Billy didn't knock. He never knocked. But tonight, his entrance wasn't just rude—it was frantic. He stormed into Matt's room and grabbed his shoulder, shaking him awake with a force that sent adrenaline spiking through Matt's veins before his brain had even caught up.
Matt shot up, heart hammering. A dark silhouette loomed over him. Instinct took over. He bolted upright, one hand snatching his phone, the other flicking the light switch so hard it nearly snapped off.
Billy.
Matt exhaled sharply, his pulse still racing. "Jesus, dude! Are you trying to get yourself punched?"
"No time for that," Billy shot back, already yanking Matt's duffel bag out of the closet and throwing it at him. "Pack. Now. We're leaving for a few weeks. No stores where we're going."
Matt blinked, still groggy, still processing. "The hell? What—why? Where?"
Billy didn't stop moving, shoving clothes into Matt's bag like they were on some game show with a countdown timer. "Something's happened. Can't explain right now. Just trust me. Move."
That sent a cold ripple down Matt's spine. Billy wasn't just a goofball; he was steady, always the guy cracking jokes to break the tension. But this? This was different. He was serious. And serious Billy was almost unrecognizable.
Matt swallowed hard, shoving stuff into his bag even though his brain screamed for answers. "Is someone hurt?"
Billy hesitated. Just for a second. But it was enough.
Matt froze. "Billy. What happened?"
Billy zipped the duffel shut, slung it at Matt, and met his gaze. "Get in the car."
That was all he said.
The road blurred under the car's headlights as Billy pushed the speed limit past anything remotely legal.
Matt clenched his jaw, arms crossed tight, trying to stop his nerves from bubbling over. "You wanna explain now, or do I have to jump out and hitchhike back home?"
Billy's grip tightened on the wheel. He kept his eyes locked ahead. "Family's leaving for a while. Training. Preparing."
Matt scoffed. "Preparing for what? The end of the world?"
Silence.
A lead weight settled in Matt's stomach. "Billy. Come on, man. What is going on?"
Billy exhaled hard. "Your dad will explain when we get there. We're picking up Sean first."
That stopped Matt cold. "Sean? As in, my brother? Harvard Sean? What does he have to do with this?"
"Everything," Billy muttered, eyes dark. "He's coming, too."
Matt shook his head, his skin crawling now. "Dude, what the actual fuck? If we're picking up my brother, that means we're flying out, right? Family jet and everything? What kind of emergency—"
"Beth is dead."
The words hit like a car crash.
Matt's breath caught. His mind stuttered. "What?"
Billy's knuckles were white on the wheel. "She's dead, Matt."
Matt's ears were ringing. "How?"
Billy didn't answer.
Matt stared at him, heartbeat roaring in his ears. "Billy. How did she die?"
Billy's jaw flexed. "I already said too much. Just—just let it be for now."
"LET IT BE?!" Matt exploded. "You barge into my room, tell me to pack my shit, don't answer any goddamn questions, and now you just casually drop that my stepmom is dead?! What the hell is going on?"
Billy's voice was tight, like he was barely holding something back. "I can't be the one to tell you. Your dad will explain."
Matt let out a humorless laugh, his hands shaking. "This is insane. This is actually fucking insane."
Billy didn't deny it. Didn't try to sugarcoat it. Just drove faster.
When they landed in Massachusetts, a black SUV was already waiting on the tarmac. Tinted windows. Security detail.
Matt's stomach churned. "Okay, this just keeps getting sketchier."
Billy said nothing. Just led the way.
Matt climbed in, the leather seats cold against his sweaty palms. "Where exactly are we picking up Sean from?"
"Dorm."
Matt eyed the security team riding with them, their expressions blank, their hands always within reach of their weapons. "And what, we're just gonna roll up, toss him in the car, and bounce?"
Billy nodded.
"Right. Totally normal. No red flags here."
The SUV cruised through Harvard's security checkpoints without a single question. No ID checks. No delays. Just waved through like VIPs.
Matt's skin prickled. "Okay, I'm calling it now. We're in some deep shit."
Billy didn't argue.
The SUV stopped outside Sean's dorm. One of the guards stepped out, opened the door, and motioned for them to follow.
They took the stairs two at a time. Billy reached the door first. It wasn't locked.
He pushed it open.
And they stopped cold.