Page 75 of Light It Up Red
“When? Is there like some kind of manual I missed? Because I’d really like to fucking know when I can expect my girlfriend back.”
“A manual? That would have made growing up with the girl a lot fucking easier. Especially during her teenage years—man, was she moody.” He laughs. “Come on. Let’s get a drink. There isn’t anything you can do right now except give her the space she’s asking for.”
“That’s a lot easier said than done.”
“She’s still here, isn’t she? Ma wanted her to fly back to New York and Lil refused. The only thing keeping her in Vancouver is you.”
“Any news on the shooter?” I ask him.
“Not yet. The guy’s a fucking ghost. But that’s fine. 'Cause we happen to be the best fucking ghost hunters there are.”
When we walk back into the kitchen, Grayson is on the phone. He has the call on speaker and he’s laughing. Like something’s funny. I freeze to the spot when whoever’s on the other end starts talking again.
I reach out and grab Alessandro’s hand. “That’s him,” I say, keeping my voice low.
“Who?”
“That guy, on the phone. That’s the fucker who shot me.” I take a step forward, ready to pick up the phone and read the name or number on the screen, when Alessandro’s hand lands on my chest. Stopping my movements.
“Don’t say a fucking word.” He glances over his shoulder and then turns back to me. “How sure are you?”
“Fucking certain.”
“Fuck.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Okay. I need you to stay here. Act like you don’t know shit. Do not let Monroe in on a single fucking thing. You got me?”
“Who is it?”
“Doesn’t matter. We’ll handle it. My pops and I,” Alessandro assures me. “I need you to stay here and keep up appearances. We cannot let this fucker know we’re on to him.”
“Okay.” I nod my head. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to protect Lili. Whoever this asshole is, he wants something from her. That I’m sure of.
“Enzo, we gotta go. It took less than thirty minutes for that sister of yours to fuck up.” Alessandro calls out to his cousin.
Enzo straightens. “What’d she do?”
“I’ll tell you in the car. Let’s go.” Alessandro doesn’t wait for a response before he makes his way back to the front door.
“Guess the party just got smaller,” I say while reaching out and swiping up the bottle of whiskey. I refill the empty glasses. I’d much rather be out there hunting the fucker down. But if this is what I have to do to get the guy, so be it.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Travis has been texting me nonstop. I’ve replied to some of his messages. But others, I choose not to. It’s hard. Every fiber of my being wants to be with him. But my need to keep him out of my family’s business is just as strong.
My heart and mind are at war with each other, and at this point, I don’t know which one is going to win. Aurora made me write a pro-and-con list. The pro side was long, while there was only one con I could think of. The risk to his safety.
My whole family seems to be on Team Travis at the moment too. Even my father, who is acting like he’s got a new best friend. It’s weird. I don’t know how to begin to unpack that relationship. My father has been vehemently against me dating anyone. And now, all of a sudden, he’s Travis’s biggest cheerleader. Telling me that I should talk to him. That I should listen to him.
I wish it were that simple. If it were, I’d be with Travis right now instead of lying awake in this bed. My own thoughts making me crazy and an overwhelming need to go and see him eating at me. I roll over. Aurora is next to me. We both fell asleep in here last night while watching a rom-com I can’t even remember the name of.
“Aurora, are you awake?” I whisper.
“Argh, if you’re not dead or dying, you’re about to be,” she mumbles back.
“Wanna sneak out?”
Her eyes pop open and a devious smirk curls her lips. “I thought you’d never ask,” she says. “Where we going?”
“The rink. I know they have practice soon, and I want to see Travis,” I tell her.
