Chapter 233
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE
AKIO
After my first day back at Redwood, I clasped my hands around my backpack straps and headed to my car. Nicole was staying with Jamal Simmons for a short period of time to hide from her father, which pissed me off because I wanted to protect her.
But it had been obvious that I couldn’t do that. I balled my hands into fists. And I hated it.
As I walked to the car, Imani whizzed by me. I lifted my head a couple of inches to look over my shoulder and spotted Kai watching her drive off. He glanced my way, and I cursed under my breath.
He might’ve helped me escape the other day, but he still had it out for me. Nicole had convinced him to help me, only because I had saved Imani a few weeks ago while down by the beach. That had to be the reason.
Kai walked my way. “Did you find any information on your parents?”
“No,” I said, stuffing my hands into my pockets. “Nothing yet.”
While he had wanted as much information on them so Poison could finally pluck them from their Redwood throne, I’d honestly wanted to be as far away from them as possible these past few days. Nicole wasn’t the only one hiding out. I had been cooped up in Kai’s basement for as long as I could.
“Your father showed up while we were out shopping yesterday,” Kai said.
“He did?”
Kai grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against my car. “Don’t fuck with me.”
“I’m not,” I said, holding up my hands. “I swear, I didn’t know. I don’t know anything about what they do. I’ve been trying to find something without them being suspicious. I’ve never wanted to be part of the family.”
He knew that.
“After Nicole left the other night, we made a deal,” he hissed. “You promised me that you’d get information for a place to stay.”
“I will,” I said, pushing on his hands. “I promise, I will.”
Because now, I owed Kai. Not just for saving me, but for protecting Nicole.
“What do you know about Nicole?” Kai asked.
“What do you mean?” I asked, furrowing my brow and attempting to look confused.
Nicole hadn’t wanted me to know about what her father or the rest of those disgusting men did to her. She really wouldn’t tell anyone else about it.
“Nicole—the girl you have a crush on, head of the cheerleading squad. That Nicole,” Kai said. “Your parents work closely with the police, don’t they? Nicole told Poison a few days ago that they’re using her.”
“What?” I whispered. “What do you mean, they’re using her? For what? Information?”
Nicole wouldn’t have told them, right? She wanted it to be a secret.
“Information and,” Kai said, watching me carefully, “sex.”
I mouthed the word sex, repeating it to myself and coming to the conclusion that Nicole hadn’t just asked Poison to help me escape. She must have told them everything in order for them to actually do something about it.
While Poison might’ve been one of the most feared gangs in Redwood, they weren’t heartless. They just wanted to clean up this town and get out of this shithole. If they were given proof that sex trafficking was happening, then … they’d stop it.
“She told us that her father is forcing her to sleep with everyone in town so he can get info on them to use for blackmail,” Kai said. “Doesn’t that sound like something your parents would be a part of?”
I clenched my hands tightly by my sides, wanting to fucking kill them even more now.
“You didn’t know?” Kai asked, slowly releasing me.
Rage rattled through me, and I gritted my teeth.
Oh, I knew. I fucking watched it!
Part of me wanted to rest, to formulate a plan of action before wildly rushing back home to get my shit kicked in. But I couldn’t see straight. All those memories of the other night flashed through me. Nicole had been sobbing, apologizing for being raped to me.
To fucking me!
“I have to go,” I said, yanking open my car door and collapsing into the driver’s seat.
After slamming the door and starting the car, I hit the accelerator and sped out of the parking lot. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I couldn’t sit back anymore.
I was done resting.
Nicole deserved to have justice. And if I had to kill all of them, then I would.