Page 100 of Unbelonging
Lawton took my hand in his. "Don't go anywhere, okay?"
"I won't," I said.
Lawton stood, then leaned over me, his lips brushing mine right before he leaned in close and whispered. "We'll talk about everything when I get back. You're not getting out of it."
In spite of everything, I felt myself smile.
As Lawton adjusted the blanket around me, I glanced toward the door. Bishop was still there, a stony expression darkening his face as he stared at me with barely concealed loathing. I stared back, not bothering to hide how I felt about him either.
Family or not, I'd be glad when he went back to wherever he came from. The guy was nothing but trouble. Thankfully, Lawton had been too preoccupied with the blanket to notice our mutual loathing.
"Five minutes," Lawton promised.
I nodded, then watched as he left the room, and Bishop shut the door behind them. Like I'd eavesdrop or something. I felt the teeniest bit of discomfort at the realization that I'd done exactly that not too long ago. But that had been an accident. Besides, whatever Bishop was saying, I was pretty sure I didn't want to hear it. His opinion of me was obvious.
I huddled up under the blanket, waiting. I didn't have a watch, or even my phone to check the time, but I knew it was taking a lot longer than five minutes. The time dragged as I waited, growing more tense with every minute that passed.
It was at least an hour before Lawton returned. And when he did, he seemed different somehow.
He returned to his spot on the sofa, and put his arm around me like before. But somehow, nothing felt the same. I studied his face in profile. His jaw was set, and his eyes unfocused as he stared across the room at nothing in particular.
And other than a perfunctory apology for it taking so long, he obviously had nothing to say.
And that's when I knew. Something tonight had gone terribly wrong.
Chapter 56
The possibilities were too numerous to consider. I felt myself pale. Had one of the guys died? Or maybe a neighbor had called the police? Or – oh God – what if his stupid brother had broken into the Parkers' house again. I could only imagine the things he'd say.
The minutes dragged, and the silence stretched out. Soon, I'd need to get ready for work. I had the briefest thought of calling in sick, but instantly shoved it aside. Thanks to the situation with Keith, every night I worked might be my last.
But I didn't want to leave without some clue to what had happened. After a long stretch of silence, followed by a string of one-word answers to my lame attempts at making conversation, I couldn't stand it anymore. I pulled away and said, "Alright, tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"What'd he say?"
"Who?"
"Now who's playing dumb?" I said. "Bishop. Who else?"
Lawton rubbed the back of his neck and muttered, "He didn't say anything."
"Bull," I said. "You were gone forever. He must've saidsomething."
Lawton shrugged.
"Something happened," I persisted. "What is it?"
"You really wanna know?" he asked.
From the look on his face, I wasn't so sure. Still, I felt myself nod.
"Forget it." He stared at the unlit fireplace, his expression stony. "You gotta work tonight, right?"
I nodded.
"Then you should probably just go."
