Page 104 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

“You have that creepy smile on your face,” Kara pointed out.

I rolled my eyes at her and glanced at the clock again. We had half an hour left, but Kara was already pulling the cash out of the till.

“Want to balance now? There are only two more cars waiting to be picked up, so we can probably balance everything now.”

“Yes, please.”

“Lockhart must be itchy to see you. He’s texted you every five minutes—”

Kara froze as we heard angry shouts from the back of the shop. We stared at each other in alarm and started to race to the back to see what was going on.

“What the fu—”

Before we even made it to the door, the walls shook. I had a second to witness the horror in Kara’s eyes before I heard the explosion.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Caleb

“You could’ve told me you were hiding your sorry ass up here.”

I looked over my shoulder and spotted Cameron in his black tux, holding two cans of beer. He tossed one to me before joining me on the balcony, propping his elbows on the stone railing, and looking out at the city lights in the distance.

“Needed some air,” I replied, delighted and amused that he had found beer. Mom would never serve beer at parties. Unless the prime minister had requested it. Or Mick Jagger. “Where’d you get the beer?”

Cameron eyed me mockingly as if to say, Oh please.

I nodded, acknowledging his genius before taking a sip. “Seems like I can’t blink without someone making a business proposition to me down there.” I gestured with my own beer at the party below.

Among the sea of soft lights and lavish gardens, women paraded in elegant gowns and glittering jewels, and men in stylish penguin suits. It looked like a dazzling play.

“Guess you’ve got a lot to learn,” Cameron commented, curling his lip as he watched the people. “Better have an excellent poker face, because you’re going to deal with a hell of a lot more than business propositions.”

I shrugged. He was right. I really didn’t mind it. In fact, I liked people, parties, and socializing. Usually.

But Red wasn’t here yet.

Everything felt wrong.

“How the hell would you know?” I asked, just because I was irritated.

He tapped his beer against his temple. “Because I have a brain.”

“Oh? That’s news to me.”

He sniggered.

“You know what they say about a man with a gorgeous face?” I asked nonchalantly.

“He has a little dick?”

I took a sip of my beer and looked at him smugly. “I don’t even need to talk. I just stand around and get what I want.” I paused. “I’m holding a beer, aren’t I?”

He laughed. “Nah. Mostly, I feel sorry for you. Guess she’s not here yet.”

I glanced at my watch for the hundredth time. “She’s not answering her phone.”

I reached for mine in my pocket. No text, no calls.

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