Page 101 of A Little Luck

I stop short of addingto the bastard.

What happened is Piper’s story, and I don’t know who all she’s shared it with. From the sound of things, she kept it a secret for a long, long time.

Aiden

You need to come home now. Something’s come up.

My chest flashes, and I tap back quickly.

Is Piper okay?

I should probably text her now. Now that I’ve calmed my emotions. Now that I have control.

I never, ever want her to think I’m angry with her. I never want her to think I blame her because I wasn’t there to help her… Or that I could ever love her any less for what that piece of shit did to her.

Aiden

She’s good. And Ryan. But we need you here now.

Nodding, it doesn’t take long to reply.

On my way.

My next text is to her.

Coming home. See you soon.

I want to addI love you, but I’ll wait. I’ve got an errand to run before I get there.

CHAPTER23

PIPER

Idon’t go back to Britt’s house. Instead, I retrace my steps to Mom’s place, tearing through my memories as I go.The other place…I think she only mentioned it once, and I dismissed it the same as I did all the rest of her paranoia.

She’d said, “If I’m there, it’s too late,” or something along those lines. Which I simply interpreted as her braggy way of implying none of us had survived.

The cellar beneath her house was common knowledge, only mindless zombies wouldn’t know to look there. But if someonewasn’ta mindless zombie, if someone knew what he was looking for…

All at once, it makes sense.

Changing course, I break into a run, following the road back to town, back to the Star Parlor. Pushing through the glass doors, I run up the stairs, banging on the door as hard as I can.

“Marshall?” I yell through the wood. “Marshall, it’s Piper Jackson!”

I hear a shuffling from inside, and the door jerks open a crack. “Eh, why are you up so early? I thought you had a wedding last night.”

“I need to talk to you. It’s about Rosie McClure.”

His bushy brows lower, and he closes the door to unfasten the chain. “Did your boyfriend tell you about her?”

I’m out of breath from running, but I shake my head. “Adam knows about her?”

“He knows her name.” Marshall pulls the jacket over his shoulders.

“I need to know why you’re looking for her. Who sent you?”

He hesitates, studying me a moment. “I’m not authorized to—”