Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home #2)- Nikita Parmenter Page 0,163

be telling you until we are on the way. It’s safer for everyone that way. Understood?”

“Understood” Trick says grimly.

“On the plus side at least you only have one problem to worry about now” the detective adds.

“What?”

“Oh I thought the local PD would’ve already been in contact with you” he says sounding surprised, “your stalker Jeremy was shot and killed during his transfer to the lower security facility he was going to” he says although it sounds like there’s more to it than that and there’s a vague hint of pride in his tone that confuses me before the gravity of what he’s said hits me. “They found some truly disturbing things when they looked a bit further into him, I don’t think they’ll be searching for whoever did it that hard. We’re all pretty glad that he’s not out there anymore” he adds almost as if he’s trying to reassure us.

This whole situation is odd and has my instincts tingling although not necessarily in a bad way.

My vague inkling is proven correct when the guys share a grim but satisfied look.

“Thank you detective” Trick says and ends the call.

There’s a beat of silence whilst we all absorb the information dump that just landed on us before I can think about anything else I have to address the last thing that the detective said.

“Was that . . .” I trail off silently asking if Atlas was behind the shooting.

“We won’t know for sure unless he tells us but I’d assume so. He would do anything to protect you and if Jeremy was as bad as the detective alluded to then he would’ve had no problems in following through on that” Trick says trying to stay as vague as possible. The chances of someone listening in right now are slim to none but it’s better to be safe than sorry especially in this instance.

I nod. There’s not really much more to add to that. Does it make me a bad person that I feel incredibly relived and grateful that he’s no longer a problem? I ask myself and then immediately follow that up with another question.

Do I care if it does?

I don’t really have an answer to that so I move on.

“I wonder why it’s necessary now that you guys are bought in with me?”

“I think there’s a lot going on that we don’t know about and I hope like hell we get at least some answers tomorrow” Cash says.

The others nodding in agreement.

“There was almost a knowing quality to the detectives voice when he spoke about that fucker being shot” Riot muses.

“Do we really have time to be talking about this right now, I’m expecting a phone call from my dad any second now and you guys need to tell your parents before he does or I imagine all hell is going to break loose especially for you two” Jensen chuckles as he points to Trick and Cash who share a wide eyed and slightly panicked look.

“Shit he’s right” Cash curses.

“I don’t think our parents are going to want us to stay here tonight so we will all meet here tomorrow morning at eight, early enough that we can regroup and shit before that detective shows up” Trick says just as his phone rings. “Shit, that’s mom. He must’ve rung her first. I’d hurry guys. Luc are you even going to bother telling your parents?” Trick asks as he lets his phone ring, obviously deciding this is more important.

“Nah, I’ll just go and pack some stuff and leave. I can do it without running into them. The staff know what they’re like and won’t say anything. Since I turned eighteen my trust fund was released to me. Not that I need it thanks to Jensen’s clever investing but there’s enough that if anything feels wrong we can use it to aid our escape” he adds and I can’t help but feel grateful, that hadn’t even occurred to me.

“Ok, good idea” Rafe says.

“Keep in contact. The detective said that our position is compromised. I assume that we are fairly safe or they would’ve found a way to get us to the academy now” Trick orders again as his phone rings again.

“That’s another thing a school? I still don’t understand how that’s safer than the usual change names, schools and states” I say and they shrug not having any idea’s either.

“Hi mom” Trick says as he finally answers the phone and then winces before pulling the phone away from his ear and covering