“I don’t blame you, this is nuts.”
He would be furious if his friend had been stealing money from him for almost a year too, Tate thought. Lucas got the call while they were in New York, and it was already all over the NHL network because of the warrant issued for Levi’s arrest. It was crazy. Levi had stolen almost five million dollars before Lucas’s accountant noticed. No one could believe it. Molly, Lucas’s mother, was heartbroken, and William was sending his lawyers to help Lucas’s lawyers build a case. Basically, everyone wanted this guy to burn at the stake, and Tate didn’t blame them one bit.
When Lucas’s phone rang for what seemed the hundredth time, Tate glanced down at his own, sending a text to Audrey as Lucas answered.
“Hey baby, no, I don’t know, hold on,” Lucas said, then asked him, “Hey, have you heard from Audrey?”
Tate looked up. “About thirty minutes ago, why?”
“Fallon says she is trying to get a hold of her but she isn’t answering.”
Tate dialed Audrey’s number then, but it went straight to voice mail.
That’s weird, he thought as he looked back at Lucas. “I don’t know. She isn’t answering my calls either.”
“No, baby, surely not,” Lucas said calmly into his phone. “Don’t think like that. It’s okay. I’ll have her call you once we get there. It’s okay, baby. Fal, don’t stress.” When he put the phone down in his lap, he said to Tate, “I have to keep calm to keep her calm. Fallon freaks about everything.”
Tate smiled. “What is she freaking out about?”
Lucas shook his head. “She says she is scared because she can’t get hold of Audrey and the cops can’t find Levi.”
“So? Audrey is probably asleep. She’s been sick.”
“See, we know this, but Fallon isn’t rational, she thinks Levi went after Audrey. It’s a crazy thought that only my crazy wife—” Lucas’s words cut off as his face filled with worry. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“What?” Tate saw the car in Audrey’s driveway then. Lucas accelerated, drove into Audrey’s yard, and braked sharply to a halt. He threw the truck in park as he kicked opened the door.
“What the hell are you doing?” Tate yelled.
“Stay in the truck, Tate,” was all Lucas said before jumping out.
Tate was right behind him, though. Something wasn’t right. Rushing around the truck, only two steps behind Lucas, the two of them hurried toward Audrey’s door. Tate’s heart was pounding against his chest. The door flew open then, and the last person he expected to see walked out.
Levi.
Lucas stopped and Tate barreled into him as Levi looked at both of them. He looked crazy, his eyes wide, his shirt baggy in spots, and he had open wounds on his face.
“Tate, go back to the truck,” Lucas said slowly.
“Fuck no,” Tate said, moving beside him. “I’m not going to let you fuck your career up.”
Tate took a step toward Levi and said to him, “Just wait a minute. I wouldn’t move if I were you, because Lucas is ready to kill you and I can’t guarantee your safety if you run.” He looked toward the open door then and shouted, “Audrey! Call the police!”
Levi turned toward the door, then back to Tate and Lucas before he nodded and moved his hand into his pocket.
When Audrey didn’t answer, Tate called out again, “Audrey? Baby, do you hear me?”
“Why is there blood on his hands?” Lucas asked.
Levi looked up, grinned, and then he was off, making a mad dash for his car. He wasn’t fast enough, though. Lucas caught up and threw him against the trunk of Audrey’s car, then grabbed him by the throat.