While heading back to Franco's to pick up my bike, the wail of a police siren cut through the air. My pulse quickened as the car sped past me and stopped at the end of the streetâright in front of Franco's restaurant.
Panic tightened in my chest, and I quickly dialed Dom's number. He answered after the second ring.
"Hello?" His voice sounded tense but steady.
I let out the breath I'd been holding. "It's me. Are you okay?"
His answer was abrupt, his tone stiff. "I turned my dad in."
"You did?" Relief mixed with worry. If he'd turned his dad in, would he be in trouble too?
"I can't believe I didn't know," he continued, sounding frustrated. "It was all right there, Matty. It wasn't in the boxes. He had secret pockets in the delivery bags. The police found them when they searchedâdifferent colored powders in each one. Pretty sure it was drugs."
I rubbed my forehead, exhaustion creeping in as the realization hit. Not looking in those bags could have cost me more than I'd ever imagined. "God, Dom, I'm sorry. I should have checked, butâare you sure you're okay? The police aren't going toâ"
"They're not after me," Dom cut in, but I could hear the strain in his voice. "But my dad was screaming that they should arrest you. Just... be careful if you're heading back. You know my family's rep with the cops isn't the best."
My heart squeezed at the thought of him standing up for me like that. "Dom, I... I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"You don't have to say anything. I'd do it again in a heartbeat." His voice softened. "You'd do the same for me."
Would I? I wasn't sure if I would, not for anyone but maybe Luis. But Dom was so sure, and it made my chest tighten.
"What are they going to do about the restaurant?" I asked, pushing that thought aside.
"I don't know yet, but I might be late to Bertha's. Please wait for me. I need you to tell me everything, Matty. I feel like I barely know you."
I swallowed, my throat tightening. "I promise. I won't leave anything out when we talk." I paused, glancing back at Franco's. "I know it's risky, but I have to go back for my bike."
Dom's response was quick. "Matty, I could buy you a hundred bikes."
I squirmed at the thought of him throwing money around. Dom had always been good with money, way better than I could ever be. His success with crypto had given him a fortune, but I hated relying on anyone's charity. "I know, but Luis got me that bike as an early birthday present. I can't just leave it."
Dom muttered something under his breath. "I'll call you if I can't make it. Be careful, okay?"
"You better make it," I teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Or I'll come to the police station and break you out myself."
His surprised huff of laughter warmed me. I didn't realize how smoky his voice sounded over the phone. He had a radio DJ kind of voice. "Okay, I gotta go. And I..." There was a long pause; then, he spoke on an exhale. "Well, be careful, Matty."
My call to Dom disconnected, and I stared at my phone as I tried to decide if I should be worried. If I didn't see him at Bertha's, I would be at that police station like a B movie action hero. They better not arrest him!
But with Franco arrested, I could disappear with Dom and Luis before he could set anyone on our tail. At least, I hoped so. I called Luis since I figured he'd arrived at Aisa's soon enough to grab his phone from the treehouse as I thought of this.
"I got your stuff already. Are you at Bertha's yet?" He asked me when he answered the phone.
"Not yet, but I have some news. Dom turned his dad in." I was still in shock that Dom did that for me, and it showed in the high pitch of my voice.
There was silence on the other end for a minute, then Luis said, "How do you know?"
"There are police cars at the restaurant, so I had to stop. I called him."
"Don't go near that place while the cops are there, Matt. Don't make more problems."
I rolled my eyes, "Please, Dad. I wanna get arrested. Please?"
He growled in response. I rolled my eyes again, not wanting another stormy scene when I saw him again. So, I deflected. It's my superpower.
"Glad you grabbed my money and clothes. After we talk to Dom, I want to get us out of the city as soon as possible."
"You've decided to bring me along," He sounded so pleased. His tone became warmer, and I found myself comparing it to Dom's. Luis's voice was lower, with a darker tone, and he sounded more like a hot villain in an anime than a radio DJ.
"Yes, and Dom, if he wants to come." Dom had a car, which would make things convenient if he still wanted to come after everything I told him.
The ice returned, and he sounded more like an anime villain than ever. "That's not a good idea, Matt. Do you need another demonstration of why?"
I got a shiver down my back and cursed myself for it. Yes, I would like another demonstration, please and thank you.
No! Bad Matt! You do not!
Of course, I would simp for the villain's voice more than the DJ voice. After taking a steadying breath, I said. "No. But I also don't want to argue with you. I made up my mind." If he tried to argue with me again, I would hang up.
"Fine. Get to Bertha's, and don't go near Franco's until the cops leave." His voice was clipped and angry.
The line went dead, so I put away my phone, grumbling over his bossiness. Of course, I would wait until the cops left, and of course, I would stay at Bertha's. Sheesh!
