The Secrets We Carry

Chapter Twenty- Four | The Nowhere

Liv

Adam and I are standing side by side in front of James' front door. I look up at him my nerves making my body vibrate.

"You ready?" He asks me. I nod and he turns back to the door pressing the door bell. The ringing bringing my mind back to the plan from earlier.

Josh and I walk into the cafeteria and head over to our table. Everyone is watching us waiting to hear how it went with Mr. Hedley. We both sit down and I look at Josh as he clears his throat.

"He was busy. Meetings all day apparently." He says.

"Shit." Adam reaches over and takes my hand. "We'll figure this out." He tells me, reassuring me with his eyes.

"I already have." I break away from Adam's eyes and focus on Josh. We all do. "We're going to his place."

"What?" Ashley asks him.

"Look he's not answering calls. He's not at the barn or work." He pauses looking around. "He's got to be back at his house." He turns his head facing Adam. "If his old man is worse than yours then I'm willing to bet he needs our help, especially if he's not responding or reaching out."

The table is silent. The noise around us has completely faded. It's as though we're the only ones in the room, you could hear each one of our hearts beat.

How in the hell did we not think of this before? Going to check his home. It's literally been the best option from the get go and yet no one thought to do it.

"Ok, let's do it." Angela breaks the silence bringing the clamor back in around us. "So what's the plan?"

"I just said it. We go to his place." Josh draws his brows together as if to say 'duh'.

"Right. So we're just going to storm the house?" Angela raises her eyebrows.

"Ya I guess." Josh's voice comes out less confident than a moment ago.

"Ok, so you don't have an actual plan." She looks at Adam. "We should make one. Like what do we do once we're there."

"You're right."

I'm pulled back onto the porch as we hear loud footsteps behind the door. I hold my breath as the door swings open and a well built man is standing in front of us. His once white tank top showing off his muscular arms.

"Yes?" His gruff voice asks. The smell of whiskey invades my sense and our plan goes out the window as I freeze.

I hear Adam clear his throat. "Hi, we were wondering if James was home. We have an assignment due and haven't been able to reach him."

His step dad instantly straights his broad shoulders pulling them back expanding his chest. "No, haven't seen the little shit in a while." The smirk on his lips has me clenching my fist. I can only hope that the disgust I'm feeling isn't showing on my face.

"Oh ok. Well if you do hear from him can you let him know that his lab partners are looking for him." I look over at Adam admiring how well he's handling speaking to this man. His stutter hasn't come out at all.

"I will. You let him know I'm looking for him too if you see him." His tone like ice. I feel goosebumps rise on the back of my neck from the malice dripping off his words.

"Ok." Adam nods.

"Have a good one." With that he shuts the door in our faces.

We start walking down the porch towards the car so we can message Josh and Angela to see if they saw anything while peaking through the back windows.