The Bad Boy's Secret (Book 1)

Chapter 21: I Went Wrong Somewhere

I left once I found my legs and the will to move them.  I ran out of the building, hailing a cab as quickly as possible.  I hopped inside, and headed to Noah’s.  I didn’t know how to tell Noah that Joel has his little brother.  The only person I know he loves more than anything.  The only person I know he would take a bullet for.  And Joel knows it because Joel would have done the same for his brother.

                This wasn’t fair, none of this was fair.  I don’t understand why Joel is so bent on Noah being the one that killed his brother.  It was ruled a suicide, but there’s something going on.  I was almost starting to believe Joel about Noah.  After what we’ve been through, I don’t think he’s lying to me.  I think…but I wasn’t sure.  Joel put this thoughts in my head and it’s clouding everything.

                I wasn’t doubting Noah’s innocence, but I doubted that he’s told me everything.  There’s a large detail he left out, and I didn’t know what that detail may be.  Noah talked about Jesse like he was basically his brother.  He rarely talked about him, but when he did, he had nothing bad to say.  I can’t imagine what his reaction is going to be when he finds out about Alex.

                  Actually, I can.

                He’s going to go after him, and I can’t stop him.  As much as I care about Noah and don’t want him to get hurt, he needs to get to his brother.  I don’t want either of them hurt. 

                As the cab driver pulled in front of Noah’s driveway, there were already two cop cars in the driveway, their lights flashing.  Four figures stood in the driveway, one belonging to Noah’s dad.  I didn’t want to believe Joel could be so cruel to take him away from his family, but he did.

                I jumped out of the cab after paying, and ran up the driveway.  The person leaning against Noah’s dad, was a frantic mother.  “Willow?” Leo asked as I stopped in front of them.

The police officers looked at me and I noticed one of them to be Larson.  He had the same expression Noah’s dad had.  “What are you doing here?” He asked.

                “Is it true?  Is he gone?” I put my hand to my chest, trying to catch a breath.

                “I’m afraid so.  He’s been gone since earlier this afternoon.  How did you know?”

Noah’s mom lifted her head from her husband’s chest to look at me.

                “Joel, remember I told you about him?”

Larson nodded.

I glanced at Noah’s parents and back to him.  “He found me at Mist.  He said he took Noah’s brother because he’s convinced Noah took his away from him.  You have to find him.” I pleaded.  “Someone is going to get hurt, and he doesn’t care.”

Noah’s mom started crying again.

                “Could you tell me what he looks like?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Leo spoke first.  “I have a picture.  It’s old, but it could work.”

Leo wrapped his arms around his wife, and brought her inside.

                I turned back to face Larson, who had been watching me intently.  “Why does this Joel character keep saying Noah isn’t innocent?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “I-I don’t know.” I stuttered.  “I don’t know what’s happening anymore.  You’re asking the wrong person.”  I wrapped my arms around myself.