Tainted by K.A. Robinson Page A

her, and he wanted to help me in any way he could.
    “I will, and thanks again, doc.” I waved and then turned to walk out the door.
    As soon as I reached the desk in the main lobby, I heard someone shouting my name. I looked up just in time to see Jade throwing herself at me. She wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my neck.
    “Whoa! Hi to you, too.” I pried her off of me.
    “Sorry. I’m just so excited. You’re free!”
    Eric and Adam were standing a few feet away. Both of them were grinning from ear to ear.
    Eric stepped closer and gave me one of those one-armed hugs that only guys could pull off. “It’s good to have you back.”
    “It’s good to be back. I’m ready to get out of here.”
    I glanced at Adam, but he rolled his eyes. “Don’t expect me to get all misty eyed over you. I’m glad you’re back. Let’s leave it at that.”
    I laughed. “Missed you, too, jackass.”
    It took me a few minutes to sign all the paperwork to check myself out. As soon as I was finished, I followed the band out to the parking lot. They stopped in front of a brand-new Dodge Charger.
    “Who does this belong to?” I asked.
    “That would be me. It was the first thing I bought with the money from the label,” Adam said as he unlocked the car.
    “He’s not kidding either. As soon as they put the money into our accounts, he went to the dealership and bought this thing.” Jade said as she shook her head.
    “I hope it lasts longer than the rest of your cars.” I grinned.
    “Fuck off and get in,” Adam growled. “And don’t scratch my baby.” He sat down in the driver’s seat.
    Jade took the passenger seat while Eric and I climbed into the back. I had to admit that Adam’s new car was a sweet ride, but I still preferred my baby back home. Hopefully, I could go back and pick it up soon.
    Jade turned around to look at me. “We just signed the papers for your new place yesterday. Are you ready to see it?”
    On their last visit, she had informed me that they were going to get me a place, so I’d have somewhere to go once I was released.
    “Yeah, but I need to make one stop first,” I said.
    “Sure. Where to?” Adam asked as he started the car. He began pulling out of the lot.
    “The nearest jewelry store.”

I couldn’t remember the last time that I’d been this nervous. I could do this. I knew I could. Then, why had I sat in my car for the last hour, staring at the house across the street from me? I needed to man up and take care of this shit.
    It had taken me forever to find her. Without thinking, I’d driven to the dorm where she was staying before she moved in with me. I walked straight up to her room and knocked on the door. Imagine my surprise when two girls who I’d never seen before had answered the door. I’d tried Amber’s room next, but again, two girls who I didn’t know had greeted me. I’d even tried the bar, hoping that maybe she still came in here occasionally. No one had seen her in months. It was like she’d just disappeared from the face of the Earth. When I’d stopped at her Starbucks, at least people knew who she was, but they had no idea where she could be. She hadn’t worked there since we left the summer before.
    I’d finally hit some luck when I stopped at a gas station to fill-up.
     
    Her old roommate, Rachel, pulled in next to me. When she got out of her car, the shocked look on her face was priceless. I knew it was safe to say that Rachel had talked to her since our split. There was no other explanation for the way her mouth had dropped open.
    “Hey, Rachel.”
    “Drake? Holy crap, it is you! What are you doing back here?”
    “Trying to find Chloe. The keyword there is trying. Do you know where she is?”
    She bit her lip, clearly debating on whether or not to tell me.
    “Please. I need to find her,” I pleaded.
    “I’ll tell you where she is, but if this goes south, don’t tell her it was me.”
    I grabbed a crumpled piece of paper and a pen out