Page 64 of Lock Me Out

COLT

Leni:Class ran a few minutes late, and I have to pee. I’ll meet you at the car.

Leni’s text reaches me as I’m walking across campus, ready to meet her and head home. Every day that passes without any mention of our late classmates makes me feel a little more secure. Is it unnerving that there hasn’t been a big uproar over their disappearance? More than a little. But I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. If nobody’s concerned about them going missing, I’m not going to worry myself about it. Why waste time making problems? It only means you can’t enjoy what’s going on around you.

The parking lot is half full at this time of day. I cross it, heading to where I parked Leni’s car earlier. She still hasn’t driven it, but at least it’s getting some use until my insurance shit gets ironed out. I wonder if there will ever come a day when she’ll get behind the wheel herself. Maybe I bought myself a car when I meant to buy one for her.

I’m too busy thinking about that to notice an engine revving behind me until it’s almost too late. Reflex takes over. I turn my head to look over my shoulder, then leap out of the way, narrowly avoiding getting hit by a black BMW.

From the corner of my eye, I watch the car swerve like the driver is trying to follow me and make sure they get the job done. They’re determined to hit me. Only they end up driving up onto the concrete median and sideswiping a light pole before coming to a stop.

Did that just happen? It takes a second or two for me to pull my thoughts together and catch up to the present moment while I crouch on the ground in shock. But as soon as it clears, I take off after the fucker. That was no accident. They aimed for me.

And now they’re going to find out the consequences.

The car is still sitting where it came to a stop and shocked cries ring out behind me by the time I reach the passenger-side window, banging on it with both palms—before I recognize the driver.

And he knows me, too, glaring at me with hatred in his eyes. “George?” I whisper in disbelief. Bradley’s dad. Dennis’s dad. The realization and the implications that come along with it make my heart drop.

“We fucking warned you!” he shouts from inside the car, sweat beading on his bald head, his eyes narrowed in rage. “You’re gonna die for what you’ve done. And your girlfriend, too!”

And then he’s gone. Tires screeching. The smell of burned rubber hangs in the air.

“Colt!” Leni’s voice reaches through the fog of confusion in my head, reminding me what needs to happen here and now. I go to her, wrapping her in my arms and shuttling her to the car, waving off the questions and concern from random witnesses.

“We have to go home,” I whisper to her on the way, careful not to be overheard. “I know who’s been doing this.”

“All this time,it was their dad behind it.” Nix’s head bobs slowly as he processes everything that happened earlier. “Probably encouraging Dennis to go after Leni and you. Yeah. I believe that.”

“What, you think I was lying?”

“Of course not, dickhead.” He gets up from the sofa, punching his palm. I know how he feels. I’ve only been able to keep it together for Leni’s sake. “It makes perfect sense.”

Leni’s been quiet through all of this, choosing to listen carefully, tucked into a corner of the sofa. Her voice is soft when she asks, “What do you mean?”

“Why they would keep it all a secret and try to handle it themselves. Both of them—George and Cecilia—all they ever cared about was their image and how they looked to other people. They wouldn’t want the rest of the world to find out something that could turn into a scandal.”

“What about Deborah’s parents?” she asks.

“Who knows? Maybe they’re in on it, too. Maybe they’re not. But I know George,” I mutter, remembering the rage burning in him.The fucker came close to taking me out today. “I’m not letting him get away with it.”

I look at Nix. Nix looks at me.

“What are you going to do?” Leni asks. She’s right to sound nervous—even if she’s not the one who’s going to suffer tonight.

“How do we do it?” I ask him. There’s something hot pumping through my veins—bitter, satisfying.

“I’m not sure.” He shrugs, a smirk playing over his mouth. “But I’m good at blowing up houses.”

“Wait. What?” Leni scrambles onto her knees, clutching a pillow in front of her like a shield. “No. You’re not serious, right?”

Of course, she would hate this. But I can’t worry about that now. Certain things are more important even than her ideas of right and wrong. Like her safety.

“He said he was going to kill us. Me and you.” I watch as understanding sinks in. “This is the only way to make sure that doesn’t happen. We get rid of him and this is over.”

“This is what we have to do for you,” Nix tells her. I can sense the anticipation he’s feeling—it’s in the air, crackling like a thunderstorm is about to hit.

“We’re not in any danger.” I don’t know if that’s true, exactly, but it’s what I need to believe. I can’t let the little doubts stop me. Nix and I won’t have any trouble getting into the house. I’m sure of that.

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