Secrets & Surrender 3 by L.G. Castillo Read Free Book Online Page A

couldn’t let him leave—not like this.
    “How long ago?”
    “Hmm, let’s see. Maybe five minutes ago?”
    I ran back to the elevator. Maybe he was still here and I’d just missed him in my mad dash into the building. Running outside, I scanned the parking lot and immediately spotted Nic’s Porsche. I let out a breath of relief.
    Walking over to his car, I touched the hood, missing him so much I ached. It was the closest I’d been to him all week. Just knowing that Nic’s car was still here made me feel a little better. He probably just went with his father to Koppe for a visit. I checked my watch. If I floored it, I could probably catch them. I fought between wanting to drive after him and not wanting to see his father. I’d probably beat the crap out of Mr. Marcelli if I laid eyes on him.
    There was a high-pitched giggle, and I turned to see a blond guy tickling a girl he was with. They looked like the typical college students fresh-faced and happy with a life filled with parties, clubbing, mid-morning classes, and midnight runs for pizza. I’d never cared about that kind of life—until today. Today I yearned to be in Nic’s arms and have him tickle me, to be the one giggling and acting silly. Instead, I stood in the middle of a parking lot, staring at a red Porsche, wishing that Nic would magically appear so that I could tell him that I loved him.
    No! No more of that shit! I was tired of whining and tired of wanting. Asshole father or not, I’m going after Nic.
    Just as I was about to head back to the minivan, there was a squealing of tires. I jumped back and a car slammed on the brakes, stopping only a foot away from me.
    “What the hell, Chela?” I slammed my fist on the hood of her car.
    “Chillax, chica,” she said as she and Julian climbed out.
    “Mandi, thank God we found you!” Julian’s eyes were frantic. “Have you seen Juan?”
    “No. Why?”
    He groaned, his dark face turning pale. “Well, uh, do you by any chance know where he might be?”
    “Tell her, pendejo.” She slapped him upside the head. “She’s his sister and deserves to know how you fucked up.”
    “Tell me what?” I felt the hair on the back of my arms stand up. This couldn’t be good. I’d never seen Julian so freaked out.
    “Butt out, Chela!” he snapped.
    “Butt out? Me, butt out? I didn’t want to be in this mess in the first place.”
    “Tell me what,” I repeated, raising my voice above Chela and Julian’s arguing.
    “Listen, pendejo!” Chela’s head bopped from side to side so fast it looked like it was going to fall off, “I’m tired of hauling your sorry ass all over town, trying to find the gangster wanna be who—”
    “Chela!” Julian barked.
    “Will you two knock it off and tell me what’s going on?”
    Chela and Julian turned to me, neither of them saying a word.
    Shit! With Chela that quiet, it had to be bad.
    “Julian,” Chela nudged.
    “Alright,” he grumbled, letting out a breath. Turning to me, he placed his hands on my shoulders. “I’m not exactly sure about this, so don’t freak out, okay?”
    “Ugh, just tell me.” I brushed his hands off me.
    “I let Juan borrow my bike.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Is that all? Okay, so letting my little brother borrow your motorcycle may not have been the wisest thing, but it’s not a big deal. Look, I have to go.” I headed to the minivan. I couldn’t believe I was wasting valuable time on this moron that could’ve been spent on the road, catching up to Nic.
    “That’s not all,” Chela said.
    “Shut up, Chela!” He grabbed my arm, stopping me. I was about to tell him off when my eyes flicked to his. I froze at the terrified look in his eyes. “Mandi, uh, Juan was in my apartment earlier today, and I think he...he might have...”
    “Your brother took Julian’s gun.”
    I blinked, not believing the words that came out of Chela’s mouth. Her brown eyes were serious.
    “Tell me you’re joking.”
    “I don’t kid about