Page 88 of August Lane
“Where can we set up?” Ghost asked Silas, ignoring her protests.
Silas pointed to the studio. “It’s soundproofed.”
August shouted, “No!” again, but they kept ignoring her. Silas talked Luke through what was about to happen in slow, simple terms. They were being treated like children who needed protection. It was too late for that. Someone should have protected them a long time ago.
Silas held her back when she tried to follow Ghost and Luke into the studio. His grip was iron, and she couldn’t shake it off. “Look at me,” he demanded. August finally stilled and stared up at her uncle, blinking back tears. “Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know,” August said. “I think… his mother locked him out of the house. He broke a window to get back in and then…” She pictured the empty liquor bottle. Silas had to know that Luke was drunk based on smell alone.
“In this heat,” Silas grumbled. “Did Ava come back while you were there?”
“No.”
Silas glanced at the clock. “You need to call Birdie.”
August hadn’t realized how late it was. They were supposed to have dinner two hours ago. “I can’t. She’ll make me come home. I can’t leave him.”
“Then tell her that.” Silas gave her his phone. “She deserves to know the truth.”
August took the phone and dialed. Birdie picked up on the first ring. Her hello was trembling, braced for bad news.
“Grandma?”
“August! August, baby, where are you? What happened?”
“I thought he was dead.” That was the scream she’d been suppressing in the car. The horror of it. The gruesome image of Luke’s bloody body slumped on the floor.
“Who? What happened?”
“My friend. He was hurt, and I found him.”
“Are you at the hospital? I’m coming to get you.”
“I’m with Silas. He’s taking care of us. Luke’s mother is abusive, and I didn’t know. I didn’t realize how bad it was. I can’t leave him alone.”
Birdie didn’t speak for a long time. “Are you in any danger?”
“She doesn’t know I was there.”
“Put Silas on the phone.”
“Please don’t tell Jojo—”
“August. Put him on the phonenow.”
August offered the phone to Silas, pleading for his help with her eyes. He took the phone and said, “Hello, Mrs. Lane.”
August watched him listening, her grandmother’s voice too faint for her to hear. Silas said, “Yes, ma’am. Jason’s boy.” He paused and said, “No, nothing like that. You know I don’t abide foolishness.” He glanced at August. “I hear you. Them folks mean well, but they hurt more than they help sometimes.” He turned his back to August. “Yes. Yes ma’am, I’ll tell her.”
August waited until he disconnected. “What did she say?”
“You can stay awhile. Then you need to go home.”
“How long—”
“August.” Her name was a warning. This was what he’d negotiated. “There’s a shower in my office. I’ll bring you something to change into.”
August looked down at herself. There was blood smeared on her clothes. She hadn’t worn a dress since that humiliating day at school, but she’d wanted to wear something special for Luke’s surprise.
