Page 53 of Shadow and Skulls

The roar of a bike rumbles behind me. My gaze goes to the rearview mirror. “Oh fuck,” I whisper. “He found me. I’ve got to go.”

I disconnect the call, slipping my phone into my pocket. Slowly, my dad walks up behind my car. Just like a cop.

My hand trembles as I roll down the window. “Sorry officer, I seem to have misplaced my license and registration,” I joke, not looking at him.

He rests his forearm over the top of the car, his head crowding my window. “Is there something wrong? Why are you on the side of the road?”

I let out a long breath. “No, sir. There’s nothing wrong with the car.”

My dad stands tall. “Then get your ass home.”

“Yes, sir.”

My eyes follow him in the mirror as he walks back and throws his leg over the seat of his bike. This is my first experience being in trouble with my father. I haven’t seen him this upset since Cole and Carson came home drunk. He wasn’t so upset that theyhad been drinking as he was that Cole had driven them home. They were grounded for a long time after that.

Mom stands from the porch swing when we pull in. I’m frozen in my seat. Everything is happening so fast. I hadn’t really thought about this part … about facing them.

My dad rolls his hand for me to follow him as he walks past my window. They’re hugging by the time I reach the porch.

“Go inside,” he says, waving for me to step around them.

Inside, I lower myself onto one of the chairs at the kitchen table. An ache spreads across my chest as I listen to my mother cry on the porch. I scared her. That wasn’t very kind of me.

When Cole and Carson join me at the table, I’m confused as to why they’re here. But then I realize they must have been called home last night to look for me. I guess I didn’t realize how my actions would affect so many people.

I can’t. I drop my forehead to my arms on the table.

Cole places his hand over the back of my head. “Come on, little sis. You know dad’s not going to let you hide.”

“Maybe if I close my eyes and wish to this stupid thing around my neck the floor will swallow me whole, and I’ll be spit out somewhere else.”

My dad coughs right before my mom’s tiny footsteps rush up the stairs.

“Boys, go take care of your mother.”

Their chairs scoot across the floor, their heavy boots following our mother’s path.

“I didn’t mean that,” I grumble to the table.

“Sit up,” my dad orders, sitting beside me.

When I do, he reaches down and yanks the leg of my chair, pulling us directly in front of each other. “I want to know where you were and who you were with last night.”

“I’m not ready to tell you,” I whisper while staring at his chest.

“Were you with Ash?”

My eyes snap to him. “No.”

His brows are drawn together. “No?”

“No, Dad.”

“When do you think you’ll be ready to tell me what I want to know?”

This is hopeless …

“You’re grounded until I get a full explanation of what that was about yesterday. That wasn’t the Kelsie I know.” He rests his meaty, tattooed arms across his wide chest.

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