for, lover (Completed; editing)

Chapter 70

Miles

The Varnadore Building was built in 1962 as housing for real estate offices. Originally named the Ervin Building, it changed its name in 1992 when Jim Varnadore's firm took up the first few stories of the building. I don't know when it closed, but it's surely been a couple of decades.

The exterior is still intact. It's seven stories from the look of the number of windows. I used to come out here on weekends with Trent and Reed to skate around the back lot in high school. Back when times were simpler and I wasn't about to put them in prison.

The plan would be simple.
March 3rd at 9:30 P.M at the Varnadore Building.
It's not a solid plan set in stone, but I'm sure it will work. As long as Bree keeps her promise to tip off the police. It has to work. I'm sick to my stomach every night thinking of what all three of those bastards got away with.
Who knows what else Phillip has gotten away with?

I send a message to Phillip from my old cell phone, surprised it could still keep a battery. I'm glad I didn't delete his number when I said I would.

"I can get your money back. I've got the address for where Reed will be on Wednesday."

We've never spoken on the phone and he doesn't know that I even have his number because Reed thought he would need my alibi in case something happened to him.

I spent four years in Tennessee helping him hide his tracks. I watched him build a new life for himself after what he destroyed in Charlotte. I thought Trent was just along for the ride, but of course it turned out that he was even more guilty than Reed was. Both pathological liars fueled by aggression and fear.

They haven't tried to reach out to me once since I left. They knew I would come around when the time was right. Unfortunately for them, it's the perfect time to reach out.

"I know we aren't exactly on speaking terms but I'm really going to need my car back."

I keep the text message short and sweet. No need for any miscommunication or extra details.

"You can come get it. Bumper still fucked." Reed texts back almost immediately.

Must not be anything going on in his life. I almost can't believe he actually responded.

"I really need you guys to bring it. My dad wants it for parts."

There's a few minutes of silence before he responds.

"Where?"

"Where we used to skate. 9:30 P.M. on Wednesday."

"Fine. We're packing now because we're moving. We'll drop it off on the way."

"Moving where?" I ask, not expecting him to tell me.

"As far as we can get. Sorry everything got fucked up."

I ignore his apology. "See you Wednesday." I text back and set my phone down.

I need this to work. It has to.

Bree
I pull back up at Tony's where his car is already parked in the driveway. He's home much earlier than I anticipated him being.

When I get inside, he rises from the couch and starts down the hall to the doorway.

"Hey! You're home early."

"Yeah, I got everything done that I needed to for today. I came back early to spend some extra time with you." He says.

"Oh, sorry! I was out running errands."

He nods his head slightly and places a kiss on my forehead. "Thought about what you wanted to do for dinner?"

"I'm up for anything. Whatever you want."

He shrugs. "We could always go out. What about Panera?"

I pull away from him. "Um, I'm not really feeling that. Anything else you got in mind?"

"Is it because you already ate there?" He keeps his voice low.

My eyebrows furrow. "Well, actually...yeah. I ate there earlier."

"Yeah? With who?"

I squint my eyes. "Okay, I see what you're doing. You're trying to see if I'm lying? You clearly already know where I was and who I was with."

I walk past him to the living room. He follows behind me.

"Why wouldn't you tell me you're seeing him?"

That's a great question, Tony. I'll let you know when I figure it out for myself.

"Look, I'm not trying to be secretive. He asked me to go for lunch because he needed my help with something. It's not a big deal."

"Okay, I know that guys and girls can be friends and all...but he's your ex boyfriend who already put you through enough hell in your life."

"It wasn't really him, Tony."

He just didn't make the situation any better.

"Why are you defending him? What did he want your help with, anyway?"

His tone isn't so calm anymore. I hope to God this isn't turning into an argument. I'm stressed out enough.

"I really don't feel comfortable talking about it. It's his business..."

You're going to make it so much harder on yourself, Bree.

"Seriously, Bree? I'm trying to talk to you cordially about a kind of big issue here."

"Why is it an issue? I feel like you're making an issue out of nothing. We're honestly not even friends. You have nothing to worry about."

"I'm not worrying about anything, I would just like to know why it was so important for you to meet up with him for lunch and not even mention it to me. I had to see it for myself driving back home."

I sigh. "He wanted me to help with his resumé. He's looking for a new job and I told him I would help."

Now who's the fucking liar?

Tony's face relaxes. He exhales and takes a step back from me. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry. I just want you to trust me enough to know I would tell you something when it matters."

He looks down. "I do trust you. I don't really trust Miles."

"Yeah, he doesn't have a great track record for that."

Tony cracks a smile. "Alright, well what do you really want for dinner? I'm buying."

I don't think I'll be able to eat any time soon. It's bad enough I'm going behind his back to scheme a way to get a group of douchebags in jail. It's even worse that I'm doing it with Miles. We just need to get this over with so he'll leave me alone for good.