Jaden (Jaded #3)(53)

Denton waved a hand, getting their attention. “If you need to stay, that’s fine. We can wait around. I’m sure,” he glanced to me, “Zorro would be A-Okay with that.”

I perked up.

“No.” Corrigan shook his head, a hard glint in his eyes. “You guys go. Start the planning. I’ll take care of this and get back as soon as possible.”

“You sure?”

I offered, “We can totally stay.” I recognized the girl who had called me a bitch on the front lawn. There was a group that I wouldn’t mind messing with, maybe ask why she was so adamant I was a bitch. “I’ve not ruffled any feathers tonight.”

“No.” Corrigan shot me a dark look. “Go. I mean it. I want you to stay safe.” He spoke over me to Bryce, “I’ll be back in a few. Take her.”

Bryce’s hand came to my arm and he pulled me toward him. “I will.” He turned, guiding me in front of him, and he said to Denton, “Can you call your driver to come get us?”

Denton nodded. As he pulled his phone out, he was guiding Mena in front of him, weaving through the crowd to the front door. My time was coming to an end. Digging my heels in, Bryce simply adjusted his hold. His arm went around my waist, and he picked me up, carrying me tucked under his arm. My hands flew back, knocking into people, and I tried to keep my feet from doing the same. Clutching to his shoulder, I gasped, “Bryce!”

He apologized to the people I hit, but kept going forward. He was bound and determined. So I pressed my lips shut and let myself be carried out. I was starting to realize whichever one was with me was going to act as a bodyguard from now on—no, a babysitter— but I couldn’t blame them. Images of Corrigan bleeding on the floor flashed in my head. The killer could hurt them, too.

“Bryce,” I said.

He was ducking around a group of girls, all tipsy and giggling. “Yeah?”

“I’m worried about Corrigan.”

He met my gaze. I bit my lip, wondering if there would be jealousy, but he only nodded. “I know. Me too, but he’ll be fine for the night. After this, none of us will go out alone again.”

“We should wait.”

“No, Sheldon.”

Denton and Mena were waiting on the curb, and I heard Denton saying, “Okay. Thank you.”

Bryce set me down, but I stayed close to him. My hands were on his biceps. I said in a low voice, “We should wait.”

His hands lingered on my hips. “I feel weird, too. We need to get you home. I’ll come back for him, if you want me to.”

Did I?

I was torn at that idea, letting Bryce go off on his own. My eyebrows furrowed forward, and I frowned. Then I sighed. “You stay with Corrigan, and I’ll go home with Denton and Mena.”

“You sure?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Okay.” He turned to Denton. “You okay with that plan?”

“Yeah. Are you sober?”

Bryce nodded. “I am. I can drive the car home.”

“Okay.” Denton took a set of keys out of his pocket. “I was just going to have my other driver come back for it, but here. Once you and Corrigan get back to the Alpha Mu house, just drive her home. Be safe.”

Bryce took the keys. “Thanks. I will.” His eyes met mine and a silent goodbye passed between us. As he left, heading back for the house, I said under my breath, “Be safe.”

Corrigan had a weird feeling. Bryce did too, and it must’ve been infectious. I pressed the palm of my hand to my stomach because I was feeling it, too.

Something was off, something we weren’t thinking about.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

We were pulling into Denton’s house when we saw the flare from the cops’ sirens. Two cars were behind us. They parked beside our car, and I was out before anyone else. My heart was in my throat. The drive to Denton’s house was thirty minutes. Something could’ve happened to Bryce or Corrigan.

When Officer Patterson got out of the second squad car, I went over to her. “Sheila?”

There were lines of exhaustion around her mouth and bags under her eyes. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. There were strands that had fallen out. I sucked in my breath. Something had happened.

No, no. Not Bryce. Not Corrigan.

She held a hand up. “Before you jump to conclusions, we’re here looking for Bryce Scout.”

My heart started to pound. “He’s missing?”

She frowned. “He’s not with you?”

I glanced to the first squad car. The two detectives who had taken over my case were questioning Denton and Mena. The guy was studying Denton’s dress with an eyebrow twitch. Then the woman glanced over to us. Catching my gaze, she broke off and headed for us. As she stopped in front of me, her hand pushed back her coat and rested on her hip. Her badge and gun were there.

She looked at Sheila. “Scout?”

Sheila shook her head. “I just asked. Sheldon.” She held her hand up to get my attention. “We really need to see Bryce. Where is he?”

This wasn’t making sense. I pressed a hand to my forehead, feeling a headache forming. “You’re looking for Bryce? Did something happen to him?” Maybe he’d been taken? My anxiety kicked up a notch. “Did the killer take him?” My voice was a hoarse whisper at the end.