Page 60 of Of Light and Dark

Chapter Eighteen

Lilly is safe. She arrived at her destination and will contact you tomorrow.

As everyone in the house is most likely fast asleep, I sit at the edge of my bed and stare at the message I received from UNKNOWN earlier this evening. I'm sure Dad's spyware alerted him of the incoming text, but so far, he has not started his interrogation. Why? Who the fuck knows these days?

Tomorrow. This one word makes me want to launch the phone across the room. She can't even let me know herself that she’s okay. Wherever she is. What the fuck happened to us? Everything was fine—as fine as it could have been.

If someone would've told me, twenty-four hours ago, that Lilly would run away in a cloak-and-dagger operation while I was sleeping in her bed, I would've laughed in the fucker’s face.

I focus on breathing through my nose until the red haze in my vision turns to a faint pink. My pulse has calmed enough for rational thoughts to make their way back into my brain. I refuse to accept that I have to wait another day.

Opening up a new message, I enter the number I memorized weeks ago: I want to know where she is.

The little bubble with the three dots pops up within seconds. I cannot tell you that.

WTF, G? She left me in HER bed and snuck out. U picked her up. I thought u were against her leaving.

It takes several minutes until the reply appears. At that point, I already assumed he wouldn't respond at all.

Rhys, as you know, your phone's activity is being tracked. I can assure you that she is safe, and she will contact you as soon as everything is set up. We are working on it. She didn't make the decision lightly. She is worried for her family and friends. For you.

Understanding hits that he can’t tell me shit since my father would instantly know.

"FUCK!" I jump up and reach my desk within two strides, swiping everything on it to the floor in one motion. "AAARRRG." A roar leaves my throat, but I'm past caring who hears me. When no one, aka my father, bursts through the door, gun swinging, I look back at the screen. George needs to give me something. I don't give a flying fuck anymore who finds out.

Can u give me an idea when she'll call?

Great, now I sound like a whiney toddler again.

This time the answer is instant: No.

Motherfucker! My arm lifts to chuck the phone, but I catch myself at the last second.

At 5:47 a.m.,my bedroom door flies open. I still haven't gone to bed, and I switch my focus from the video game on my TV screen to the red-faced man taking over my doorframe.

I’m tired, and I’m pissed at pretty much everyone in my life for one reason or another, so I do what every mature male would do. I concentrate back on the game, casually acknowledging his presence. "Dad."

My father stalks into the room until he's in front of my bed, blocking my view of the zombie I was just about to blow up. "Who the fuck did you text last night?" He enunciates every word in a low growl that makes it clear he's a tad salty.

Well, tough shit.

"I don’t know what you mean." I cock an eyebrow.

After George's last message, I let the confusion of why Lilly would leave without talking to me and the frustration of not being able to do jack shit about any of it turn into rage against my father. I convinced myself that if his fucking tracker weren't on my phone, Lilly's bodyguard would've given me something.

I expect Dad to explode at my defiant reply. Instead, he shocks the hell out of me. My father sinks down on the mattress and puts his head in his hands. All I can do is stare. What the hell?

We sit in silence for what feels like hours but a glance at my alarm clock reveals to be only four minutes.

Dad turns his face toward me, letting his arms drop to his thighs. "I've messed up with you, haven't I?"

"Uh..."

He continues, "All I tried to do was keep you...my family safe."

"Safe from who?" It can’t be just Nate. He had no clue where Lilly was until we showed up in Cali.

"Did Lilly tell you why she can’t remember?"

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