Crashing Hearts (Pine Valley College #2)

32. Bones

CHAPTER 32

BONES

T he place empties as the night goes on, but we make no move to leave. “I came here a lot as a kid,” he tells me as we take a break from dancing, “when I was too weak to fight back and needed safety or food. I know a lot about fear, baby, and what I saw in your eyes with your father was fear.”

I swallow as I stare at him, and he smiles, kissing my hand. He’s always touching and comforting me, like he can’t resist, and every time he does, my heart skips a beat.

“You might not want to admit it, but we are partners, so lean on me and let me be there for you. When the world hurts you, I’ll heal you and pick up the pieces. I’ll make you laugh, even when you want to cry. I’ll do anything, and I’ll always be right here,” he promises, and I see the truth in his eyes.

He means it.

When everyone else left, he stayed.

When everyone else would have given up, he fought harder.

I kiss the back of his hand, like he does with me, and the spark in his eyes tells me I need to do it more often, like when I kissed him earlier. It’s happiness mixed with surprise, and I crave that look. “Let’s go home.” That’s all I can say, but I plan to spend all night showing him just what his words mean to me, just what he means to me.

We wave goodbye to Mama and head down the side street where Skylar parked, holding hands, when someone steps out before us. His expression is grim and angry, there’s a spider tattoo across his left cheek, and he’s in loose pants and a leather jacket. Another man steps out at his side, and when I glance back, my smile drops when I find three more burly, angry guys surrounding us.

“Skylar,” I whisper.

“I know,” he murmurs calmly and squeezes my hand.

“Skylar Warren,” the man with the tat says. “Never thought I’d see you again.”

“The feeling is mutual, trust me. Nobody wants to look at that ugly face.”

One of his men chuckles at Sky’s words, but his eyes narrow.

“Still a smart-ass, I see.” He lifts a pipe and points it at Sky. “We have a debt to settle. You wrecked my car.”

“Nah, you wrecked it by trying to outdrive me.” Skylar rolls his eyes. “You should have known better, accepted that you lost, and moved on.”

“No, I’ll get my winnings one way or another,” he warns, and then he dives at Skylar. Sky pushes me out of the way and ducks under the swing. My back hits the wall as I turn in horror and watch them circle him.

“Really? You want to do this tonight? Come on, I’m out with my boy. How about a rain check?” Sky jokes.

“You’re dead, and then your boy will be too.”

Sky loses his smile at that, but when he glances at me, he winks. “Stay there, baby. I’ll be right back,” he says, even going so far as to blow me a kiss, but he ducks under the pipe again.

He bends and weaves, moving backwards to avoid them, but he doesn’t fight back. I know Skylar can fight, I’ve seen it, so why isn’t he?

“Fight back!” I yell.

He grunts as a pipe hits his side. He winces but smiles at me. “No can do, beautiful. I can’t get into trouble. I promised you and Noah.”

My jaw drops as another pipe hits his side. “Fuck that, fight back! Kick their asses!” I shout.

“Stay there, baby,” he warns me as he ducks under a pipe, grabs it, and tosses it away. It clatters against the wall near me, but that only pisses them off more, and their attack grows brutal.

There is only so much he can do, though, to avoid all five of them and their weapons. He grunts as they rain blows on his back until he’s forced to his knees. His head is bleeding, his back is no doubt fucked, and his arms can’t take much more.

Ignoring his orders and whatever this means for my career or future, I grab the pipe he tossed. “Fuck this!” I mutter. “Hey, fuck heads,” I call as I head toward them.

They ignore me, however, pounding on Skylar, so I slam the pipe down on one’s back, making sure to only use some of my strength. I don’t want to kill them, unless they hurt him worse.

He stumbles back, and I hit his arm. He cries out, clutching it, and they turn their attention to me and away from Skylar, who’s shielding his head on the ground, refusing to break his promise to Noah and me.

One of them leaps at me, so I hit him with the pipe until he stumbles back. “Get him!” the leader yells, and he lunges for me.

Swinging again, I slam into his chin, and he flies backwards as I bring it down again. “Do not fucking touch him, do you hear me? He’s mine!”

“What are you going to do, rich boy?” one of the thugs asks as he stares at me, holding his busted arm.

“That’s right, I’m a rich boy, and I’m a fucking lawyer. That means I can put your ass in jail and make it stay. I have enough money to destroy you. Remember that next time you come after him,” I growl, holding the pipe as Skylar groans and stumbles to his feet, trying to pull me behind him, but I push him behind me and hold the pipe out.

He might not be able to fight, but I can.

“Fuck this.” The leader heads toward me, raising the pipe, but I’m half turned, pushing his friend away who’s coming at us too. “You’ll die with him.” I turn in time to see the pipe heading for my face.

Skylar’s hand slams out, his reflexes faster than I have ever seen, and he catches the pipe midair and kicks him back. “Never touch my boy,” he warns, and then, despite his promise, he grips the man’s hand and snaps it, breaking his wrist.

“Hey, assholes!” A whistle cuts through the air, and we turn to see Mama with a kitchen knife and two cooks at her side. “You leave my boys alone, you hear? If I see you again, there will be trouble.”

They look from her to us, and one of the guys grabs the one with the tattoo. “It isn’t worth it. Let’s go.”

I watch them leave, and only then do I drop the pipe. Skylar groans but leans down and uses his shirt to clean the pipes before he tosses them into the nearest grate as Mama and her boys look at us. “We’ll make sure they don’t come back. Head home, boys.”

When she’s gone, I rush to Skylar, looking him over. Blood trickles down his forehead, and he’s holding one of his arms, but he seems okay, especially if the goo-goo eyes and crazed, lopsided smile are anything to go by.

