32. Zayne
CHAPTER 32
Zayne
M y hands clench and unclench as I stalk into the bar. Striding behind the counter, I snatch my cell phone and call Dad.
“Hey, Zayne. What’s?—"
“I need you to come to the bar. I’ve gotta get the hell outta here.” I give him a brief rundown, putting him on speakerphone so Ian can fill in the details of Delaney’s injuries.
“Zayne. Don’t do anything foolish. You don’t know if it was Tim who hurt her.”
I don’t give a shit. That asshole is capable of abuse.
“Why don’t you call her and try talking to her?”
“I’ll try, but I’m not sure she’ll answer.” I don’t tell him about Delaney walking in on Jayleen kissing me.
Fuck. When she needed me the most, she thought I was kissing some drunken barfly.
Hanging up with my dad, I call Delaney’s burner phone. It rings and goes to voice mail. I’m about to leave her a message when the door opens, and Tim, Daniel, and Aidan stroll inside, smug grins on their faces.
“Don’t act irrationally,” Ian whispers, touching my shoulder. I shrug him off, marching over to the trio of jackasses.
“What the fuck are you assholes doing here?”
Tim smirks at me. “Just checking to make sure Delaney didn’t sneak —”
I lunge for him, but Ian grabs me. Tim, Aidan, and Daniel run out the door as I growl and flail like a madman.
“Zayne. Come on. It’s not?—”
I head-butt him, and he releases me, staggering back. “Sorry, Ian. I’ve gotta go.” Shoving my phone into my back pocket, I sprint out the door.
When I hit the parking lot, the assholes are in their vehicle. Tim leans out the driver’s side window, his middle finger in the air. “You gonna chase us, pussy?”
The vein throbs in my temple as I run toward my truck.
I start it and slam it in reverse. Loose gravel on the pavement hits the bottom of my truck as I shift into drive and take off, my eyes zeroing in on Tim’s vehicle a short distance away.
Pressing my foot on the accelerator, I chase after them, adrenaline coursing through my veins. My knuckles are white as they grip the steering wheel, rage pounding in my ears.
I’ve had enough of their shit. I’m gonna fucking kill all three of these bastards.
My phone rings, but I ignore it, focused on Tim’s pretentious SUV ahead.
He slams on the brakes and makes a sharp left into the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse. I stomp on the accelerator harder, and a few minutes later, I’m turning in behind them.
I slow down as my truck sinks into the potholes I can’t avoid. This place has been abandoned for years, so it’s fallen into ruin.
I curse as my headlights illuminate what appears to be a chunk of concrete block in the parking lot. Swerving around it, my headlights glimpse the tail end of Tim’s silver SUV.
An evil grin turns up my lips as I slowly drive around the building and park my truck. Quietly opening the door, I slip out, pocketing my keys before stealthily creeping around the building.
My eyes adjust to the darkness as I move, my ears straining. When I spot a piece of metal pipe lying on the ground, I grab it, leveling the playing field. It’s no longer three against one.
As I get closer to the edge of the building, I hear Aidan’s voice. “Are you ready?”
“Shut up, dumbass. Of course, I’m ready.” Tim’s voice shakes slightly.
I see them standing with their backs to me, obviously waiting for me to come around the other side.
You’re scared, Timmy boy. As you should be.
Adrenaline courses through my veins as I quietly sneak toward them. I’m behind Tim when I say, “Looking for someone?”
He spins around, and I swing the piece of pipe like a bat. He groans as he crumples to the parking lot, writhing in pain.
Daniel yells and launches himself at me. I lift my foot, kicking him in the nuts before I hit him in the stomach with the pipe. He drops to the ground, gasping for air.
Aidan’s eyes are wide as he holds his hands out. “Please, don’t. I told them this wasn’t a good?—”
I ram my fist into his flapping gums, shutting him up. He slumps to the ground, his hand over his mouth as he cries in pain.
Spinning back around, I march back to Tim. Reaching down, I grab a fistful of hair, dragging him to his feet.
“What the fuck did you do to Delaney tonight?” I’m so angry that spittle flies from my lips, spraying his face.
“I-I d-don’t know w-what y-you’re talking a-about?”
I lift my knee, slamming his head off my kneecap. He howls as I bark, “I don’t believe you. What the fuck did you do to Delaney?”
He moans, slowly lifting his face to mine. The copper scent of his blood hangs heavy in the air as he pleads, “I-I didn’t d-do anything, Z-Zayne. I d-didn’t s-see her t-tonight.”
