Love You Anyways Read Free Page B

eyes and read it again. What the hell was going on? Jade would never send a message at three in the morning if it wasn’t a real emergency.
    I snuck out of my bed and walked down the stairs to my office and sat at my desk and called Jade.
    “What’s going on Jade? Is Luke alright?”
    “Lucas…Collin was shot.” That was the only thing she said that I understood.
    “Links.” Her husband Ryan, my best friend, was on the phone.
    “What the hell happened?”
    Ryan told me the details and I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what the hell I was hearing.
    After a long pause as I listened to him comforting his wife I cleared my throat, “Are Tessa and the kids alright?”
    “Physically, yes. CJ was the one who called and told Jade. He’s pretty shaken up but he said his father died and that his brother, sister, and Tessa were okay. We should know more tomorrow.”
    I heard a blood curdling scream followed by , “Daddy!”
    “Ryan we’ll talk tomorrow. I think Ava just found out.”
    I ran up the stairs to Ava’s room and she was throwing clothes into a suitcase.
    “Daddy ! Collin is dead and Harper, oh God Harper, was taken and he tried to save her and now he’s dead and…”
    I grabbed her and held her as she sobbed. “Harper, CJ, Matthew, and Tessa are fine. I just talked to Ryan and him…”
    “What is going on?” I looked up and both Logan and Ashley were walking in Ava’s room.
    “Collin was killed.”
    Ashley’s first reaction will haunt me for the rest of my life. She looked at me as if she had no soul. She was pissed and the smug look on her face made me want to hit her. I looked at Logan and he was studying her face and he too looked confused as to her reaction.
    “You okay Mom?”
    Ashley nodded and swallowed. She hugged Logan and stared coldly at me over his shoulder.

Chapter 2
     
    Memories
     
     
    Ava was awake when I walked down the stairs. “I need to see Harper.”
    I gave her a hug. She looked like she hadn’t slept at all. “Okay. When they get home I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
    “Mom wants me to go to Jersey.”
    Ashley and Logan walked down the stairs and I noticed they both had overnight bags.
    “You going somewhere?”
    “To visit my sister.”
    “Logan , you want to stay here or go with Mom?”
    “The kids are going with me. I know you’re busy with work or I would’ve asked you to come along.”
    “I don’t want to go Mom. I want to be here when Harper comes home.”
    “Logan you can stay too.” I told him.
    “Nah, I’ll go with Mom.”
    I gave him a hug as he walked by. “Thought we were hitting the gym during your break. Lifting weights, keeping in top physical shape. You have colleges interested and…”
    “Leave him alone Lucas he’s on vacation,” Ashley laughed. “Ava you sure you won’t come?”
    “I’m sure. She’s my best friend Mom. I thought you’d want to be here for Tessa.” Ava was fighting anger. I could see the storm brewing behind her baby blues.
    “I’m sure her family will all be there to help her. We won’t be gone long. I’ll see her then.” Ashley didn’t wait for a response, “Let’s go Logan, you can drive.”
    “The roads are shit Ash, you should be driving. I should be driving.” I wasn’t liking this one fucking bit.
    “He’s almost eighteen Lucas. How old were you when you were driving to New Jersey alone? I’ll be with him.” Ashley gave Ava a quick hug and out the door she went.
    Ava looked at me. “What’s going on Daddy?”
    “Apparently she misses her family.” And your mother has been fucking around for years now , I wanted to say, but I didn’t. “Do you know when they’re supposed to be in?”
    “No.” Ava flopped on the couch and grabbed a pillow.
    I hated seeing her like this. Hated seeing her struggle and I couldn’t do anything about it. “You want breakfast baby girl?”
    “No Daddy I just want to cry.”
    I sat next to her and held her hand. “Then cry.”
    She took my arm