Page 90 of Out of the Shadow

I take a step toward my car, but look back when he says my name. “I don’t like that you’re going in there alone. At the first sound of trouble, I’m inside.”

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I say, “I’m just as worried about Angie as you are. Thiswillwork.” It has to.

“Don’t do anything stupid. Follow his orders, keep him talking, and for God’s sake, don’t try to take him down. That’s what I’m here for. I’ll get him.”

“And I’ll get Angie.”

We hold eye contact for a moment, communicating without words. Teamwork. He pats my shoulder and I get back into my car.

When I pull into the driveway, Angie’s car is parked next to a red Mercedes. She’s here! At least Trevor gave me the right address. I grab the bag filled with money and bolt out of my car. With every step that brings me closer to the front stoop of this rundown mansion, fear rises up inside me. What if I’m too late? What if he’s done something to her?

I take the final step up to the door and whisper, “I hope you can hear me, Leo. I’m just going to ring the bell.”

Showtime. I press the bell. Chimes ring through the house.

From behind the closed door, Trevor shouts, “King?”

Not knowing exactly where he is, I reply, “Yeah.” I raise the duffel bag high. “I have your money, Trevor.”

The door swings open and he grabs for the duffel bag. I yank it back to my body. “Not so fast. I need to see Angie.”

He snarls, then takes a step back to let me in. The door closes behind me with a thud that reverberates throughout the empty foyer. The only thing in it is Angie’s tote bag.

Trevor’s standing close enough for me to get a good look at his changed features. His face is even gaunter than it looked in the City last week. His hair is unkempt, to put it lightly. His clothes are loose. “Man.”

“I don’t need your sympathy, King.” His words are a bit slurred. “All I need is what’s in that duffel bag.” He points to the interior of the house. “She’s in there.”

I meet his blue eyes, which are glazed over. “What’s happened to you, Trevor?”

He rushes for the duffel, but I swing it behind my body and he stops. “Why do you care? You haven’t had anything to do with me since Mexico. Just give me the money.”

Instead of handing it over, I take a few steps into the living room. Angie’s not in here. “Where is she?”

“Sleeping like a baby.”

Fear zips down my spine. What doesthatmean? “You know I can’t give you this money until I see her, Trev.” I use his nickname in the hope it’ll reignite a connection between us. One I definitely don’t feel.

He rakes his hand through his hair. “Why?”

His question makes me stop and turn to face him. “Why what?”

“Everything was going so well between us, bro. You cut me off.”

Because Dad cut me off after seeing that photo of us in Mexico. I don’t say that, though. I have one goal and that’s to find Angie. “A lot of shit went down. I got busy.”

“With the television show that should’ve been mine. It would’ve saved me. Instead, I get harassing phone calls twice a day. And threats. Next time they’ll do more than break my arm.”

For the first time, I notice he’s babying his left arm. “Who? Who did that to you? Why didn’t you go to the police?”

He laughs. “You don’t go to the police for these guys. If only you’d given me the money I asked for before, we wouldn’t be here today.”

“Dude, I’m sorry you got yourself into this situation. But kidnapping Angie and asking for ransom isn’t how you get out from under. You should’ve come to me and confessed. We would’ve thought of a way out of it.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I know they’re a lie. I doubt there’s a way out without paying up, and I’m fresh out of fucks to give.

He shakes his head. “You don’t understand. You’ll never understand what it was like living in the shadow of the great King Hunte. Whose father is a rock god. Who had every toy known to the neighborhood growing up, and then every chick under him when we became teens.”

Wow. How do I respond? “That’s not—”

He ignores me and barrels forward. “Oh, I know. Boo-hoo, Daddy sent you presents but didn’t spend any quality time with you. And then he married someone else and had a second family. Still, you had everything you ever wanted. Me? My parents stayed married, but I was always an afterthought. Without all the toys.”

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