“Just go, Calvin. It’s too late for us.”
Chapter 43
CALVIN
I was a fucking wreck and it’d only been a few months since my release.
I sent her texts every day and she’d stopped replying. I saw Fox on his way in and out, but other than that, I’d kept to myself.
I talked to my daughter. My daughter. It’s still such a trip to say those words. Adele kept me up to date on everything that’d been going on. I know El got the job she’d been hoping for, teaching at a community college in Desolation. The money wasn’t as good as the club, but she’s heading in the direction of the career that she wanted. Adele was excited for her and told me El had already planned out the readings for the syllabus and couldn’t wait to get started.
I’d sent El money and she didn’t claim it, so it sat in my account waiting for her to take it.
When I lie alone in bed at night, or whenever I strum my guitar, the kiss, the memories of Ellison came rushing back and hijacked my mind.
I didn’t care about my freedom if I wasn’t with her. I couldn’t give a crap about my success over failure if I didn’t have her to share it with. Adele and Ellison were my family and nothing was worth fighting for if they’re not beside me.
I had the Fender on my lap when a ping on my phone signaled a text. Every time, I hoped it’s Ellison extending an olive branch, but it never happened.
Still, my face brightened when I saw Adele.
Adele: “Sorry to bother you, but Mom was supposed to be home by now and she’s not answering her phone.
Calvin: “First off, you never bother me. Second, where’d she go?”
Adele: “Desolation. To teach the adult night class. It’s five to six-thirty and she’s always home by now. She told me this afternoon that she’d pick up stuff for tacos. I made the meat for the filling and now it’s just sitting in the pan cold.”
Calvin: “I’m gonna come over. Be there in twenty. Call your uncle Fox, he should just be leaving the club now and he can stop by and look for her.”
My heart was in my throat as I threw my shit together, scribbled a note for Fox, and rushed out the front door. Speeding down the steps until I reached my Harley, I went to put on my helmet when a glimmer of silver on the seat caught my eye.
A razor blade.
Unused and shiny, it had been placed on the soft black leather of my seat.
Realization dawned on me like a black storm cloud engulfing my entire being.
Cavelli.
Taunting me.
I knew who had Ellison.
I just needed to figure out where she was.
I sped to El’s house and rushed inside. I locked all of the doors and called Fox on speaker, but he didn’t pick up.
Adele jogged beside me and begged to know what was going on.
“Where’s the school, Adele? Do you know what classroom her lecture is in?”
“Calvin, what’s going on?”
“Fuck that, you’re not staying here. Call Charlie and I’ll drop you off. I can’t leave you here alone, especially when I can’t get a hold of Fox.”
“Is my mom okay? How do you know what happened?”
“Adele, where’s the school!” I demanded.
“It’s in Desolation, not too far from her old job. There’s a main campus building, but she teaches in one of the converted trailers behind it. The one that’s farthest from the parking lot. I think the school has four.”
She gave me the rundown as I marched her outside and boosted her up on the back of my bike, setting the giant helmet on her little head.
Charlie finally picked up as we’re pulling out into the street.
“El’s in danger. I need you to watch Adele.”
She gave her address and quickly admonished me for not heeding her psychic warnings.
Adele wrapped her strong, albeit scrawny arms around me and I sped dangerously to Charlie’s. Once Adele was safely in her arms, I warned them to lock the doors and not leave until they heard from either me or Fox.
I cut across the median and pulled out onto the highway in four-lane traffic, making it to the Desolation Community College in under ten minutes flat.
“Ellison!” I screamed, the second I’m off the bike. I tried all the doors to the trailers which were locked and closed for the night. But the last one finally opened and I flicked on the buzzing fluorescent lights.
The stench of rotting meat overwhelmed me and I yanked my t-shirt up to cover my mouth and nose.
The lights weren’t the only thing buzzing. Flies hovered over a rotting animal carcass slumped over the teacher’s desk. A shiny silver razor blade sat beside the remains and some sicko had taken the time to slice into the rotten meat.