A Whole New Crowd(91)

“He was Jace Lanser’s brother. No one would’ve robbed him.”

Her eyes turned to me. There was no fear. There was no caution or paranoia. I saw hurt and pain. She cared about him too. In that moment, she saw the same in me. I felt it and then she nodded. She murmured, “I know. Gray said the same thing.” She glanced at Ro, biting her lip. “He came to me two weeks later and he was asking a lot of questions. He didn’t think it was a robbery.” She nodded to me. “What you said. No one would rob Jace Lanser’s brother. They’d wind up dead themselves. Everyone knows that.”

“Tell me about Gray. I know about Brian and that night.”

Ro and her friend looked at me, but I ignored their silent conversation. I needed to know as much about Gray as possible.

“He thought there was a different story. He wanted to know what I knew and what Brian said to me. So I told him, but he didn’t want to tell you. He said you had enough to deal with. I didn’t know what he meant, but he was adamant about not bothering you with this. I believed him. I trusted him.” She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I didn’t know what he was thinking, but I cared about Brian.” She looked back to me as she said, “I’ve since learned about your history with him. I didn’t know at that time who you were, but it stung. And hearing that Gray was protecting you, that stung too. Who were you? Did you shit gold or something? That’s how they talked about you. Seeing you tonight, I don’t know, I was angry and maybe jealous.”

I started laughing. I was fed up. “Are you kidding me?”

She flinched.

I added, “My ex-boyfriend, someone who I loved, was killed. Someone else who I care about is missing, and you’re jealous? Get. Over. Yourself.” My chest was tight and I took two steps towards her. My hands were balled in fists again, pressing against my leg. “We’re not playing around here. Brian is dead. I’m hoping Gray isn’t. Your emotions don’t matter. Ever.”

She sucked in her breath, tears welled up in her eyes, and I saw her start to crumble again. I turned to Tray. I couldn’t hold back anymore. He saw my impatience and nodded. Gesturing for me to step back, he stepped forward and took my place. “What did you and Gray do?” he asked, his tone gentle.

I crossed the room and took up where he’d been standing, keeping watch outside the window, but I could see from the window’s reflection that she’ glanced at me.

“Dee.”

She turned to him. “We…” She looked at me again.

“Dee,” Tray said calmly, “what did you and Gray do?”

“We teamed up, okay? He didn’t want to tell anyone about this, but when he didn’t show up for school today, it’s like it’s happening all over again.” She shook her head. “He thought Brian was dead because of Jace. I didn’t know what to think of that. I mean, they’re brothers, right? But I know that Brian hated Jace and there hasn't been a relationship between them for a while. Gray wanted to ask his brother some questions.”

“What did Jace say?”

“Nothing. We never found him. Jace Lanser is missing or,” her lip trembled, “he’s gone or dead, you know?”

Reaching for the window frame, my fingers curled around it. I didn’t dare breathe, the hope was so strong in me.

Looking at Ro now, she added, “Gray didn’t want to tell you anything. He said he didn’t want you to worry either.”

I shook my head and turned around. “Why do you think Jace is missing? He’s never been available for just anyone to find him.”

“I know, but we staked out everywhere and waited for him. There was nothing. His clubs, his businesses, even the Panther’s headquarters. His house. Brian’s old house. Nothing. Gray said he had one last place to look and then he was going to tell you what was going on.”

“Do you know where that was?”

“I assumed it was your house. Brian always talked about how close you and Jace used to be. He thought his brother was obsessed with you. I just assumed that’s what Gray meant.”

Nowhere. That’s where this interrogation had gotten us. No-fucking-where. I turned to Tray. “Let’s go. We have to find Gray.”

No one stopped us. We swept through the house and out to the parking lot. Once we were out of earshot, I stopped, bent over, and let out a scream. It had been sitting on the bottom of my throat, waiting for me to let it loose, and I didn’t hold back. My hands grasped my hair and pulled on it.

Once I was done, I glanced at Tray. He lifted an eyebrow. “You want to scream again or do you want to hear my suggestion?”