Jen McLaughlin - Out of Time

Mr. Richards also answered, walking in the opposite direction of Larry. The two of them getting a phone call at the same time? That couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?

My gaze darted between Mr. Richards and Larry, my heart racing and my palms going sweaty while my mouth dried out. Larry lifted the phone to his ear as he walked toward the double doors. If that was Finn, I wanted to know. No, I had to know.

I started to stand up, but Riley put a hand on my thigh. “ Dude, ” I snapped, shoving it off. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

“Whatever you’re thinking about doing right now? Don’t. Your dad is watching you and he looks pissed .” Riley leaned in and smiled, completely at odds with his warning. “Something tells me you’d like to know about that call.”

I took a deep breath and forced myself to sit back down. “H-How do you know?”

“I could see the tension in you when those men answered their phones,” Riley said, picking up his glass of water. “And then the answering anger in your father. Who are they to you?”

“One’s a bodyguard and the other is a family friend,” I answered dismissively, stealing a quick glance at Dad. He was totally watching me, so I forced myself to look at Riley instead of Larry. “That’s all.”

Riley shook his head slightly. “If you say so.”

A masculine cry sounded, and a phone hit the marble floor, clattering once or twice before landing. It was like a slow-motion nightmare. You know, the ones where a murderer is chasing you and you’re running as fast as you can, only you’re moving in slow motion? Yeah, that. Only ten times worse.

Dad was the first one on his feet, followed by me. Larry leaned against the wall, a hand to his mouth and his face even paler than before. I shoved my chair back and took off running in my heels, knowing I needed to get to Larry’s side. Knowing I needed to help him, but also knowing he’d gotten bad news.

Bad news about Finn.

I bolted around the edge of the table. Mr. Richards grabbed my elbow even though he was still on the phone. “Carrie, wait. He’ll know what’s going on if he sees your face.”

“ I don’t care .” I shook free, stumbling backward when he let go. “I’m going.”

I took off again. Vaguely, I heard people shouting, and talking loudly, and Mom shouting my name, but I didn’t even register any of it. All that mattered was getting to Larry. My throat ached with tears that were already threatening because I knew, I just knew , this was bad.

Dad got there first, and I wanted to shove him out of the way. “What is it, Larry?” he asked, throwing an arm around his shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Griffin. He’s been…oh my, God.” Larry fell to his knees and scrambled for his phone with shaking hands, crawling forward on all fours. “I have to go. I have to go now.”

“I’ll take you,” Dad said, squatting beside him and handing him the phone. “Larry, come on. Where are we going?”

I finally reached their side, but I’d already heard all I needed to know. I pressed a hand to my speeding heart, wondering how it could be beating when it had been ripped out of my chest just seconds before.

“W-What happened to him?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Larry?”

“Larry’s fine,” Dad said quietly, standing up and smiling calmly at the people gathering behind me. “It’s his son who’s not all right. Stay here and control the madness with your—”

“ No .” I grabbed the lapels of Dad’s tux and shook him, then shouted, “What happened to Finn?”

Dad paled and gripped my hands. “Carrie…how…why…?” He turned red in the face. “ I knew it .”

Larry stood up and started walking for the door. I didn’t have time to waste trying to get answers out of Dad. I shoved off his chest and raced after Larry, grabbing his arm. The panicked rush of adrenaline was taking over my body, numbing the pain I knew would hit me any second. Right now I needed to know .

“Larry, tell me.” I gripped him tighter. “Is he...is he…?”

I gulped in a deep breath and a sob escaped, so I covered my mouth. I couldn’t even say the word. Not in the same train of thought as Finn. It wasn’t right.

Larry paled and gripped my hands with his own trembling hand. “I don’t know how bad it is. I think they said something about him being in surgery, but I dr-dropped the ph-phone.”

I didn’t know whether to shake him for doing something so incredibly stupid or hug him because he was obviously breaking. “Okay. Okay…we’ll go there right away and find out. Where is he? Who called you?”

“He’s in Germany. I don’t know anything else,” he rasped. “That’s all I know,” he repeated, his eyes focused on a spot on the wall. He looked like he was in shock, so I rubbed his back. “My boy. I don’t even know…”

I nodded, trying to remain calm for Larry’s sake, but inside I was freaking the heck out. This couldn’t be happening. Not to my Finn. It had to be a nightmare. That was the only explanation. But I didn’t wake up, and the pain wracking through my chest was all too real. I was awake. “Let’s go find out more. Just let me grab my passport.”

“No way, missy.” Dad grabbed my upper arm. “You’re staying here with your mother. I can handle this.”

“ No .”

“She can come,” Larry said, his voice cracking. “It’s fine.”

My father stiffened and rose to his full height. “Carrie Louise Wallington, you will listen to me and you’ll—”

“No, you will listen to me.” I yanked free and glowered at him and everyone else who had huddled around to watch the show. Riley looked at me with sad eyes, and Mom was wringing her hands. “I am going because his son is Finn, and I love him.”

Mom gasped and covered her mouth, her cheeks fusing with color. “ Carrie . You don’t even know him.”

“Don’t I, Dad?” I put my hands on my hips and stared him down. “Tell her why I know Finn, won’t you?”

“Hugh? What’s the meaning of this?” Mom asked.

“Oh for the love of God…” Dad said, covering his eyes.

“Carrie, go get your things,” Mr. Richards said, laying a hand on Dad’s shoulder. “I got this.”

Dad yanked on his tie and threw his arms up in the air. “We don’t have time for this melodramatic scene. Larry and I have to go. She is staying.”

“ I am going,” I shouted. Tears were streaming down my face, and I didn’t even care I had a whole freaking audience in front of me. “Do you even hear me? I love him, and I am going.”

Larry grabbed my hand. “She’s coming, and you can too, if you want. But we’re going now .”

Dad sputtered, his fists clenching and unclenching, then headed for the door without a word. I didn’t have time to worry about him. I needed Finn .

He was okay. He had to be okay. Because if he wasn’t okay…

I’d never be okay again.

The town car sped down I-95, leading us to the airport. Dad had secured a private jet for the flight, and apparently he was going to Germany with us. He was going, despite his stony silence and glowers. All I cared about was getting to Finn.

“H-Hello?” Larry said, his voice soft. “Yes, this is him.” Silence, then he sagged against the back of the seat and ran a hand down his face. “Can you tell me anything at all?” Larry nodded. “But how?” A moment of silence. “I…I see. Yes. We’ll be landing at six your time.” More silence. “Okay. Thank you.”

He hung up and I reached out, grabbing his knee. “Tell me everything.”