wasn’t time.
“Seth is next then?” she asked when she returned to the kitchen.
Carter swung the duffel bag over his shoulder and headed toward the back door. “Umm...” He ducked his head.
“What?”
She locked the door behind her and hurried down the walkway to the truck in the back driveway. The yard was on the smaller side, but neatly maintained. Fall leaves scattered the lawn with shades of reds and yellows that begged to be kicked and tossed around while parents watched from the brick patio. It had a cozy appeal that contrasted with the reserved interior of the home. No doubt there was a gardener to thank for that.
“You know where Seth lives, right?” She checked her phone as they left Noah’s driveway. Nothing. “Or do I need to ask someone?” A scowl drew deep lines in Carter’s brow when she looked to him. “What? It can’t be worse than the two-star apartment I live in.”
Her place wasn’t exactly a dive, but the small space she shared with her mostly absent roommate rated well below the homes they’d visited today. Vanessa had offered many times to get her a better place, just like she wanted to buy her a new car. Succeeding on her own merit filled a large part of Liv’s self-worth and she refused to give that up.
Carter shifted in his seat, hands flexing on the steering wheel. “How much do you know about all of them?”
She frowned. “What do mean? They’re friends of Vanessa. People she knows through work.”
“Okay.” He wet his lips. “Seth lives above the club he owns.”
“I thought he owned a restaurant.” That was what she’d assumed after he’d donated the food for the carnival.
“They do serve food there.”
“So what’s the big deal?” Now she was confused. “So he owns a club. Does it really matter right now? Wait. Does he have anyone to run it for him? Will he need help with that?” Her mind was already off with a dozen things she could do. It also made her think of everyone else’s jobs. “They’re all going to be out for a while. Noah was making calls last night. I think—”
“Hold up.” Carter chuckled. “You’re thinking too fast for me.”
“You were there,” she insisted. “There’s no way any of them are going back to work soon. The ones who aren’t seriously hurt are going to be with the ones who are.”
The silence filled in around them as the truth of that settled in. She checked her phone again, annoyed and relieved at the blank screen. They’d been gone for almost two hours and still no word.
“Have you heard from Rock?” She glanced at him. “Anything from the other hospital?”
“Nothing recent.”
They drove in silence until Carter exited the highway into the industrial section of town. He weaved through the area, passing warehouses and manufacturing plants before he pulled up to a lot secured by a gated chain-link fence behind a four-story brick building. The structure itself was well maintained but nondescript. What kind of a club had this level of security? Maybe the area wasn’t that safe at night.
Carter texted someone, and a few seconds later the gate slid back, allowing them to enter.
“Well, isn’t that special,” she intoned. She might be functioning on no sleep, but the entire setup felt like overkill for a simple nightclub. “What kind of place did you say he owned?”
Carter pulled into the underground garage and parked the truck in a spot that had a Reserved for Rock sign posted on the wall. A quick scan down the row noted similar plaques for Seth, Deklan, Jake, Marcus, V and Noah. The puzzle shifted into order that quickly.
Vanessa had been hiding something else from her. But why?
Carter was out of the truck before she could drill him with questions. The scent of oil and gas fumes slammed into her when she shoved her door open. She reared back, gagging against her hand. The reaction was new and instant. Her stomach heaved and she fought it back with a hard-won swallow. Her skin was flushed
“Seth is next then?” she asked when she returned to the kitchen.
Carter swung the duffel bag over his shoulder and headed toward the back door. “Umm...” He ducked his head.
“What?”
She locked the door behind her and hurried down the walkway to the truck in the back driveway. The yard was on the smaller side, but neatly maintained. Fall leaves scattered the lawn with shades of reds and yellows that begged to be kicked and tossed around while parents watched from the brick patio. It had a cozy appeal that contrasted with the reserved interior of the home. No doubt there was a gardener to thank for that.
“You know where Seth lives, right?” She checked her phone as they left Noah’s driveway. Nothing. “Or do I need to ask someone?” A scowl drew deep lines in Carter’s brow when she looked to him. “What? It can’t be worse than the two-star apartment I live in.”
Her place wasn’t exactly a dive, but the small space she shared with her mostly absent roommate rated well below the homes they’d visited today. Vanessa had offered many times to get her a better place, just like she wanted to buy her a new car. Succeeding on her own merit filled a large part of Liv’s self-worth and she refused to give that up.
Carter shifted in his seat, hands flexing on the steering wheel. “How much do you know about all of them?”
She frowned. “What do mean? They’re friends of Vanessa. People she knows through work.”
“Okay.” He wet his lips. “Seth lives above the club he owns.”
“I thought he owned a restaurant.” That was what she’d assumed after he’d donated the food for the carnival.
“They do serve food there.”
“So what’s the big deal?” Now she was confused. “So he owns a club. Does it really matter right now? Wait. Does he have anyone to run it for him? Will he need help with that?” Her mind was already off with a dozen things she could do. It also made her think of everyone else’s jobs. “They’re all going to be out for a while. Noah was making calls last night. I think—”
“Hold up.” Carter chuckled. “You’re thinking too fast for me.”
“You were there,” she insisted. “There’s no way any of them are going back to work soon. The ones who aren’t seriously hurt are going to be with the ones who are.”
The silence filled in around them as the truth of that settled in. She checked her phone again, annoyed and relieved at the blank screen. They’d been gone for almost two hours and still no word.
“Have you heard from Rock?” She glanced at him. “Anything from the other hospital?”
“Nothing recent.”
They drove in silence until Carter exited the highway into the industrial section of town. He weaved through the area, passing warehouses and manufacturing plants before he pulled up to a lot secured by a gated chain-link fence behind a four-story brick building. The structure itself was well maintained but nondescript. What kind of a club had this level of security? Maybe the area wasn’t that safe at night.
Carter texted someone, and a few seconds later the gate slid back, allowing them to enter.
“Well, isn’t that special,” she intoned. She might be functioning on no sleep, but the entire setup felt like overkill for a simple nightclub. “What kind of place did you say he owned?”
Carter pulled into the underground garage and parked the truck in a spot that had a Reserved for Rock sign posted on the wall. A quick scan down the row noted similar plaques for Seth, Deklan, Jake, Marcus, V and Noah. The puzzle shifted into order that quickly.
Vanessa had been hiding something else from her. But why?
Carter was out of the truck before she could drill him with questions. The scent of oil and gas fumes slammed into her when she shoved her door open. She reared back, gagging against her hand. The reaction was new and instant. Her stomach heaved and she fought it back with a hard-won swallow. Her skin was flushed
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