Fearless Like Us (Like Us 9)

Sulli tries to maintain seriousness, but she snorts into a laugh. “No, Banks—Winona wouldn’t let this many strangers into one of our houses. She’s not Eliot or Tom. And not all her friends look this douchey!” She pauses. “But they do shit gold bricks.”

Akara smiles but fixes his earpiece cord quickly. “We also didn’t think Nona would skinny-dip in Italy after a dare.”

“That was different,” Sulli defends.

“She’s a teenager,” I mention. “She’s gonna fuck up.”

“Not like this.” We all unbuckle.

Out of the car, Sulli winds Orion’s leash around her hand, better grip so she’s not losing the Newfie. Skeletal tulip trees line the driveway, and the three of us, plus a puppy, take lengthy, urgent strides up the pavement.

Our breath smokes the air. We look like a power trio, and teenagers step to the side as we bulldoze forward. I recognize some faces, kids who definitely live in the gated neighborhood. Others aren’t that familiar.

In the nut-freezing cold, Akara asks one teen, “You here for a party?”

“Who’s asking?” He hides his bottle of scotch in his jacket.

I whisper to Akara, “You’re the old fart.”

“Says the oldest one here,” Akara smiles.

Twenty-nine and still kicking. Ooh-rah.

The good news about my migraines has sent me on cloud nine—I have another year with Sulli and Akara, longer, hopefully forever—but I fall back to earth the second we reach the mansion. Frozen fountain in the middle of the circular, crammed driveway, no one is nearing the front door.

It’s closed.

Probably locked.

All these kids are hiking their ass over a six-foot hedge. Their friends boost them up, and more help them down on the other side. Sneaking into the backyard.

These aren’t guests.

They’re party-crashers.

Sulli lets out a worried breath. “Winona.”

And we run.

Blood ringing in my ears, legs pumping beneath me.

“Get outta here!” I yell. “GO HOME!”

“COPS ARE COMING!” Akara shouts at the top of his lungs, and the teens loitering around the fountain suddenly shriek and scatter.

Sulli outruns us, but I catapult myself over the hedge first. With one sweep, we’ve entered wealthy teenage debauchery.

Jesus, Mary, fuck.

Top charting songs blast through outdoor speakers. Crushed beer cans scatter the patio. Sloppy teens splash in the heated pool and cackle (not looking to see if they’re clothed). Liquor bottles and white powder line an outdoor bar, and more drunken teens surround an outdoor fire pit and spritz lighter fluid.

Winona.

Kinney.

Audrey.

Vada.

Ben.

Is Xander here?

Pulse pounding, I try to take inventory of the youngest kids in the famous families. I don’t see a single one right now.

I help Sulli over the hedge, and Akara lands beside me. He reaches for Sulli’s other hand. With the puppy safely under her arm, she drops to the ground. Not letting Orion loose.

“Winona!” Sulli shouts.

“Winona’s not here right now,” a beanie-wearing guy mocks, “call back later.”

Sulli looks sick.

I rage forward and fist his shirt. He drops his beer. I growl, “Where is she—so help me God.”

He cranes his neck, wide-eyed up at my six-seven height and skull-crushing gaze. “…get off me.” His voice breaks. He pisses himself. Literally, and I let go, feeling marginally bad. They’re trespassing. Still, these are a bunch of kids to me.

My brother…

Skylar.

He was like these kids. Drinking in excess. Just trying to burn off some kind of steam that’d been building, thanks to our strict dad.

Seeing fifteen-year-olds reminds me how young my brother was—how much life he never got to live.

I’m not here to take anyone’s life away. But I am here to protect five, possibly six, young souls. Plus, my girlfriend who’s my client.

Nothing can happen to Sulli.

“Party’s over!” Sulli calls. “Everyone leave!”

No one moves.

Akara draws my attention to him. “You focus on finding Winona with Sulli. I’ll secure the backyard.”

That, I can do. I nod.

Akara asks Sulli, “You have a key to the house?”

“Yeah.” She whips her macrame backpack around, then lets Orion on the ground.

Akara eagle-eyes the stereo speakers. “Before I call SFE or Connor and Rose, I have an idea. I’ll be gone five minutes tops.”

I nod to him, “Stay frosty.”

“Keep her safe,” he says before jogging past the pool.

“Oh my God, that’s Luna Hale’s dog!” a girl squeals. She squats beside the energetic Newfie and snaps a selfie.

“Hey, stop,” Sulli snaps.

“Oh…sorry. I just love Luna.” She pats the Newfie.

Sulli picks up Orion protectively. “Don’t touch him.”

“Jesus, you’re acting like I kicked him—Luna wouldn’t care. She’s cool.” The girl makes a snotty-nosed face at Sulli, like she’s the “uncool” one.

“You don’t even know Luna,” Sulli refutes with heat. “Just leave her dog alone and fuck off.”

Go, Sulli. I almost smile.

The girl spits out, “Slut,” and trots away fast.

I glare at her cowardly ass, then touch the back of Sulli’s head in comfort.

She’s a little ruffled, still searching for the key to the Cobalt’s. “And suddenly I’m really fucking glad I was homeschooled.”

“Amen—”

“LEAVE!” Vada Abbey shouts though a kitchen window. Gap-toothed, a BMX rider, and daughter of Garrison & Willow Abbey, she’s the least famous of the girl squad.