Chapter 47
FORTY-SEVEN
MASE
I abandon my truck in the hedge and throw open the door.
I really shouldn’t have driven over here.
It takes a lot of concentration to remain standing, so I stumble over my feet in a rush and head toward the front door.
Reed is waiting for me with his arms crossed over his chest and a twist of his lips as he wrinkles his nose.
“Have you been drinking?” he clips out.
“S-She drugged me.” I swipe at the sweat running down my face, and he grimaces as his eyes follow the action.
“S-Summer,” I pant out.
Reed shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mase.
” His pointed stare lances through my chest, pulling on the one organ that’s keeping me upright.
My best friend is keeping her from me. “She’s pregnant and upset.
You don’t want to cause her anymore hurt.
” Oh, Jesus, what the hell do they think I’ve done? What did she see? Does she think I …?
I blanch, and Reed takes a step back, giving me the perfect opportunity to use what little strength I have to push inside the rental home.
“Mase!” Reed bites out, following behind me. “I told you; now’s not a good time!” His sharpness sets my teeth on edge, and the lines on his forehead deepen.
I swipe at my face. The sweat is literally pouring off me as I come down from whatever shit she injected me with. “You don’t understand.” Sharking my head, I glance around the foyer frantically. Where the hell is she?
“She drugged me.” I turn back to Reed, hoping he can see the truth in my eyes.
Then I press my palm against the pain in my chest. “Tara drugged me and tried to rape me. Have you any idea how that feels? Every fucking inch of me is crawling with her filth.” I push my hands over my skin, the need to claw at it consuming me.
“I just want Summer. I need her.” Wetness swims in my eyes, and I need my friend to understand, to see the turmoil in my eyes as my lip wobbles uncontrollably.
My entire body no longer feels like my own.
She touched me when she had no fucking right to.
When I belong to Summer, the one woman who loves me, darkness and all.
Tara tried to destroy that. Hell, she probably has.
“She fucking tried to … I don’t know if she …
” I can’t say it. “I need my girl, right now.” I swipe at the snot dripping from my nose.
Reed steps forward, his face ashen. “Mase. I think she thinks …” His words hang in the air, and my legs buckle because I know what she thinks.
I’ve thought it a million times myself in the past. I’ve felt that crippling feeling of betrayal, the worthlessness and shame.
I’ve felt it in my soul as my heart laid tattered by the one person I trusted to keep it safe, and I’d never do that to her.
Never. My knees hit the floor as pure devastation pulverizes me.
“I love her,” I choke out. “She gave me her heart, Reed, and I swore to protect it.” I thump my fist to my chest. “I didn’t do this.” I can barely see my best friend through my tears. “I swear I didn’t.” I shake my head. “Please help me.”