“I’ll get right on that, as soon as we have a signal.” Luca is more than just a bit hostile.
I opt to ignore him. He’s the one who got his ass dragged out of the car and beaten. He’s allowed to be grumpy for one night.
Three
Nova
What the hell just happened?
I tried calling Ashton. Usually, we do a video call before bed, especially on Friday nights when he’s done working with Dante.
It’s almost midnight, and the call wouldn’t connect to video. Audio was spotty. I could barely hear him, only a few words here and there. Nothing that made any sense.
I tried calling Luca.
No answer.
I’m pacing the length of the living room. Liam is glaring at me.
“Something is wrong.” I feel it, deep inside of me.
Harper is already in bed, and while I’m worried about Luca, too, I don’t want to wake her. She has Zeke, and she’ll be up early with him in the morning.
Which leaves my only one option, telling Liam everything I know.
Which isn’t much.
“I’m sure Ashton will call you back.”
“That’s what I thought twenty minutes ago. I’m worried. Should I call Dad?”
Liam shrugs and turns off the television. “Can’t hurt.”
Sighing, I rub my temples. He doesn’t know about Ashton and me dating. That’s the only thing holding me back from reaching out to him.
But what are my other options?
I dial Moreno, my father, and he doesn’t immediately pick up.
When it goes to voicemail, I try again.
“I’m kind of busy right now,” Dad finally answers, gruff and annoyed.
“Is Luca okay? He’s not picking up, and when I tried Ashton, his phone cut out.”
There’s a silence that stretches on for far too long. “They’ll be fine. Don’t worry yourself, Nova. Goodnight.” He hangs up without another word.
“He’s hiding something!” I glance up at Liam. “You believe me. Don’t you?”
“What exactly did you hear from Ashton?”
“I don’t know. His words were jumbled. Broken apart. It’s clear it was a bad signal, but I swear I heard him say something about Luca and trouble.”
“Well, I mean, Luca and Ashton aren’t exactly getting along. That’s not news,” Liam says.
His words aren’t reassuring.
“Okay, but why hasn’t he called me back? Dad clearly has a signal. Why doesn’t Ashton?”