Page 74 of I'll Carry You

“I’m out.” TJ shook his head in disbelief. “You can’t seriously think I’m still going to keep helping you with this shitshow. It’s over, Jason. I can’t. I like you, you’re a good client. Almost a friend, even. But you’re in over your head with this one. My advice? Leave now. Before things get so fucked up, you’ll never find a way to fix them. Space can be a good thing. You’re too involved with that woman to think straight.”

Jason didn’t pull out of the parking spot. He rubbed his eyes. “What do you think Ned’s endgame is? Just to get back at you? Me?”

TJ rubbed his hands together, then turned on the air vent so it hit him more directly. “Partially, yeah. But he’s smarter than that. There are lines you cross in this industry only when necessary. And in this case, I’ve been in his way. My guess is that he wanted to get me out of the way.”

Jason stiffened.

Jen.

He threw the car into reverse, feeling sick. TJ grabbed the handle above his seat. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! I’m not buckled.”

Jason zipped out of his space, then put the car into gear. “Where’s the first place you would go if you were Ned and no one was in the way?”

TJ’s belt clicked into place. “I see your point.”

Jason dialed Jen’s phone number. It rang, but then went to voice mail after a few rings.

“Did she just decline your call?” TJ gave him a sidelong glance.

Maybe. Jason’s heart hammered in his chest. If that sniveling snake got to Jen before he explained things, Ned could ruin everything.

His car zoomed through the streets of Brandywood. Luckily, Jen had texted him her parents’ address the day before when he’d been helping her move—it was just one touch of a button to get his GPS to give him directions.

“Have I told you I get carsick?” TJ puffed his cheeks out as Jason took a hard turn.

They arrived within a few minutes, and Jason parked in the street in front of the old Victorian house. Jen’s car was in the driveway, along with a few other cars, including Dan’s police cruiser.

“Is one of those cars Ned’s?” Jason tried to remember the car outside of Ned’s cabin, but he couldn’t.

TJ’s lips set to a line, and he pointed—not at the driveway but across the street. The car was empty.

Jason dialed Jen’s number again. The call immediately went to voice mail. Exchanging a look with TJ, Jason steadied his hands with a death grip on his steering wheel.

He didn’t want to go in.

But he couldn’t not go in, either. He opened the door.

“Can you leave the car running?” TJ called. “It’s cold outside and I just spent the night in jail.”

Jason tossed him the keys and started up the driveway.

Before he made it halfway up, the front door opened. Warren, a big, barrel-chested man—of similar stature and appearance to Dan, but bearded—stepped onto the porch. He stormed down the stairs and his petite, auburn-haired wife, Alice, appeared behind him. “Warren...” Alice said in a low warning tone.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Warren stormed up to Jason, and before Jason could get a word out, he threw a punch.

Jason ducked, springing back. Warren didn’t stop, though. He looked like he should be a linebacker. And from the stance he took, he probably had been one. He leaned forward, then tackled Jason, flattening him onto the grass in front of the house.

The sky above Jason swam, his ears ringing from the blow to the back of his head. Something sharp—like a rock or a pinecone—dug into his back. Warren raised his fist to throw another punch, and a shadow crossed them. Dan was there, too, now. He caught his older brother’s hand.

“You don’t need this dick claiming you assaulted him, War.” Dan held him back.

Jason blinked, his head feeling as though someone had taken an axe to it. The unyielding sun made his eyes water, and tears gathered on his lashes as he tried to see straight. “Get the fuck off me,” he growled to Warren.

Warren heaved an angry breath but spit on Jason as he stood, shoulders heaving.

As Jason tried to sit, he caught Dan’s gaze. He looked angry but troubled. He gave Jason a menacing look. “You fucking lied to me.”

More people came out onto the porch of the Kleins’ house—Betty, Bob...and Ned. Ned gave Jason a satisfied smirk, then turned back and shook Bob’s hand. “Don’t forget, if you have any questions at all, please reach out to me.”