A dry laugh escapes my lips. “You expect me to believe she came into the bar with blood pouring from her nose, and her eye nearly swollen shut, and it didn’t come from you? You lying motherfucker.” I hit him again, his hiss of pain music to my ears.
“P-Please, Z-Zayne. I d-didn’t h-hurt her. I s-swear.”
I release his hair, switching the metal bar to my left hand again before I deliver an uppercut. His head snaps back before his teeth clang together. He screams and falls to the ground.
My breath heaves from my lungs as I stare down at the weak-ass motherfucker.
What a fucking waste of air.
Coughing and gasping, he slowly turns over and begins dragging himself along the ground, heading toward his vehicle. I grin, stalking behind him, tapping the metal bar against my hand.
This is gonna be fun.
“Where do you think you’re going, Tim?” I move in front of him, my boot slamming down on his hand. He screams like a little bitch, the sound echoing off the dilapidated building beside us.
Dragging him to his feet again, I throw him against the hood of his vehicle. “You’re gonna knock this shit off and tell me the fucking truth.” I give him an evil smile. “Or not. I don’t mind torturing the fuck out of you for answers. I have all night.”
“P-Please. I-I’m telling you t-the truth.”
“Whatever, Tim.” I lift the pipe, ready to strike. “We’ll do it my way.”
As I lower the pipe, something hard hits me in the side, knocking me to the ground. My grip on the pipe loosens, and it falls somewhere behind me.
Daniel’s bloody face hovers over mine before he slams his fist against my face. “It’s my turn to have some fun, motherfucker.” He hits me again, and I groan, slumping forward.
“Get up, Tim. It’s time we finish what we started at the lake.” Daniel looks over his shoulder before turning. His fist slams into my nose, making blood run down my face.
But I’m back on my feet.
I taste the blood on my lip as I swing, connecting with his stomach. He hisses from the pain as he leans forward. I punch him in the nose, knocking him back a few steps.
I hear a sound behind me, and I turn. Daniel’s foot kicks me in the stomach, and I fall onto my knees.
But I’m not done yet. Not with the adrenaline and rage coursing through me.
As I get to my feet, Daniel holds the metal pipe threateningly in his hand. A malicious smile curls his bloody lip. “I’m gonna beat the shit out of you. When I’m done, Delaney will never look at your ugly, deformed, motherfucking face?—”
“Like hell, asshole.” My dad’s voice says before he rips the pipe from Daniel’s hand. He swings, the metal pipe hitting Daniel square over the head, knocking him to the ground.
I’m climbing to my feet when I hear the commotion.
“Police.”
My dad freezes, still holding the pipe. Footsteps run toward us, and as I straighten, I see guns pointed at my dad and me. We exchange a look before he drops the pipe and puts his hand in the air.
Dread fills me when I hear Richard Warner’s smug voice ringing through the quiet night air. “Well, well, well. What do we have here? Gabe Morine with a pipe in his hand, beating on three kids, including my son.”
Richard steps closer, his gaze roaming over my face before he looks at my dad, disgust curling his lip. “Arrest him.”
The cops ignore me, swarming my father and dragging him to the ground.
“Stop. He didn’t do anything.”
“Didn’t do anything?” Richard cackles, getting in my face. “I beg to differ. I saw him swing the pipe and hit my son over the head with my own fucking eyes. As did the fine boys in uniform.”
My mind whirls as I look down at my father, who now has handcuffs on his wrists and is being read his rights as they drag him to his feet.
“I’ll personally ensure your father goes down for this, Zayne.” The arrogant smile on his lips causes my hands to clench into fists. His gaze lowers to them before lifting back to mine. “I’d refrain from doing that. Hitting the DA will ensure you’re in a cell beside your father. Who will take care of your mom and that piece of shit brother of yours once he’s out of rehab?”
My nostrils flare as I stare him down. My wrath circles me like a category-five hurricane. “This isn’t over, Dick . Mark my words. You’ll pay for this.”
Richard throws his head back, his vile laughter raising the hair on my arms. “I’d like to see you try, Zayne.”
He strides away, bending over his son lying on the ground. I hear him direct the cops to call an ambulance before he barks orders at the cops as they lead my father toward the police cars.
I’m in shock as I take two steps after them.
My dad looks at me over his shoulder, his eyes pleading. “Take care of your mom. I’ll be okay.”
Then he’s gone as they push him into one of the cars.
I head toward my truck, fishing my phone from my pocket as I go. Dread fills my heart as I lift it to my ear, calling my mom.
I’m a dumb motherfucker. This was a goddamn setup. Richard Warner intends to take my dad down for assaulting his son.