Long Shot (Hoops 1)

Unhinged. Enraged. Dangerous.

The thought of him hurting Iris somehow is driving me crazy. Why did I not get her damn number … again?

“Look, I’ve seen where she lives,” Sylvia says, her voice dry and void of sympathy. “I’ve seen the car she drives, her ring, her clothes. She was being very well taken care of, let me tell you.”

“What the hell does that have to do with her safety?” I demand, through gritted teeth.

“Safety?” Sylvia asks with a wry smile. “Really, August? You think Caleb did what? Hit her? Hurt her? He can be arrogant, high-handed, but he’s crazy about her. If anything, I feel sorry for him if she’s left. He’s probably devastated.”

Someone up the hall calls Sylvia’s name, and she turns away from me briefly to answer before giving me her attention once more. “I have to go,” she says, sighing heavily. “Thank you for helping us. The kids loved it.”

“Yeah, I loved working with them, too.” It’s the truth, but right now I can’t focus on it.

“She’s gone, but she’s fine, August.” Sylvia pats my arm as if I’m a cat who should drink the milk set in front of me and leans in to whisper, “There are lots of other girls out there.”

After delivering that humiliating pearl of wisdom, Sylvia scoots down the hall without a backward glance.

Outside, I spot Jared parked on the street. When I ease into the passenger seat, he watches me warily … wearily? Maybe both. He’s handling me with caution and also tired of my ass.

“No answers?” He taps his thumbs against the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

“The wrong answers.” I shake my head, still trying to make sense of it. “Sylvia says Iris called to say she was leaving town and wouldn’t be back.”

“Well then that’s that,” Jared says. “Hooters for lunch?”

“Dude, this is serious.”

“Maybe she’s left Caleb. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

It’s only half of what I wanted. I also wanted her to come to me. And Sylvia may be satisfied with this incomplete picture, but I’m not. I won’t be until I hear it from someone who does know what the hell is going on.

I flop my head back against the seat and side-eye Jared. “I need a favor.”

“No.”

“You don’t even know what I’m gonna ask.”

“Oh, I don’t?” He shoots me a look that is both disgusted with me and satisfied with himself. “Then why’d I already call the Stingers’ training facility to see if Caleb’s scheduled to work out today?”

I grin and pull on my seat belt. “This is why I keep you around.”

“And because I chauffeur your ass everywhere.” He pulls away from the curb and glances at my leg. “At least temporarily. How’s the leg?”

“Good.” It’s actually hurting like a motherfucker today, but I don’t want any lip from Jared about me overdoing it. I need my brother right now, not an agent.

“I’m taking you because I knew you wouldn’t rest until you got some answers,” Jared says, looking away from the interstate only long enough to catch my eyes. “But don’t get into shit with him, Gus.”

“I’m not,” I say defensively. “I’m just gonna make sure Iris is okay.”

“Oh, yeah. That won’t infuriate him at all.”

“Ask me how many fucks I got for that,” I snap. “Sylvia made Iris seem like some gold-digger who should just be happy she has a roof over her head.”

“Well …” Jared shrugs. “I mean, he did take care of her.”

I boil in scorching silence. Is Caleb some kind of warlock? Does he cast a spell so everyone misses what a complete asshole he is? He just skates through life without consequences. I saw it while we were growing up over and over. Son of a bitch breaks my fucking leg in front of the whole world, and he doesn’t even get fined.

And I’m not just saying that because he has Iris and Sarai.