Page 112 of Always Love You More

I try to get the cops out of the house as quickly as possible, but they’re hesitant to leave given the state of my mother.

“Do you have anyone you can call?” one of the officers asks.

“My uncle,” I mutter, glancing at the clock and realizing it’s already past one in the morning, dreading having to wake him up with this. But they insist that I call before they leave, telling me that they need to make sure someone is here with us.

“I left my cell in my room,” I explain. “I need to go grab it.”

He nods, and I try to step away from my mother, but she grabs my wrist, digging her long nails into my skin.

“I’m just gonna go grab my phone, all right?” I place my hand over hers until her grip on me loosens. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

She lets go, and I rush to my bedroom, grabbing my phone and calling Sam. It rings out, and fear ignites inside me.

I try again.

And again.

But still no answer.

The fear has turned into full-blown panic as I switch to Luke, needing him here with my mother so I can leave.

The phone rings a couple of times before his raspy voice comes over the line. “You all right?” he instantly asks.

“No,” I answer without thinking. “My dad, he’s … he was killed. I need you to …”

“We’ll be right there,” he says. “Are you—”

“I’ve gotta go,” I cut him off, my words coming out quickly. “Johnny died in a car accident,” I force out and hear him suck in a breath. “I need to—”

“Go,” he says, and with that one word, I hang up.

I try Sam again, but still nothing.

My mind is racing as I start for the kitchen, trying to decide what to do. Should I leave now or wait until Luke gets here? I don’t want to leave my mother alone with these cops, with nobody here she knows. Not like this. Luke only lives about five minutes away, so it’s not like it’ll take …

I step into the kitchen, and the minute my eyes land on my mother, my decision is made. Her forehead is pressed against the table, arms wrapped around her head, and her body is shaking so badly with her sobs I can see it from here.

“Ma,” I say gently as I close the distance between us, putting an arm around her and pulling her body into mine.

“Did you call?” one of the officers asks.

“Yeah,” I answer distractedly. “My uncle will be here in a few minutes.”

“Good,” the officer states. “We’ll wait.”

The next few minutes drag by slowly. I keep glancing down at my phone as if that’ll make it ring.

I’m about to try calling Sam again when I see Luke’s truck barrel down the driveway.

He comes in without knocking, his gaze moving from me and my mother to the cops. Billy walks in behind him, his eyes going wide at the scene.

The cops talk to Luke in hushed voices for a couple of minutes, while Billy and I move my mother over to the couch before they finally leave.

“I need to get to Sam,” I blurt out the second Luke walks into the room. It’s the only thing I can think about. The only thing my mind will let me hold on to. I motion to my mother. “I need you to stay with her so I can—”

“Go,” he cuts in, his voice broken, reminding me that he just lost his brother. I take a step toward him, but he shakes his head. “I’ve got it here. Go.”

I hesitate for a second before I mutter athanksand start for the door.