Reed (Book 2, Southern Royals Saga)

Chapter 22: Wolves

November 23, 2014

Helena Medic Hospital

Every single minute dragged on over the last two days.

I dreaded the phone call I had to make to a man that was like a brother to me; I was gonna do it, though, because I would want the same if it were me.

After the 3rd time going to his voicemail, I decided to leave a message.

"Hey, Owen. I hope Chicago is doin' well for you. Liz misses ya, so does Rose. Uh," I blow out a breath, trying to avoid the glare of Liv's aunt Maggie, "Owen, I don't know how to tell you this, man... Zoey... Zoey died. She overdosed."

The voicemail cut off then. I clutched my phone in my fist.

Zoey's dead.

I pulled Liv into my arms, fighting the urge to groan when her head bumped my busted lip.

"I didn't want you to be a distant memory."

Despite all I put her through, she didn't hate me.

I let my guard down, for only a second, just relishing in her scent and the feel of her in my arms.

I heard a vehicle approach.

Liv helps me stand, and we scatter; I push her behind me.

That's when I realized I didn't have my Colt.

A silver Jeep pulls up next to us.

"Luke?" Liv asks as the passenger window rolls down.

His dark eyes were crazed as he leaned towards us, "Where have you been?!"

Luke ignored my presence, his gaze solely on Liv.

Liv brushed past me, "What's going on?"

"It's Zoey," he said somberly, "You gotta come with me."

She overdosed; heroin, they said.

Heroin had been Owen's nasty habit, which nearly killed him a few years back.

Liv swore up and down that her little sister was clean, and no one believed her.

But I did.

That text made all the sense in the world now. Zoey somehow knew her death was coming; knew it was gonna be that night.

She's gonna need you.

"Hey there, brother," I heard Noah as he patted my shoulder and sat next to me, "Get a hold of Owen?"

"No. I left him a message."

"Wait," Noah swallowed a Dorito, "You left a message?"

"Yeah."

"About Zoey?"

I nod.

"That's kinda cold, don't ya think? Tellin' him his girlfriend was murdered over a voicemail?"

"I just said she died. Murder never came up."

"But, that's what it was right?"

"Yeah."

Zoey was murdered, just like Liv was almost murdered.

"You think he did it?" I look up to see Will exiting the elevator, glaring my way before speaking to a young nurse in teal scrubs.

"Olivia Walker!" Will glowered at us, "What do you think you're doing?"

I kept a hand around Liv, and used my other one to push Will back, who was towering over us, "Ease back, man."