I text them to let them know I’m safe and that I’ll be home tomorrow then start back down the hallway. There’s a fairly recent picture on the wall of Jack and Samson, and I squint at Samson. It was hard to get a good look at him tonight, what with all the guns in my face and all the drunk head-lolling he was doing, but looking at him in the photo I realize Samson looks very similar to Jack—tall, dark, and totally hot—but more mischievous and playful. And where Jack’s eyes are metallic pools of dark gray with thin rings of hazel green, Samson’s eyes are a true green.
Moving on, I round the end of the hallway and see Jack and his mother leaning close together in deep conversation at the table. Not wanting to intrude on their mommy-and-me moment, I quickly duck back into the shadows of the hallway.
“Tell me the truth, Jack,” his mom says, sounding worried. “How bad is this thing with Drew?”
Jack sighs heavily. “I really don’t know, Mom.”
Crap. I need to go somewhere else. I walk into the living room, but I can still hear them talking so I tiptoe to the back of the hallway where I texted my cousins. Dammit, I can still hear them.
Lilly’s voice climbs higher in pitch as she grates out, “Is he okay? Is he in trouble? Is he—”
“He’s fine.” Jack’s voice sounds sure. Steady. “He’s going to be just fine.”
Glancing at the hallway doors, I debate slipping into one of the mystery rooms to avoid listening in on their private dialogue. But sneaking into someone’s room in the dark and hiding out there for no apparent reason is like ten times creepier than eavesdropping. So yeah. No mystery doors for me.
She sniffs. “Dammit, Jack. Just tell me so I know. I promise you, everything that I’ve been imagining is worse. Much worse.”
He quietly scoffs. “Yeah, that’s probably true.”
Screw it. I plaster myself against the side of the hallway and listen as Jack sucks in a deep breath.
“All right, Mom. Here’s what it is: Drew got mixed up with some of Dad’s associates and now he’s trying to get out—but don’t freak out. Samson and I have a plan. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Pressing my back against the cool wall I frown. I know for a fact that Samson and Jack do not have a plan, so I can only assume he’s lying to keep her calm.
“What associates?” Lilly asks with a bite to her tone.
“Mom…”
“Which ones, Jack?” A beat passes. “Don’t make me call Jonesy.”
Jack sighs. “The Royals.”
“The Royals?” A panicked squeak escapes her throat. “Oh, no. Not Drew. No, no, no—”
“Mom. Mom. Look at me.” Jack quiets his voice to a near whisper. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for this family. For you. For Samson. And especially Drew. So I will find him.” He pauses. “No matter what, I will find him and bring him home. Everything will be okay. I promise.” His tone is so gentle. So careful.
I’ve only heard him speak with such tenderness one other time, and that memory clashes terribly with my current situation.
Lilly sighs. “Jack… I’m worried.”
“You don’t need to worry,” Jack says. “I’ll take care of Drew.”
“No, baby. I’m worried about you.” I hear the scooting of a chair like she’s pulling closer to him. “You’ve been taking care of this family ever since you were a teenager—even before everything happened with your father. And when you left…” She inhales. “I know I said I didn’t want you to go, Jack, but secretly… I was relieved. You needed to get out of this place and away from all the burdens you inherited. And now this thing with Drew has you running back home and I—I’m afraid you’re going to slip right back into that burdened role.”
“Loving you guys isn’t a burden.”
“You know what I mean. I’ve missed you so bad and I’m so glad to see you. But I don’t want you to go back to being the Jack you were before you left.”
A moment of silence passes before Jack says, “You don’t need to worry about the old Jack. I’m different now. Happier.”
“I know.” I hear the smile in her voice. “I can tell. That’s why I’m worried.”
“You worry too much, Mom. I’ll be fine. And besides, I have you and Sam to keep me in check.”
“And Jenna.”
He scoffs. “Hardly. She’ll be out of here as soon as possible. Not that I blame her. Did you really have to kiss her head?”
She quietly laughs. “Oh, Jack.”