Page 80 of The Sweetest Note
Greg snorts in amusement. “Y'all are adorable. Right, I’ll let everyone know to be on standby for a video chat. Do you think he got the address?”
Frowning, I walk to the window to stare outside. I’ve always been more comfortable under the sky, which is one of the reasons there’s so many windows in my home. I really hope Derek has this damn address.
“I hope he did. I think Derek is worried about Grant checking his messages, which is why he refuses to say much and deletes our text thread shortly after. All I know is something had to have happened if he wants you to let everyone know he needs to update them,” I tell him, gritting my teeth in frustration. “He said he was having dinner with his father and then he would be over, but that’s everything I know.”
“Alright, Orion. I’ll let everyone know. I’ve found several off-shore accounts on Grant’s computer with some payments that should be tied to donations and the campaign. I added this to my plentiful evidence showing how many laws Grant is breaking, I’ll be ready to present this all to my superiors after our call. No one wants to admit Xav is committing this many crimes against humanity and our country, and I just need one more thing to really push my superior over the edge,”Greg explains.
Nodding, I say goodbye and hang up. I’ve never been one for extended goodbyes. Something about how he said he needed one more piece of evidence to seal this up makes me worry for Lennon. What else needs to happen before we can pull her out of that hell hole?
* * *
Around seven,Derek texts me to tell me he’s on his way. Sleepy Kentucky towns tend to roll up the sidewalks early, so it’s no surprise he and his father had an early dinner. Pacing, I feel the walls that have always been my haven, closing in on me.
Grunting, I walk out into the night air, breathing deeply. The tightness in my chest starts to uncoil as I stand here, and I roll my neck back and forth. I didn’t want to leave the girl in the hospital last week, but I had no choice. But what if I made the wrong one?
Sighing, I lift my phone to text Greg that Derek is on the way. My life was so small and simple before, and I didn’t care so much. Even trying to distance myself from the girl isn’t helping, she’s already under my skin.
“Fuuuuck!” I yell at the dark sky, as if it’s offended me. I’m not used to feeling off kilter. I’m always in control, I never falter.
Derek started making me feel things, and now this gray-eyed girl is consuming my thoughts. Forcing air into my lungs, I close my eyes as the wind whispers through the tree branches.
Derek has to have the key to everything. He has to have that damn address. I don’t give a fuck if Greg gets a kill order or not, I can get in and out of that hospital and never have anyone know I was there.
I won’t leave any witnesses alive..
Content that I have a back-up plan in case the red tape gets to be too much, I stalk back inside. More time has passed than I expected, and Derek is banging on my door. Opening it, I grunt as I let him in.
“What did you find?” I bark, without saying hello. Polite niceties are usually beyond me unless I’m playing a part. Derek doesn’t need my masks, so I know he can take my impatience without blinking.
True to form, Derek doesn’t say anything about my mood, but instead looks at me with sadness in his eyes and says, “I found it. Call Greg now.”
I fucking knew something happened.
Walking into the living room, I make sure my laptop is connected to the large screen television, and then video call Greg. Derek collapses onto the couch, elbows resting on his knees as he thrusts his fingers into his hair and tugs.
Swallowing, I meet Greg’s eyes as it connects. “He’s here. You have everyone ready?”
“Yes,” Greg nods. “I’ve got Roark and Turner, do I need anyone else?”
“Layla,” Derek rasps as he looks up.
“Why can’t I see Derek, Orion?”Greg barks at me and I’d laugh at how alike we all are when we care about people, but I don’t have it in me.
Turning the laptop so Derek comes up on the camera, Greg looks worried when he sees him.
“Something happened, didn’t it?”he asks.
Derek sighs. “Everything happened. I feel like Layla should be looped into this, but then… maybe Len should be the one to tell her when we get her out.”
“When,”Greg confirms, parroting after Derek. I don’t blame him in a way, I’m confused and have a small tendril of fear rolling through me.
“I have an address,” Derek confirms. “Grab a pen?”
Eyes widening, Greg writes the address down as Derek recites it.
“5673 Weeping Willow Creek, Corningstone, Kentucky, 43654,” Derek says by memory. Swallowing, he leans back, legs splayed wide. “I found a box that had the address, they have a postal box for all of their normal mail.”
Scowling, Greg growls.“Son of a bitch. Of course they do. I’m calling Turner now, he’s waiting for this call with Roark.”Clicking a few buttons, another video box pops up on the screen.