52. Kye
FIFTY-TWO
KYE
A half hour went by before I really started to worry. I'd called her five times already, and thirty minutes to go reset an alarm felt like a good enough amount of time that I wasn't being an overbearing boyfriend.
I was already heading out to the dirtbike I had brought down earlier when Carly texted.
Carly
Get down to the diner. Now.
My heart stopped, and as bad as I wanted to take off, I texted her back
Kye
Daisy?
Carly
I don't know. We are heading there now. Just meet us there asap.
I hit the gas, the bike screaming as I cut through a field and made it back onto the road.
My heart hammered in my chest at the possibilities. There were only so many things Carly would text me like that about, and it didn't matter what happened exactly, it meant Daisy was involved.
I should have gone with her. I should have taken care of it, and not let her go out at night to check a fucking alarm alone. What was I thinking?
Was I really going to get Daisy back and then immediately let her walk into a situation that could get her hurt?
I hit another gear, pushing the bike as fast as it would go down the road that led to the diner.
The diner came into view, and I was almost expecting flames pouring out of it, but there were none. Nothing except red lights flashing on the brick building as the fire trucks, ambulance, and cop cars surrounded it.
My eyes scanned the entire place before I finally saw her blonde hair slumped against the wall, and for a moment, I wondered if she wasn't going to move. If she really was hurt, or worse.
My stomach churned as I got closer, until her head finally snapped up to look at me. I made it halfway into the parking lot, but she was already up and heading towards me. The bike fell as I got off and wrapped her in my arms, pulling her as tight as I could against me.
"What happened? Are you okay?" I pushed her back, looking over any part of her that I could see. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, stepping back against me. "No, not me. I'm okay."
I ran my hand down her arms, looking down at her tear-stained cheeks.
"It's Mia, Kye. She's dead."
My hands froze on her as I looked back at the diner. "How?"
"They don't know. I came and the doors were locked, but she was in there…dead."
"Come on," I said, already heading towards her dad's car. "We need to figure out what happens now."
My arm stayed tight around her, and her dad didn't fail to notice it. Daisy noticed it too, leaning against me harder and cursing.
"Did this really all have to happen right now?"
"I think your dad hating me is going to be the least of our concerns tonight."
"I doubt it," she said. "He's going to make it a concern."
"What the fuck are you doing here now?" her dad said, nearly yelling as we got closer.
Daisy froze at my side. "He came for me. To make sure I was okay, and I need him here."
"Why?"
"Because I just found my coworker dead and I would like someone to be here for me. Is that really an issue to you?"
He shook with anger, but looked back at the diner. "I have bigger things to deal with right now, but I can guarantee you both, we will be dealing with this."
"There's nothing between her and I that you need to deal with," I said, realizing Daisy wasn't going to say anything. I knew she hated the disapproval, and probably hated it even more when it was said right to her face, but part of me wished she wasn't so damn ashamed of me that she couldn't just tell him to shut up. "What happened?" I asked, trying to put all of our thoughts back on what was going on around us.
"Mia was killed. I won't be telling either of you more than that, but it doesn't seem like an accident of any sort. We…We have a few things that we need to piece together, and we're going to need you to come to the station tonight, Daisy. Alone ."
I smirked. "She doesn't have to go alone. You might need to talk to her alone, but she doesn't have to go sit there and wait alone." I couldn't stop it, couldn't help the words coming out of my mouth, already knowing he was going to be pissed about it. "I'm pretty sure her boyfriend is allowed to take her there and wait until she is done."
His nostrils flared. "Actually, she is a witness, and we need to make sure no one is feeding her what she should be saying. Mark will take you. You can follow on your…bicycle, if you want."
"I think I'll take my car, but thanks."
Her hand squeezed mine tighter. "But I don't want to go with Mark. I would like Kye to take me."
"Well, that isn't an option. We don't know who was involved in this yet," he said, looking at me. "And I can't risk anyone getting your story confused."
I leaned down to her, my lips at her ear. "It's okay. I'll follow behind you and be there at the same time."
"I don't want to go alone with Mark. Please , I can't," she whispered to me.
The fear and panic were clear, and I knew there was nothing that was going to stop me from being at her side.
"Alright, then, Daze. Let's get you to the station."
I opened the door, letting her into the back so she could be as far away from Mark as she wanted, and I pulled open the passenger door, sliding into the seat next to Mark.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing?"
"Getting a ride to the station."
"If you don't get out of this car right now, I'm going to?—"
"What? Arrest me? That's fine. Then you'll have to put me back there with her."
His hands tightened on the steering wheel, nearly turning white, and I wondered what he really wanted to say to her alone in the car. If he thought talking shit about me for an hour or two would change her mind.
Daisy said he seemed upset about the breakup, but when he looked back in the rearview mirror at her, I didn't think she understood how upset he might be.
I understood it at the very least. Losing Daisy wasn't easy, and I didn't blame him for trying to get her back, but I was going to guarantee he didn't have a chance this time.