Page 176 of A Million To Fall

And the world stops.

Not Jake.

Oh god.

Boston.

“Jake?” I choke. “Where’s Boss?”

“I gotta go,” he says and hangs up.

I’m already moving, grabbing my coat, fumbling for my keys, bolting through the house as tears blur my vision.

If someone asked me how I got to Boston’s, I couldn’t tell them. I was on autopilot, flying down dark suburban streets, barely aware of speed or stop signs or anything but the pounding of my heart.

Red and blue lights are already illuminating the night when I pull through the gate. God, they got here so fast.

I pull into a spot as close as possible, breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts.

I count three cop cars, an ambulance, and a fire engine blocking my view. I look around, noting the flurry of activity and spot Jake standing by one of the cruisers, his phone pressed to his ear. The anguish carved into his face scares me almost as much as the blood staining his jeans and jacket.

I barrel toward him.

“Ma’am?” A police officer calls after me, but I ignore him.

“Where’s Boss?” I cry.

Jake nods toward a cluster of EMTs crouched in the snow. But I can’t see him.

Boston is shielded by the people surrounding him.

I whirl back around to Jake, my tears carving hot trails down my cheeks. “What happened?”

“I… Skye, I’m… I’m so sorry,” Jake sobs.

“Is he dead?” The words tear out of me. “Did Archer…” I can’t finish the sentence.

Jake doesn’t answer.

A police officer approaches us with quiet urgency.

“I’m officer Reed,” he says gently. “Are you Jake Davis?”

Jake quickly wipes at his face. “Yeah.”

Officer Reed nods. “Are you hurt?”

Jake shakes his head.

Officer Reed turns to me, eyes warm. “And what’s your name?”

“Skye Monroe,” I manage.

He nods, an expression on his face as though he recognizes my name.

“Ms. Monroe, were you a witness tonight?”

“No, I’m just… I’m a friend of Jake’s and…” Movement catches my eye. My head whips around in time to see the ambulance doors slam shut.