"Stay in the gang, and I will forgive you," said Sean desperately.
"Are you fucking insane?" yelled Xavier, gun pointed at the leader. "What are you saying? Look at what you've done! What do you want? Do you want revenge? Do you want me to stay? What do you fucking want? You ruined my life!"
Sean blinked. "Xavier, you need us."
As a reply, Xavier laughed at him without humor, pointed his gun beside Sean's feet, and shot the floor twice. Sean jumped up in surprise. He would've thought of it as funny if it hadn't taken all his willpower not to shoot him in the heart.
Taking advantage of his shock, Xavier pointed his gun at Rais, Jake, and Eugene, shooting them dead one by one before they had a chance to react. He wanted to finish off Sean's reign.
He glanced once at Ashley who cowered behind Stewart and a new boy who'd been recruited today, staring at him with wide eyes. He looked at the bodies he'd dropped and walked away. None of the gang members he'd spared had the guts to follow him.
He wished he could've just ended Sean as well, but maybe letting him live with Sasha's memory was a bigger punishment.
Walking toward Giselle's house, he decided to tell her the truth. He knew she'd understand that it wasn't his fault. He was tricked into doing it.
Why would I purposefully kill her father?It was insane!
He had it all figured out inside his head.
Xavier had killed Abbott Beaumont.
Giselle had to understand.
It was not his fucking fault.
Chapter 14
Giselle rolled her mother's golden necklace between her fingers as she paced the floor. She hadn't seen her father since she'd opened her eyes this morning.
The sun had already set in Petrichor, spreading darkness far and wide. Mrs. Whitman had gone to her house, after telling her not to worry. Abbott was at his friends' house, she'd said.
But they were supposed to leave today for Phoenix. How could he forget that? He was supposed to meet Xavier before leaving. She hadn't even gotten the time to talk to him about it. Last night, he'd stayed in his room, and Giselle didn't have the heart to knock on his door and talk things out. And he was out of the door before she opened her eyes this morning.
Giselle didn't know what to do, so she kept walking in circles. She gulped. Abbott had never done this. He had a habit of letting her know where he was, if he was going to be late, or if he ever got caught up in something. He'd never let her stay worried for this long, especially after her mother's death.
Was he mad at her for not accepting his choice? Was he hurt because she'd said that she hated him? She sighed in regret. She shouldn't have blown up like that. She shouldn't have reacted that way. Wondering why she sometimes acted upon her poor impulses, she promised to make things right once her father came back home.
Giselle picked up her phone from the coffee table and dialed Abbott's number for the tenth time. She heard the beeps and knew that his phone was ringing wherever it was. Was her father ignoring her on purpose? Or was he too busy for her? She hoped he wasn't in any kind of trouble. Different thoughts crisscrossed inside her head making a jumble that made no sense. She put the phone down and rubbed the temples of her forehead in circles.
Xavier wasn't picking up the phone either. If anyone knew where to search for someone in Petrichor, it was probably him. She'd been constantly calling him that day. She'd left him a dozen messages that weren't even seen. He was supposed to talk to the gang. Was he in trouble? She told herself that she was overthinking, but was there any solution to it?
Feeling lonely, she sat on the dining chair, unable to think of anyone who'd help her at this moment.
Chris. Yes, Chris could solve anything for her. But no, how was Giselle supposed to face him after what her father had said to her? What if he'd said the same to Chris? No. She could never talk to Chris again.
But she needed him.
No. She shook her head. She didn't need anyone. She was strong. Besides, Chris was happy with Abigail. Why would he leave the comforts of his home for her?
But, you're best friends,her mind argued back. She shook her head again.
Giselle's brain thumped against her skull at the useless thoughts. She had bigger things on her mind, she countered. Abbott was missing. Xavier wasn't picking up the phone. She had nothing else to do but to hope for their safety.
Taking in a deep breath and ensuring herself that everything was going to be okay, she made her way toward the kitchen and poured herself a glass of orange juice from the fridge. She took a sip and walked out, glancing around the house. It felt like the house was running to eat her whole, every distant sound seeming to threaten her. Her anxiety aimed its way through the roof.
She convinced herself that there was nothing more she could do except wait. She'd even searched the places she knew in Petrichor. The café, the park, their secret place—everywhere. What else was she supposed to do?
Her eyes snapped toward the clock. It was half past nine, and she decided to call her father again, but the doorbell stopped her. Knee-wobbling relief flooded through her. In a rush to reach her father on the other side of the door, she placed the glass on the dining table but missed an inch. The glass dropped to the floor and shattered. She didn't look back.