Pain And Pleasure 18+✓

Forty-nine

Adrian is handling the steering wheel when one of Jake's friends calls me.

"Yes, Scott. Heard anything?" I ask desperately.

"Nah, sis, sorry. I just thought maybe I should let you know that Jay got a job a few weeks ago," Scott says.

Frowning, I tap on the loudspeaker. "What Job? And where?"

This is somehow new to me.

"An auto shop downtown, selling second-hand bikes and stuff. Tried to call there but they told me they don't know anyone named Jake Lincoln. I figured maybe he used his fake ID—not sure— but you should check that place out," Scott suggests.

I frown again. Jake has a fake ID now?

"Well, that's it. Will keep snooping around and let you know if I find out about anything," saying this, Scott hangs up upon my quiet 'hmm'.

I don't know what to think anymore, and I wonder if I know my brother well enough to understand him up to this point. But then again, I don't think it's weird that he has a job and is using a fake ID. At his age, I did the same thing.

Some places don't hire minors otherwise.

But is that all? Why am I so scared that my Jake is not the same little, shy, nerdy boy I once knew? It's like a gut feeling consuming me from the inside, turning my brain into a well of wild imaginations. And where could he be now? Is he okay?

I glance at Adrian who's been taciturn from the moment he occupied the driver's seat up to now. I tell him about Jake's new job affair but suddenly his phone buzzes from the dashboard, urging him to adjust his earpiece after tapping a finger on the screen.

"Speak," he snaps.

I shift my whole stare at him, eager to hear anything auspicious.

"You found him? Where?" Adrian urges, and I can tell it's a bit of good news so far. "Are you sure?" His face turns hard as some kind of shock jeopardizes his previous relief.

"What? What happened?" I blurt out.

He glances at me, saying, "Alright, I'm on my way there. You know what to do. And bring your men, just in case."

My heart rate accelerates. Why is this getting mysteriously scary now? I hold my horses until Adrian finishes the call. Our eyes meet again and I can tell he has something to say.

"Tell me they found him, please," I murmur.

He nods affirmatively. "They did. We'll get him."

"Okay." I bob my head with a small smile of respite. "And where is he? Did they say he's fine? Why was his phone—"

"There's something you should know about your brother," Adrian interrupts. My throat constricts uncomfortably. "He's got into some bad company and he's in trouble right now."

"What company?" I can hear my heart drumming violently through my ears. I'm freaked. "You told me there wasn't anything alarming the last time, so what are you saying now, Adrian? He didn't get in that company overnight, did he?"

A bit of guilt runs through his eyes. It means he lied to me. He found something ugly about Jake and yet he chose to keep it to himself. But why? Tears roll down my face and I don't stop them anymore.

"You promised," I say in a shuddering whisper.

"I didn't want to worry you, Arabella, so I was going to sort it myself," he says.

"You had no right!" I snap, and he nods in agreement. I want to yell at him, but what's the point? I sniff away and say quietly, "Tell me the truth now, Adrian. All of it. Please."