“Yes, sir,” the driver replied.

As the car pulled away from the neighborhood, Eric caught a glimpse of Zane climbing into a taxi through the rearview mirror.

A pang of unease hit him, and he frowned before turning his gaze away.

They reached Jewel Avenue, the rain still hammering down without mercy.

“Get out!” Eric’s voice was firm as he addressed Brady. “Hadley’s worried sick about you. Go sort it out with her.”

Brady didn’t argue. He knew he had caused trouble for Hadley and silently stepped out into the downpour.

Eric held an umbrella and led the way, ringing the doorbell.

“Who’s there?” Hadley’s voice crackled through the intercom.

“Hadley.” Eric’s throat tightened, a flicker of nerves in his voice. “It’s me. I’ve got Brady with me.”

Hadley sounded confused and unsure of the situation.

“Oh, okay. Hang on, the rain’s awful.” She opened the door moments later.

At the same time, Zane arrived, having taken a taxi. Without an umbrella, he was drenched head to toe, water dripping from his clothes.

“Zane?” Eric’s brow furrowed as he looked at him. “Why are you here?”

“Mr. Scott,” Zane said, nodding politely. “Hadley mentioned Brady couldn’t reach Colleen and asked if I could help look into it. I’m here to fill her in.”

Eric let out a dry laugh. Fill her in? Brady was standing right there—what was there to explain?

Just then, the gates swung open, and Hadley appeared with an umbrella.

“Brady!” Her eyes landed on him first, and then shifted to Eric, who held the umbrella mostly over Brady, leaving his own shoulder exposed to the rain.

Feel inspired by g?lnσν?s?

“Eric…” Hadley started to speak but stopped when she noticed Zane, soaked to the bone. “Zane?”

“Hadley,” Zane said, wiping water from his face. “I just came from the Hayes’ place. So did Brady.”

He paused, and then added, “Brady’s hurt.”

“What?” Alarmed, Hadley quickly reached for Brady, pulling him closer.

The faint streetlight had hidden his injuries, his face downturned, obscuring the bruises until now.

“Come inside. We’ll sort this out indoors.”

“Okay,” Brady muttered, his voice heavy with despair. He followed her instructions without protest, trudging through the rain without an umbrella, his slumped shoulders betraying his low spirits.

“Zane,” Hadley called, turning to him. “You too, come in.”

Zane was completely soaked. She had asked him to go to the Hayes’ residence to check things out. She couldn’t turn him away now, not after he had gone out of his way to help.

Zane hesitated, catching Eric’s silhouette in his peripheral vision. But he didn’t decline.

“Thanks,” he said with a nod, following Brady into the house.

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