Page 75 of Set Play

“What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Élise stays silent, so I quickly mute her and whisper to my visitor, “Do not make a sound, if she knows you’re listening, she might not tell me what’s going on and you heard that whimper. Something’s not right.”

He dips his chin in agreement and the two of us stare at my phone as we wait for her to explain. After what feels like a bloody eternity, she finally starts her story. “Before you ask, no Mateo does not know and no, you can’t tell him.”

She doesn’t wait for my agreement, just barrels on with her harrowing tale. “I talked to Henri, but it didn’t go well. He tried to avoid it by leaving, so I followed. And that’s when things went to shit.”

I swallow my growing fear, locking eyes with Mateo. “What do you mean?”

“Well, the elevator was slow, so Henri went to use the stairs. I grabbed his arm to stop him and stepped in front of him, which put me at the top of the stairs. He yanked his arm free and I…kind of lost my balance.”

Mateo

“Henri pushed you down a flight of stairs?”

Nothing but silence comes through Niamh’s phone now, and one look confirms that she too shares my concern.

Élise sighs. “Nim…I asked you not to tell him.”

Niamh shrugs even though Élise can’t see it. “I didn’t! It’s not my fault he came to check on you and overheard your story.”

My Chispita snorts and then promptly whimpers. And not the good kind. More like it hurts to laugh. “How do you two even know each oth— You know what, I’m in too much pain to care about your apparent friendship right now.”

Neither of us say anything, still waiting for her to answer my initial question. Finally, she divulges, “No, Big Shot, Henri did not push me down a flight of stairs; I fell. I lost my balance when he pulled his arm from my hold, but that’s on me just as much as him. But yeah, I’m almost at the hospital now.”

“You’re driving?” I shout at the same time Niamh cries, “Where the hell is Henri?”

Excellent fucking question.

“He sort of went into shock and shut down after I fell, so I did what was best for me. I texted him where I was going, but I got to my car and left.”

“Chispita, you could have a concussion. You shouldn’t be driving. What hospital are you going to?”

Though she assures us that she didn’t hit her head, hearing the waver in her voice, it provides little comfort. She’s clearly scared and who can blame her when she’s already suffered from a life-altering injury once. It takes me asking two more times, but finally she gives us the name of the hospital and promises to keep us updated.

As soon as Niamh hangs up, I’m on my feet, moving for the front door and calling over my shoulder, “If you’re coming, let’s go! If we hurry, we should be able to beat quiet hours!”

“What? Where? What the bloody hell are you talking about, Mateo?” Niamh asks, grabbing a few items she needs for the trip.

“Québec. I have friends who have a private jet and if I call now, it’ll be ready by the time we get to the airstrip. She shouldn’t be alone. You have her location, so it’d be easier to find her if you come, but if you want to stay, I understand.”

While Niamh runs upstairs to grab a few more items, I step outside to dial Lane, hoping like hell that the band’s plane is available.

Chapter 43

Mateo

Today 7:37PM

Me:

Heads up, missing practice tomorrow. Maybe the next day too. Will let u know.

Lukas:

!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Cillian: