Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(59)

“Yeah, she must have things under control.” I chuckle, then add, “By the way, that was really nice of her to help out like she did.”

“It was,” Kay says. “And I’m glad you two are finally getting along.”

Kay sounds like she really means it, so I share with her how Missy’s actions surprised me this morning, in a good way, especially how compassionate she was regarding the situation with my brother.

“Yeah,” Kay replies, “I think Missy is really trying to turn her life around. She must have truly meant it when she said she wanted to be a better person for her kid.”

“Speaking of which”—I tap my fingers on the steering wheel—“has she told Nick’s cousin that he’s going to be a dad in, like, seven months?”

“No.” Kay sighs. “She claims she hasn’t talked to Tony yet.”

I shake my head, and Kay adds, “She needs to tell Tony soon, I know. He has a right to know he’s going to be a dad.”

“Yeah, he does,” I agree.

Talk of Missy ends, and, out of the blue, Kay asks, “By the way, did it seem like Nick was acting weird back at the restaurant?”

“What do you mean?” I hedge.

She shrugs. “I don’t know. He just seemed…off.”

I chuckle and toss out, “Maybe he seemed ‘off’ because he still likes you, baby girl.”

Kay glances at me from under her lashes. “I don’t think that was it, Chase.”

She knows as well as I do, though, that Nick Mercurio wants her more than ever. But I sure as f*ck don’t care to prolong a discussion focusing on Nick’s lust for my f*cking girl.

So, I re-focus the subject. “Who knows, maybe Nick was acting weird because Missy told him about Tony.”

“No, no way.” Kay shakes her head. “If Missy said anything at all, even just a hint that she’s pregnant with Tony’s baby, Nick would definitely tell him. And Missy, for all her hesitation, wouldn’t want Tony to find out that way.”

“Then I don’t know, babe.”

I’m kind of done discussing Missy and Tony and Nick. But as we near the church, Missy’s name comes up once more. Up ahead in the distance, her car is nosing out from the church parking lot, edging out onto the main road on which we’re traveling.

“Guess the rummage sale wrapped up,” I say. “Looks like Missy is leaving.”

Kay starts to reply, but just then, a dark car flies up over the crest of the hill beyond the church. The car is in the opposite lane, bearing down at a high rate of speed toward Missy.

The dark car—I think it’s black—tries to swerve. But it’s too late.

“Oh my God!” Kay screams “Missy, no!”

What follows is a sickly sound, metal on metal impacting.

I screech to a halt several hundred yards away from the scene. I pull off to the side of the road. Kay and I jump out of my truck at the exact same time and start running toward the two wrecked cars. But I’m a lot faster and end up way ahead.

I start to slow down, to wait for Kay to catch up. But just then, I get a clear view of the car that’s crashed into Missy’s car.

It’s black, all right. It’s a Jaguar.

Fuck, Jared is the person who’s just smashed into Missy.

I hope Missy and Jared are okay, but all I can think is: Fuck, I hope my brother isn’t in that car with Jared.

“God, no,” I yell, running faster.

Just as I reach the Jag, I glance back. Kay has detoured over to Missy’s car. She has no idea this black car is Jared’s Jaguar. Missy’s car, pushed several yards away by the impact, is facing the wrong direction. It’s smoking and hissing, and fluids are leaking out onto the road. Strapped into the driver’s seat, Missy’s head is lolling from side to side.

I hope Missy is okay, but first, I have to know whether my brother is trapped in Jared’s car.

The Jag has withstood the impact of the crash much better than Missy’s car, but I still hold my breath when I swing open the passenger door.

To my relief, Will is not even in the car.

Thank f*ck.

Jared is the only occupant. I glance over to the driver’s side and ask him if he’s all right. He doesn’t hear me, though, as he’s too busy opening his own door and stumbling out onto the road.

Suspecting he might be f*cked up in some way, I fly around to his side of the car and grab him roughly by his plaid shirt.

When I throw him up against the side of the car, I know I should calm down. But still, I growl, “Where the f*ck is my brother?”

“He’s home, he’s home,” Jared cries, clearly startled. “I was coming from your house. I dropped him off, like, ten minutes ago.”

A huge surge of relief that Will is truly safe washes over me. I let up on Jared and take a step back. “Were you drinking?”

“No, I swear.”

I peer at his eyes, assessing their condition. “Are you f*cked up on anything?”

“No!”

Jared’s eyes are clear. He seems to be telling the truth.

“Why the f*ck were you speeding like that? This isn’t a raceway, dude. People are pulling in and out of that church lot all the time.”

“I’m sorry,” Jared chokes out. He glances over to Missy’s mangled car. “Is that lady going to be all right?”