I saw the cops leave after twenty minutes of waiting. Dominic followed them in his red Jaguar. That was comforting. I figured he would be okay since he wasn't being led out in handcuffs. Once they left, I started walking again, only to find six people on motorcycles pulling into the back alleyway of the restaurant. I assumed they must be customers, so I sped up my steps to let them know that Franco's would be closed for a while. I hoped Dominic remembered to lock up.
As I entered the back alley to the restaurant, I saw my bike was there against the wall. However, I was wrong about the customers. When the frontman took off his helmet, I knew who he was.
Adrian.
The mole by his full lips gave him away, even if the rest of him had changed. He was tallerâso much taller than I remembered. Last time I'd seen him, he was thirteen and small for his age, but now... he looked older than me and had grown into his lanky frame. A scar on his sharp chin had a gold stud through it. He was wearing black running shorts, and on his muscular left shin was an elaborate hummingbird tattoo
Despite my attempts not to look, I couldn't tear my eyes away from his legs, and not because they weren't impressive to behold, because they were.
On the night of my attack, I'd spilled a lot of secrets about myself, including my childhood nickname of Hummingbird. The friend who'd betrayed me used to call me that, and I wondered if the ink was there because I crossed Adrian.
Finally, my gaze shot to his eyes, which were still the same bright hazel, with those long, curly lashes. But they looked hard and unfriendly.
Adrian lounged against the door of the restaurant while I gawked at him. His slender fingers, laden with silver rings, plucked at the tape on the door as he arched a fine brow at me. His five companions also took off their helmets as they stood by their motorcycles.
Six against one. Lovely. None of the men looked friendly, even if they all looked like they belonged in a clothing ad.
I nodded at him. "Adrian."
"Matt." He pushed off the door and turned to face me completely.
"What are you doing here?" Why was I even asking? He'd come to beat me up, obviously. Why else would he be surrounding me with his gang? Yep, this was me, asking the real questions here.
He flashed a brilliant smile, and every bone in my body melted, and my brain short-circuited for a minute. One more smile like that, and I might let him go ahead and stomp me. Jeez, what was wrong with me today?
Was this really little Adrian?
"Don't you know the answer to that, Matt?"
I staggered back and tried to look nonchalant like I hadn't been drooling over his physical beauty. Yes, I knew the answer to why he was here. He was here to send me to my grave for leaving him. "Do you think we can do this tomorrow? I'm busy today."
I looked around to see if I had anything to use as a weapon nearby, but anything useful was behind the guys. Of course, I had my backpack with cans of cherry coke, but It was doubtful that I could get to them before Adrian grabbed me.
"We could, but I have a feeling I would lose you again." He plucked the police tape once more with a significant look. "In trouble again, Matt?"
"How did you find me?" Had he looked a bit worried when he'd asked that question? Naaaah...
Another flash of that smile. Good heavens, it was lethal. "Franco's pizza is awesome. I get deliveries every month. I never got you as a delivery driver, so I didn't know you worked there until I saw that social media post they did for their anniversary."
"Dang it! I didn't know I was in that shot!" I heaved a sigh as I stepped back. If I stayed out of the alley, it would give me more ability to run. "You're here for revenge, I guess."
He barked a laugh. "Revenge? Is that why you think I'm here?"
I blinked at him.
Yes?
Right then seemed like a good time to start apologizing. "I'm sorry I left you behind. But are we going to continue with this tea party, or are you going to just go ahead and beat me up? I have someplace I need to be."
I deserved at least one hit. I just hoped it wouldn't hurt too bad.
He laughed, and my wits found a ticket to Hawaii and bailed. When did he get such a smooth tenor voice? Who did he borrow that laugh from? Was this seriously the same little kid that clung to me all the time?
"That's not what I'm here about, Matt. I want to talk about something else."
That night, the one before I left him behind, came flooding back. Adrian had been with me when I was attacked, when I was stabbed. I thought I was going to die, but I woke up healed, with Adrian lying across me. He'd tried to talk to me about it, but I'd been too busy running from the gang that my attacker, the boy I thought had been my friend, had belonged to.
Joseph.
I was sure that Adrian wanted to find out why I'd abandoned him.
But I couldn't stay that day, not with Luis and Dom waiting for me.
"Adrian," I said, trying to reason with him. "I can't talk right now. I really need to go."
The circle of men around me tightened, six pairs of eyes watching my every move. Adrian stepped forward, his face growing more serious. There was no warmth or trace of the boy I once knew.
Six against oneâmy odds weren't great. Adrian's eyes met mine, so pretty, but so scary at that moment. When he spoke, it was a demand. "You're coming with me."
I felt my heart hammering, my hands curling into fists. Whatever he wanted, he wasn't giving me a choice. And running wasn't an option.