reserved. Less smartass-y—if that was even a word. I frowned, my brows drawing low as I advanced, slowly, towardshim.
“That didn’t mean I wasn’t being rude,” I said, “and I’m sorry forthat.”
Grayson shrugged once more and strode towards the front windows. When he got there, he paused, lifting a hand and moving the curtains to the side so he could peek out onto the street. “Alex said that it’s a little more difficult to get the police involved. We wouldn’t be allowed to continue our investigation,probably.”
“He didn’t say that exactly,” Texas piped up in a rush. “That we wouldn’t be allowed to, but…uh…yeah, he did talk to a contact in the police department inCharleston.”
Grayson remained at the window, face placid and eyes shrouded indarkness.
“In Charleston?” I shook my head and looked back atTexas.
He nodded. “Yeah, there’s an issue with getting them involved because there’s noevidence.”
“And a bunch of relative civilians claiming what they already know but haven’t been able to make stick is just going to frustrate them further,” Graysonmuttered.
“Alex did manage to find out more information and Knix and I have been working with Josh, trying to establish a dialogue with Josh’s contact in H. B. Holdings, hoping to give them the illusion that Josh might be able to actually pay back his debt,” Bellamy said, distracting me from Grayson’s words onceagain.
I felt like I was being pulled in several different directions and I wondered—a fleeting thought that held a lot of weight and meaning—would it be any different if I didn’t choosesomeone?
“Apparently, Josh managed to wheedle some more information about what might happen to Erika if he doesn’t make the payment,” Marv continued where Bellamy left off. “They don’t start the girls out in,” he paused, his lips curling in distaste, “adultmovies.”
“Wait.” I held up a palm before letting it fall after I had their attention. “Are you saying he actually made contact with someone again? And they talked to them?” I jerked my head to each of them. “Well?” I demanded when no one answered immediately. “Did he get to talk to Erika? Did any of you hear from her? Is sheokay?”
Bellamy shook his head and moved towards me, his hands coming to rest on my shoulders. He kneaded the muscles—but no matter how magical his hands, the tension would not alleviate. “We couldn’t speak with them. Josh had to talk alone, and no they didn’t let him speak with her. We had him ask. I’m sorry,Sweetheart.”
I deflated. Blinking back tears, I clenched my fists at my sides. “It’s… not your fault,” I said. “Just tell me whatelse.”
“They start their girls gently, but since Josh’s—and therefore, Erika’s—debt is so steep, they’re going to want her to sign a contract of employment. For all intents and purposes, it’ll be legit. It’ll be legal. But gaining her signature of consent is the main issue. If Erika refuses to sign the contract, they could try to push her to other people or try to sell her ‘debt’ to even the score.” Bellamy’s hands fell away slowly—the tips of his fingers trailing down my arms and making the baby hairs there stand onend.