“You’re hurt. Stop looking at me like that,” I tell him.

“I’m yours, huh?” His grin widens.

“Unbelievable. They must have hit your dumb head. Come on, Romeo.” I wrap my arm around him and lead him to his car. I settle him in the passenger seat and get in the driver’s seat. “We need to get you checked over at the hospital?—”

“No, no hospital. They will ask questions. I won’t get you in trouble,” he replies, shuffling in his seat, and I frown.

“Sky, you could be hurt. You need to see someone,” I beg.

“Fine, I know someone.” He leans forward and plugs in the address. “Drive my car carefully, baby.”

Rolling my eyes, I put on my belt and reverse carefully, then I follow the directions to the address. He doesn’t complain, but every bump makes him wince, and I’m really worried something is broken.

Can he still drive if it is?

Will he lose his chance?

Terror fills me. He’s worked so hard for his dream. He can’t lose out on it now.

He just can’t.

I should have killed those pricks.

“Ouch, damn, old man,” Skylar whines, jerking back. “Give me some warning.”

Noah huffs, tossing the cotton ball aside. “I told you not to fight!” he snaps.

Skylar pouts. His shirt is off, and he’s sitting backwards on a chair, his arms and back exposed, showing the worst wounds. Noah looked worried and then pissed when we pulled up, but he let us in and grabbed a first-aid kit without a word, barking orders.

“I didn’t, old man, promise.” Sky offers him his pinkie.

Noah glares, and I clear my throat. “He didn’t. He was jumped. I was there, but he refused to fight back.”

“Don’t you defend him!” he warns as he stands. “Nothing is broken. You’ll be bruised and sore, but you got lucky. Here, you deal with him. He’s pissing me off.”

“Nope, he’s yours.” I grin, but then it fades. “I’m worried about his injuries since he refused to go to the hospital.”

Noah looks from me to him. “You really didn’t fight?”

“Promise, old man,” Sky states seriously. “I wouldn’t risk our chance like that.”

Noah sighs and picks up another cotton ball and gets back to work on his wounds, cleaning them. They look shallow, but they must hurt like fuck. He got lucky—I know that. If they had the chance, they probably would have killed him.

Skylar whines again.

“Shut up. Don’t be a wimp,” Noah grouses.

Wandering around his living room, I nearly whistle. This is a nice fucking place. I guess being a race car driver pays off. It’s large and on the good side of town, and the amount of cars outside is impressive. The pictures on the mantel are more remarkable than everything else though. It’s not money; it’s achievements. There are photos of him with trophies and medals.

No wonder Skylar looks up to him and came here—he trusts him.

When he’s done, Noah sits back. “You can put your shirt on.”

“Why? Feeling inadequate?” Skylar teases.

“I see the beating didn’t affect your ego.” He sighs. “Shame. Why did you get jumped?”

“Eh, just some old issues.” Sky frowns. “I’m sorry, boss man. I can’t change my past.”

“I know. I knew it when I took you, but I’m proud of you for keeping your word. You did good, kid.”

Skylar perks up at that, and I hide my grin at how much he looks to Noah for guidance. He probably doesn’t even realize it.

Skylar Warren hasn’t had a clear father figure and it shows. It appears Noah has taken that or the big brother role for him.

Putting his shirt back on, he winks at me as Noah hands over some pills. “Take these with water and rest.”

“You got it.” He pockets them as he glances around. “Nice place, old man.”

Noah just rolls his eyes as we head to the door.

“Wait, wait . . . Whose shorts are those?” Skylar grins widely as he nods at the striped pair of shorts lying on the floor, which are too small to be Noah’s.

“That’s it, get out.” He pushes Sky out of the front door and blocks it as he tries to lean around him.

“Interrupting, am I? Is it Mackie?” He wiggles his brows.

“Yes, it’s Mackie. He got drunk, so I had to pick him up,” he answers with a deep sigh. “He stripped, and I had to chase him and put him to bed. It seems I’m doomed to babysit idiots tonight.”

“Uh-uh, I don’t remember you looking after any of us this closely. Why did you go get him when he was drunk?” Sky challenges.

“Don’t push it, Warren. Go home and rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Skylar is on his front with his arms stretched out and his back on display. There are a myriad of bruises and cuts, but it could have been a lot worse, and as the morning light trickles across him, I can’t help but lean into his warmth.

I was so scared last night. I could have lost him. They were determined to kill him, and he refused to fight back, the brave fucking idiot. I’ve never been scared like that before. I’m worried about what he has been through before if that was normal for him.

How did Skylar Warren survive the streets?

More importantly, how did he turn into such an amazing man?

I brush my lips down his back, careful of the bruises there, and listen to him sigh as he snuggles deeper into his bed. His voice comes, sleepy and deep and so sexy. “Morning, baby.”

“Morning,” I whisper against his skin. “How do you feel?”

He turns over with a groan, opening one eye and pulling me into his arms. “Better now,” he says.

Rolling my eyes, I cuddle against him, and he sighs happily. “I was scared,” I admit. “Next time something like that happens, promise me you’ll fight back, Skylar.”

“You and my future are more important,” he murmurs. “I won’t ruin what I have. I can handle a beating or two, don’t worry.”

“How many enemies did you make on the streets?” I ask.

He’s quiet, and I groan. He laughs, holding me tighter. “It’s nice you’re worried about me.”

“Don’t change the subject,” I snap as I prop my head on his chest and look at him. “I can’t lose you, okay?”

“You won’t,” he murmurs softly, cupping my cheek, and I lean into his touch. “I’m not going anywhere. Now, about breakfast . . .” His smile is wicked and slow. “Can I eat you?”

My sigh fills the air, followed by his laughter.