Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home #2)- Nikita Parmenter Page 0,162

the wrong and we needed to smooth it out before something bigger kicked off and we had to delay opening the pit” Luc starts to explain.

“Yeah we eventually convinced them to fight it out in the pit. Suddenly the dick from our school started to backtrack but we wouldn’t let him back out. If he’s going to make threats and pretend he’s a big man then he needs to back it up” Riot says.

“We’ve been trying to keep the peace and diffusing situations, obviously without violence so we don’t attract the attention of the cops and we can get the pit open sooner. Which means that we’ve been a lot more pacifying with ridiculous agreements like these” Trick adds, “they’ve started to forget how it used to be and it was nice to remind them today even though it seemed so small and insignificant, it was boring” he chuckles and the guys joined in.

“Why do you think that I wanted to stay behind, I knew it was going to be no fun” Jensen chuckles.

My phone buzzing in my pocket distracts me from the guys conversation and I frown when I pull it out and see that the number is unknown.

“Guys, Shut it!” Trick yells and they instantly quiet, “put it on speaker, Sweetheart” he tells me more gently and I do as he says.

“Hello?” I say cautiously, fully expecting it to be Jeremy somehow.

“Hello, is this Everleigh?” a deep male voice asks, definitely not Jeremy.

“Yes.”

“This is Detective Reynolds. I’m in charge of your case with your father, although I am aware of the other things going on” he starts and I relax until I realise that this could be the call that takes me away from the guys. I know they said that they would come with me but my heart panics regardless.

Trick's arms squeeze me tightly from behind and I’m glad he pulled me down onto his lap.

“Always, Sweetheart” he whispers and my heart settles.

It truly amazes me how they just know when I need them.

“Are the guys with you?” he asks, throwing me off slightly when it almost seems like he knows they are and is asking out of obligation not necessity.

“Yeah they’re here” I reply.

“Good put me on speaker, if I’m not already, they all need to hear this too.”

“Ok, you’re on speaker, Detective” Trick answers.

“Some evidence has come to light and we have discovered that the case that involves your father is actually bigger than we thought. We need to move you and due to some of the evidence that has been found the boys need to be moved too” he starts.

We all exchange a confused look, that would suggest that they were involved somehow.

“We’ve also had to change the location that we will be moving you to,” he pauses as if trying to figure out the best why to explain, “it’s not the most traditional place to send you and we wouldn’t normally but your situation has become quite unique and it’s undeniably the most safe place for you all since it’s one of the only places that we can guarantee is out of his reach.”

I frown, who’s reach? I thought my dad was just dealing drugs and guns this sounds a hell of a lot more serious than that.

“Who. . .” Riot starts to ask the question I want to but the detective interrupts.

“I can’t explain any more over the phone but I promise I will when we pick you up, for now all you need to know is that it’s a school.”

“A school?” I question, “how is that safer?”

“Like I said, I can’t explain over the phone but I can assure you it is” he pauses, “we need to get you there as soon as possible as we’ve received intel that your position is not safe. We will pick you up at nine a.m. tomorrow morning, unfortunately I am unable to get to you any sooner. Your parents will be under police protection and with you gone shouldn’t be in any danger. Jensen I will speak to your father since you are still under eighteen. Ever I will ring your guardians after this. The rest of you, you need to tell them. The general story is that you’ve been accepted into an elite school, which is true. You can give your parents the name Redwood Academy to use when they tell someone or are asked. They will not be told the real name of the place that you are going and I won’t