Page 116 of Rules

“Will you tell me what the fuck happened, Max? I need to know. Is she okay? Is she hurt? Did she… did shehurtherself?”

“She’s been in an accident.” The words are barely a whisper.

“What kind of accident?”

I frown. “Car accident.”I think. I should really call Dad again. Try to listen this time around.

“Is she okay?”

Wouldn’t I want to know the same…

I grab my phone, done with not knowing. But just as I unlock it, it buzzes in my hand. I almost drop it to the floor in surprise.

Andrew and I exchange a look. I want to answer, want to know what the fuck is going on, but the other part of me doesn’t even want to think about it.

What if… what if…

No. She’s strong. She’ll be okay.

“D-dad?” For all the reassurance, my voice breaks.

“Doctors are stabilizing your sister as we speak,” he says in his ‘doctor’ voice. I listen carefully, knowing better than to interrupt. But the only thing I can concentrate on is one word—stable. She’s stable. Her heart still beating. “She has a broken arm and cracked ribs. A lot of cuts and bruises and most likely a concussion. We’ll have to wait until she wakes up. I need you to stop at the house and pick up some things for her for when she wakes up.”

When he’s done, it feels like I can finally sigh in relief. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll do it. Bye.”

I don’t even get to hang up before Andrew is throwing questions at me. “What did he say?”

I tell him what I know, looking through the window. Soon we’ll be back in Greyford.

“But she’s alive?”

“She’s alive.” I nod. We just need her to stay that way. “Dad wants us to stop by our house and grab some of her things.

“I—”

The fight in him is as clear as day. It’s not like I especially want to stop at home, but I didn’t see the point in fighting with my dad. If he thought Jeanette was in critical condition, he would have told me to come.

“I know, but she’ll feel more comfortable when she wakes up if she has her own things.”

After what feels like forever, Andrew nods in acknowledgment.

We’re coming, Anette. Hold on.

Just… hold on.

Chapter Forty-Four

BROOK

The party is in full swing when I finally get to the Hill house. Music is blasting loudly, making the walls shake with the beat. People are scattered all over the ground floor, both indoors and out in the yard. Most of them are so drunk they don’t even notice the freezing cold and snow, or maybe they simply don’t care.

I look around, my eyes scanning the crowd for a flash of red hair, as I accidentally bump into someone. Turning around, I mouth an apology even though the girl is giving me the stink eye.

Where are you, Lia?

The last thing I wanted was to stay longer than necessary. With Dan’s warning fresh in my mind, I wouldn't put it past him to have somebody keeping an eye on me.

I’m just about to head upstairs when I see her coming from the back of the house.

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