Page 55 of Furious
ZARA
“Zara! I’m so glad you’re ok.” Mom runs into the foyer the second I unlock the door, and pulls me into her arms.
She looks tired. She changed out of last night’s cocktail dress, but the shadows under her eyes tell me that she didn’t get any sleep.
“I’m so sorry, Mom.” I say honestly. “Lev and I lost track of time and we must have fallen asleep. I?—”
“Where were you?” she asks, sounding more worried than angry.
Lev intervenes. “We were at my house, Kelly. I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not noticing how late it was.”
Scott comes out of the kitchen, stopping by Mom’s side. “Were you really at your house? When you didn’t come home and neither of you answered your phones, I sent Chance to check if you were there, but he said your car wasn’t in the driveway.”
Lev grabs the back of his neck, his tone apologetic. “Go figure. The one time I park in the garage. I’m sorry, Scott.”
Chance comes down the stairs. “Hey dude. Thank you for texting me back. These two were going insane. They even had Ares drive around town and all the way back to your old house in Shell Cove, just in case you had gone to see your old best friend.”
“Seriously? Why didn’t you ring the doorbell or use the spare key card I gave you?” Lev asks.
“I tried. Neither worked.”
Understanding dawns on Lev’s face. “Shit. Sorry I forgot my parents had some landscaping done and there was some damage to the electrical system, so they had a new house alarm system installed and new keys. I was supposed to give you one, but I forgot.”
Everyone seems relieved rather than upset.
“Ok. I guess I should message your parents to tell them to disregard my previous message.” Scott exhales. “I tried to get ahold of them to see if they had heard from you or if they had any notifications from the house security system, but my messages haven’t been read.”
Lev shakes his head. “You know how they get if they’re preparing for a trial. I know they have some big insider trading case in San Francisco opening next week and they must have gone back to work after showing their faces at the Pullins’ party. The second they’re back into their offices, they put their phones on do not disturb for everyone except me and their important clients. The office is technically closed, so they don’t get disturbed, as any calls to the landline would get the automated answering machine.”
Mom sighs as she addresses Lev. “Right. Your mom was telling me how busy they are with this case. They have a team of associates who are helping with a lot of the ground work, but there are boxes and boxes of paperwork to check, so they need all hands on deck, partners included. I’m not surprised they didn’t answer.”
Lev apologizes again. “I’m so sorry. We went to get that frozen custard I promised Zara, but the place was crowded, so we decided to go eat it at my house and watch a movie. We fell asleep. I hope you aren’t going to hold this against me. I hate the idea that we caused you so much worry.”
Mom smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I know it wasn’t intentional, Lev. You’re going to understand one day when you’re parents. When your kids are small, it’s much easier. When they grow up, you have to accept that you’re no longer able to protect them from the rest of the world. That’s the hardest thing to deal with. So I know a curfew would be ridiculous, since you’re both adults. But would I be out of line if I asked you to let meknow next time you’re at your house? Like that, if you fall asleep, I’ll know you’re safe.”
Lev nods. “Yes ma’am. We’ll make sure to let you know. I’m very sorry for tonight.”
There’s a moment of silence and the air in the large foyer of Scott’s house is charged with tension.
Scott breaks the silence. “I guess since we’re all up, we could have an early breakfast. Lev, will you be joining us?”
He looks at me and I shrug. It’s up to him if he wants to stay. But if he felt like he needs to get out of here, I wouldn’t blame him.
“Thanks, Scott, that would be awesome. Chance and I have morning skate in a couple of hours anyway, so I was going to swing by to pick him up. I always have my bag in my trunk, so I don’t even need to stop back at the house.”
Scott gives him a fatherly slap on the back. “Good thinking. Harrison and I used to play together in New York back in the day. He was our team captain, and he was a hard ass back then, too. I heard all sorts of stories about how strict he is as a coach.”
Lev chuckles. “Yeah, we heard the same stories, too. I hope we never get to experience his famous punishments first hand.”
As Scott, Lev, and Chance make their way to the kitchen, Mom gets my attention by touching my biceps. “I’m sure you’re going to want to change out of that dress. Do you mind if I come with you? I would like to talk for a second.”
Chapter 15
The Devil Rides On Two Wheels
ZARA
“Mom, I’m sorry.” I close my bedroom door behind me and turn to look at my mother.
