Page 558 of One More Kiss

Mick

Shock renderedme speechless as I watched Andrea spin on a heel and tear out of the apartment like the devil was on her heels. I threw a bewildered look at Tito. “What the hell did you say to her?”

He shut the door and shook his head. “Crazy bitch. She's always been too damn uptight for her own good.”

What the fuck was he talking about? “How do you know what?”

“She used to roll with my boy Blaze. Had a kid with him a few years back, I think.”

My stomach roiled with nausea. I had no idea who he was talking about, but it had obviously affected Andrea. I had to go after her. I took a step forward, and my gaze landed on the paraphernalia scattered over the coffee table. I halted mid stride, ice settling in my veins as I stared at it. “What the fuck is that?”

Tito seated himself on the couch and reached for the papers. He threw a grin over his shoulder at me. “Just call it a welcome home gift.”

My skin went hot with fury. “You said you were off the drugs.”

“Hell yeah. I'm off the hard stuff, but this is just pot, man.”

“Get it out of here.”

His face twisted in a grimace. “Why? It’s legal practically everywhere now.”

“Not fucking here it isn't,” I snapped. “I can't have that shit in my apartment.”

Not only was it against my parole, but I wanted as far the fuck away from it as possible. “Get rid of it.”

“Chill out, dude.”

“No. This was obviously a mistake. You can't stay here.”

Tito's mouth gaped open. “You're shittin’ me, right?”

When I didn't respond, he jumped to his feet. “Come the fuck on, it's just a little pot.”

That's what they all said. “Not in my house. Take your shit and leave.”

Tito angrily swiped everything off the coffee table and into the ragged backpack by his feet. “What the fuck ever.”

He shot me an angry look before leaving the apartment, slamming the door in his wake. The walls were still rattling as I pulled on the nearest pair of jeans and stepped into my sneakers. I yanked on a shirt, then grabbed my keys off the counter and made a beeline for the door. Outside, I cranked the engine of the Camaro and headed toward Andrea's house. It was just after eight o'clock, but there were no lights on, and her car wasn't parked out front. I went up and knocked on the door anyway.

“Andrea! You in there?” After a minute of no response, I took a seat on the front stoop, determined to wait for her. Fifteen minutes passed, then thirty. My knee jiggled anxiously. Where the hell was she? I’d never cursed myself more for not having a cell phone. I’d never deemed it necessary, and I gave everyone the shop number if they needed to reach me. Tomorrow, getting a prepaid phone was going to be the first thing on my agenda—right after coming back to see Andrea.

I hopped back in the Camaro, then headed for the shop, just in case. Maybe she had called and left a message. I knew it was wishful thinking, but it was the only thing I had to go on at the moment. I let myself in, then raced to the office. A bright red number two blinked on the old-style answering machine, and I practically lunged for it, hoping one of those messages was from Andrea.

My heart raced in my chest as the first voice filtered through the line, an elderly, masculine tone. I immediately hit the button to skip it and move on to the next one. But the second message wasn't from her either. I raked my hands through my hair with frustration. Fuck.

Snatching my keys off the desk, I ran back out to the Camaro. I would head back to Andrea's house and wait for her there. She had to go home at some point. I parked along the street and waited as dusk fell, the sky turning black with night. The numbers on the radio clock steadily ticked away one at a time. When it finally rolled over from the eleven o'clock hour to midnight, I knew she wasn't coming home.

My heart sank to my stomach. What if something had happened to her? Christ, I would never forgive myself. Resigned to not seeing her today, I started the car and headed home. Never before had I felt so sick with worry. I could only pray that she was safe and that she would listen to what I had to say. I just had to find her first.

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