Chapter 211

The sky was getting darker, the city lights flickering on one by one as a luxury Bugatti Veyron glided down the street. Anthony had one hand on the wheel, the other clutching his phone. He called Charlotte again, but all he got was the same automated message. Her phone was still off.
She hadn’t gone back to Imperial Heights, and she hadn’t shown up at the Gates family home either. Now her phone was switched off. Anthony’s eyes narrowed, worry creeping into his features. He pulled over, leaned back in his seat for a second, then called Andrew.
Andrew was out on the sidewalk, half-distracted by a video game battle with Parrish. When his phone buzzed and he saw Anthony’s name, his heart about stopped. His hands shook as he answered.
“Anthony!”
“Where are you?” Anthony’s voice was sharp, the kind of cold that made your skin prickle.
“I’m just outside school. I’m heading back now!” Andrew blurted, already slinging his backpack over his shoulder and making a run for it. Was Anthony tracking him or something? He couldn’t even sneak out for a quick game without getting caught.
“Who are you with?”
“Parrish,” Andrew said, not daring to lie. He wouldn’t risk it.
“You’re not with Charlotte?” Anthony’s voice dropped even lower, rough and impatient. “I heard some guys confessed to her today. Was that you?”
Andrew froze, remembering Anthony’s warning. If he even thought about dating, Anthony would break his legs. Did Anthony really think he was trying to date Charlotte?
“No, absolutely not!” Andrew stammered. “I wouldn’t dare!”
So, Charlotte wasn’t out with any of the guys from school. Then why was her phone turned off?
“Anthony, I really—”
Anthony cut him off, hanging up and
tossing his phone onto the seat
tel
beside him. That knot in his chest was sharper now, almost painful. He grabbed his iPad, pulled up the
globat defense system Charlotte had coded for him. She even thrown in asatellite tracking function, just in case. As long as her SIM card was still intact, he could find her.
He punched in her number. In seconds, the map loaded, a blinking dot showing Charlotte’s location.
The suburbs.
Why would she go all the way out there?
Anthony’s jaw clenched, his eyes dark and cold. He barely hesitated before firing up the engine and flooring the gas, the car surging forward as he followed the navigation straight to her.
Out in the quiet suburbs, the air felt cleaner, the world almost peaceful. Charlotte dropped her backpack è onto the couch and shrugged off her schootjacket, letting it fall wherever. She flopped onto the bed, arms folded behind her head, long legs crossed over the edge there was a soft smile on her face, the kind that crept in when no one was looking.
“Go try it on. See if you like it,” she called out.
Stella, who’d been lying beside her, propped her chin up with both hands and smiled back, gentle and sweet. Stella was her friend from
Lamplighter Village. Their net
had
twisted in similar ways, both deft bening by their families and dropped into that awful sanatorium. They’d stuck together ever since, more like sisters than friends.
“If you bought it, I’ll like it,” Stella said.
Charlotte just grinned. She wasn’t going to force her. With a light touch, she lifted Stella’s chin and raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been eating properly lately?”
“Mhm,” Stella replied, scooting closer and breathing in the familiar scent of Charlotte’s shirt. It made her feel safe, warm all the way through.
She really did look better these days. Her skin had a healthy glow, her whole mood lighter.
“Good girl,” Charlotte said, sitting up and handing over the cake she’d picked up on the way. “Here, your reward.”