Fallen Crest Home(6)

“Isn’t he running a bar in Roussou now?” I thought that was what Logan had said one time.

Heather nodded, letting out a loud breath of air. “Yeah. Like I have time to play house. I’m running this place since my dad retired and going to community college. I don’t have time to raise some teenager. Besides, the girl is tough as nails. She doesn’t need or want a mommy replacement. Trust me. I’ve been there. I don’t want to deal with another me.”

“Whoa.” I couldn’t get over it. “Channing’s like a dad…”

“More like a big brother extraordinaire, but he tries. She’s got her own crew, though. She’ll be fine.” She held up a hand. “And don’t get ahead of yourself. Channing is not just being the model big brother extraordinaire. He’s got some stupid shit going on the sidelines, too.”

“Heather!”

She raised her hand, her middle finger extended, but her brother couldn’t see from where he yelled her name.

“Get in here!”

She collected her cigarettes and stood. “I’m five feet from where he’s standing. You think he really needs to scream at the top of his lungs?”

“I heard that,” Brandon shot back. “You do the same to me, Heatherkins.”

“Do not call me that!” she snapped, reaching for the door. She paused before heading inside. “Hey, I’m going to this thing for Channing later. He’s fighting in a big event tonight. If you’re super bored, come with me. It’d be nice to have another female friend there.”

There was no thinking required. If I stayed home, I’d go nuts wondering when Analise would strike.

“I’m in.”





“You’re where?”

I was leaning against Heather’s car in the middle of a field, surrounded by a couple hundred other cars, and all around me was bass-heavy music, yelling, and a scream every now and then. I had my finger plugging my other ear, but I still strained to hear Mason over the phone.

“Channing’s fighting tonight,” I told him. “I’m going with Heather and her brother.”

“Wait. What?”

I paused at hearing the snap in his voice. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re at a fighting event?”

“Yes.” My mouth turned down.

“In Roussou?”

“Yes.” My frown deepened. I could feel the wrinkles starting in my forehead and the wheels were churning. I hadn’t even thought about it, but once it hit me, I wanted to smack myself there.

“Oh no.”

“Yeah,” he bit out over the phone. “Are you kidding me, Sam? You’re there alone? It’s dangerous there. I still have enemies in Roussou and you’re alone.”

“I’m not.” I glanced over at Heather and Brandon, but I knew he wouldn’t care about them or even about Channing and all of his friends. When he said alone, he meant he or Logan weren’t with me.

I cringed, gritting my teeth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it. I just didn’t want to go crazy at home.”

He sighed, or I thought he sighed. I was guessing what the sounds were on his end about eighty percent of the time. “Can you wait until I’m done here? I can leave early. I don’t give a shit what my dad says.”

Oh. Well, fuck. Again. “I’m already here.” I rushed forward, “I’m sorry. I am. I didn’t think and to be honest, I only thought there’d be like thirty people here.” I looked around. “There’s gotta be around a hundred or so.”

“A hundred?”

“Yeah.” Holding the phone more tightly to my ear, I turned around. I could see a large stage alongside a couple of tents. There was one really large tent to the far right. I wondered if that was where the main event would happen. There was a smaller stage set off in the corner, and people walked around with drinks, food, and even balloons. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was some sort of music festival. I knew better, though. So did Mason.

He was groaning now. “You’re there without me, Logan, or Nate.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “But hey—Heather’s kind of a bodyguard. I’m sure she’ll protect me.” I rested my shoulder against the car, half-turned so I could watch people walking by. “Channing is here, and so are all his friends. Besides, I really doubt anyone will recognize me or even remember who I am.” I sounded ridiculous. Who the hell was I? A nobody. People knew Mason and Logan. They didn’t know me.

He cursed again. “I know people in Roussou aren’t all happy with us. We did a lot of damage there and got away with it. That’s how they see it.”