Terror By Night

Chapter 25

Nolan is waiting for my acceptance of what seems like the most obvious conclusion. But he doesn't have the same deep conviction I have that my dad is not dead and it's up to us to save him.

I bolt to my feet, startling him in the process. "Let's go talk to the others." I don't wait for him. I fling the flap open and quickly make my way to the front of the store.

Zoe and Sarah haven't moved, but are leaned towards each other, whispering. Xavier sits in the same chair as well. His head is hung low and his hands are on either side. At the sound of my approach, he lifts his head to look up to me. I don't recall ever seeing him look so dejected.

Upon my entrance, the girls stand up and move to approach. Zoe takes my hand in hers. "Layken, are you alright? Do you need more time?"

Sarah stands by closely, lending emotional support by nodding at everything Zoe says. I tell them, "No, I'm good. We still have a lot to discuss."

They watch me as I watch Xavier. He slowly rises from his chair and waits for me to continue. "I want to clear the air by saying that I'm not holding any hard feelings against you. I don't agree with what you did or how you did it, but your motivations seem genuine. Besides, I can't stay mad at someone who has saved me on more than one occasion."

Xavier's shoulders noticeable relax along with his tense expression. He probably didn't expect me to be so forgiving. He still has a great deal to learn about me. "However," I continue and see him freeze in anticipation. "I can't ignore the fact that you have been conducting yourself apart from our group, making decisions without informing the rest of us and it has to stop now."

Nolan has come up from behind and taken his original seat. I give the girls a motion for them to sit down as well. I have the floor and I'm not done with Xavier quite yet. "You have operated solo for long enough. If you wish to continue to be part of this group, that comes to an end. We are a unit. The only way we can truly protect and support each other is for us to be honest and open with one another. We're either in this together or we're not. You assignment in regard to me ceases. My safety is not any more important than anyone else's in this room. Can you handle that?"

Xavier straightens his spine, takes a long meaningful look around at each member of our group then turns his eyes back to me. "Yes. I agree."

"Good," I say and hear a relieved sigh from the girls. "There's more however."

Xavier gives a short bark of a laugh. "Oh, I assumed as much."

I sit and he follows my lead. "We need full disclosure. I mean everything. Then, we make decisions on how to proceed as a group, by vote."

I turn to each, one at a time, and ask, "Agreed?"

They all in turn give their affirmation. Xavier goes last. "I agree. I don't want to go anywhere, Layken. I may have started this because of the deal I had with your dad, but I'm here now for my own reasons."

I watch with a wary expression. I may have forgiven him, but he's going to have a way to go before he's earned back my trust. "Since you brought it up, let's talk about that deal you had."

I almost laugh out loud at the sigh he gives and the way he slumps back in his chair. Oh, come on. He had to know that was coming. "The deal that was made with your father was more between him and my step-brother. I got roped in for convenience sake. It was just a lucky break that my mom and I lived so close."

I'm stumped. Maybe it's been information overload because I'm confused by what he's telling us. Thankfully, I'm saved from having to make things make sense on my own. Sarah asks her first question since we stormed into the store this morning. "I thought you always went to our school. Did you change schools to keep an eye on Layken?"