Free No Accident by Emily Blake Page A

and not once had it turned out to be true.
    â€œAll right, then,” he said, giving up. Dustin was not going to change. “I’ll talk to you—”
    â€œLook up,” Dustin said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œLook up,” he repeated.
    Chad looked up and saw his brother sitting right in front of him, on the front stoop of his house, grinning. Chad snapped his phone shut. “What are you doing here?” he blurted.
    â€œIs that any way to greet your favorite older brother?” Dustin replied, getting to his feet. “How about a hug, man? Ya miss me?”
    Not really. Chad felt a wave of frustration as he gave Dustin a quick hug. Dealing with him on the phone was one thing. Dealing with him in person was another.
    â€œI was hoping you’d help me talk to Mom and Dad,” Dustin blurted.
    â€œAbout what?” Chad’s voice was flat. He wished he could say no. It was a safe bet that his brother was not planning to beg for forgiveness and move back in.
    â€œI need a little more dough, just to tide me over until something else comes through.”
    â€œYou mean until you get a job?” Chad asked pointedly.
    â€œWhatever.” Dustin shrugged noncommittally.
    â€œIf you want to ask Mom and Dad for money, fine,” Chad said, walking up to the door. “But leave me out of it.” He unlocked the door and stepped inside, holding the door open for his brother. He could do that, at least. Dustin punched Chad lightly on the arm as he pushed past him.
    Not wanting to hang around for the fight, Chad headed up the stairs to his room. The farther away he was when Dustin asked for money, the better. He hadn’t even gotten to his room when the shouting started.
    â€œYou want money ?” his father yelled. “Are you seriously asking us for money ?”
    â€œYou’re still my old man, aren’t you?” Dustin shot back. “Or were you disowning me when you kicked me out?”
    Chad didn’t hear his father’s response—he had lowered his voice in a surprising show of restraint. For about fifteen minutes Chad blocked out the argument, catching a word here and there and letting it bounce right off. But when the volume went back up he couldn’t block it out anymore. And what he heard next made him feel sick.
    â€œForget it, Pops,” Dustin growled. “I don’t need your money, anyway. Chad and I will do just fine without your help.”
    What? Chad and I? Chad’s parents must have been thinking the same thing. A dish shattered in the kitchen.
    â€œYeah, that’s right. Your good little boy is quitting school and moving in with me.”
    No, he wasn’t.
    â€œChad, get down here!” his mother shouted. But Chad wanted no part in the family battle. When he left his room a few seconds later it wasn’t because of his mother’s demand or Dustin’s manipulations. It was because he’d realized he was not the only one trying to stay out of the fight. Somewhere in the house his little brother, Will, was probably listening to every word of this. And he would be scared.
    â€œWill?” Chad called softly, pushing open the door to his brother’s room. He looked in the closet and under the bed, two of Will’s favorite hideouts. He wasn’t there.
    Chad checked the rest of Will’s regular places. He was nowhere to be found. Chad’s heart raced.Downstairs, his parents and Dustin were still going at it.
    â€œShut up! Just shut up!” Chad shouted, bursting into the kitchen. Dustin and his parents stood still, blinking. Chad did not yell often, and he was not finished. He glared at his brother. “I am not moving in with you!” He eyed his father. “If you were paying attention you might have noticed I am not like my brother.” Then, just to keep things even, he shouted at his mom, too. “But you are all too busy yelling at one another all the time to notice anything or