Read Online Rush by Jonathan Friesen - Free Book Online Page A

might go see her, but he hates her. Didn’t think he’d actually go. He never returns her letters, deletes her e-mails.” I reach down for a rock, stand, and whip it down the tracks. “How long is he staying with her?”
    â€œHe wouldn’t say.”
    Inky black returns. Scottie with Mom. Monkey Boy with Dad. Unbelievable.
    We leave the tracks we’re supposed to follow, finish our walk in silence, and turn up our street. From behind, tires squeal, and a beat-up station wagon chirps to a stop beside us. The window rolls down. Salome grabs my forearm and squeezes.
    â€œWhere’s your brother, Jake?” Mox stares at me. “Where’s your snake of a brother?”
    Moxie Stone is twice my age, and his voice rumbles deep and hypnotic. When he talks, people do. He’s the nearest thing to a firefighting legend there is, and his appearance in Brockton normally marks the beginning of wildfire season. But he’s early. Way early. Men revere him. If half the stories of his heli-rappelling heroism are true, I should get on my knees. But he ripped my brother, and only I get to do that.
    I lean into his window and whisper, “I don’t know where he is. Find him yourself.”
    He grabs my shirt, his face emotionless. He looks at me; I stare back. Not at him. His jacket. The brown one with the I across the shoulders.
    â€œLet go of him, you jerk!” Salome says.
    Mox glances at her, an ugly up-and-down glance, and releases me. “Drew’s sister is all grown up.” He shoves my head out of the car and accelerates toward my home. Salome and I run. Dad’s a mess and Mox is hot, and we better get there before he does.
    We cut through yards. I boost Salome over Harry’s privacy fence, then pull myself up to the top. We bolt across two cross streets, wind breathless up the hill, and pull up on my driveway.
    Mox and Dad already talk on the step. Both glance at me and go back to their conversation.
    â€œSo he’s done, then,” Mox says.
    Dad hangs his head and nods. “I don’t understand. It was going so well, then all this nonsense about you and some doomsday club—”
    Mox’s fingers flex and fist. He reaches up and gives his forehead a good rub.
    â€œYou can only do so much with kids. They have their own minds, right?” Mox peeks at me over his shoulder. “They’ll get an idea, make up a story.”
    â€œScottie wasn’t like that.” Dad shakes his head. “He never made up anything. Different than—” He gestures toward me with his head.
    â€œWell.” Mox gives Dad a firm pat to the shoulder. “He was a great son, and would have been a great asset to Brockton. We’ll all miss him.”
    Dad looks up. He straightens for the first time in weeks.
    â€œWho knows, in a few years, maybe the other one will pick up the ax,” Mox says.
    â€œMaybe sooner . . . listen, you’ll never find Jake’s equal in strength, and I’m telling you he’s fearless.” He leans forward. “Fearless.”
    Dad lowers his voice to a level I’m still meant to hear. “I took the liberty of making a few calls—”
    Mox stiffens. “Tell me right now this isn’t going where I think it is.”
    â€œKyle’s tragedy leaves you a man short. Now, I know Jake hasn’t trained, but I spoke with Richie, and that will not be a problem. He is short on experience. But he should be dead given all the crazy stunts he’s pulled.”
    â€œI choose my men.”
    â€œAnd he will be dead if he doesn’t come under some discipline.”
    â€œ I choose my men!”
    â€œAnd so the chief is considering a temporary arrangement—”
    Mox turns and glares at me. Salome grabs my sleeve.
    Dad places his hand on Mox’s shoulder. “Jake’s a tough, strong kid. Maybe he’ll make me proud yet.”
    â€œIgnore them, Jake. Remember what happened