Page 28 of Forget Me Not
“Go where, Drake? I just told you Maximus is not in Vegas and there is a good chance he is tied to her disappearance.”
“I have to tell my parents she’s been taken.”
“Whoa. Hold on a minute. You know you can’t just waltz back home and tell them who you are. You’d be risking your career.”
“I don’t care.” I turned to my best friend. “I lost her once, Alex. I won’t do it again.”
“Fine. I’ve got to call this in, you know that, right?”
If I revealed myself as Danny, I was violating their most sacred rule and Alex would be forced to report me. I hated to put him in this position, but I lost Mackenzie once and I would not do it again. If saving her life meant destroying my career, then so be it.
“Yeah, I do. And I hate that you’re the one having to call it in, but you understand why, don’t you?”
Alex’s eyes searched me for a moment before he nodded. “Yeah, I do. Let’s go. This is not going to be easy—I hope you’re ready.”
“My dad already knows.”
“What the fuck, Drake? How?”
“I went by the house and he saw me. He knew immediately it was me.”
“A father always knows their son.” Alex tapped the window. His silence deafening. I knew what I was doing was not just putting me at risk, it was putting my best friend at risk, too. “Let’s go. Maybe we can work this out, so I don’t have to report my best friend.”
“I won’t put your career in jeopardy.”
“How about you let me decide what I’m going to do. For now—let’s focus on finding your woman.”
I nodded as I slid into the passenger seat. Every nerve in my body was coiled with apprehension. I was about to blow my parents’ lives up with my secret, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face the fallout. Alex followed my directions and pulled into my childhood home a few minutes later.
“You sure about this? I could go in and tell them what’s going on.”
“No. It needs to be me.”
I stepped out the door just as my father came outside. “Drake?” He glanced at Alex and cocked an eyebrow in question.
“It’s okay, Dad. Alex knows you know the truth.”
“If you’re here risking exposure, it’s not a good thing, is it?”
“It’s not. Can we go inside?”
“Your mother is inside with Danny.”
“I know.”
I walked past him and climbed the stairs. As soon as I stepped inside, the memories of another life rushed back in. The house even smelled the same. Danny was on the living room floor reading a comic. His head popped up when he heard the door open.
“Drake!” He jumped up and nearly tackled me to the floor.
“Hey, buddy.”
“Wait, Mom’s not here.” He furrowed his brow as he glanced between me and my dad.
“I know. Can you go outside for a bit, so I can talk to your grandparents for a few minutes?”
“Hey, bud.” Alex stepped beside me. “I’m Drake’s best friend. How would you like to go out front and toss a football for a few minutes?”
“I guess. Drake, will you come out and play, too?”
