Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
RILEY
Idon't know why I expected things to change after what happened between me and Jax. The morning after was awkward, especially with the three of them at breakfast. They had another swim meet midday, so luckily there was an excuse to get out of there.
The next week of school passed quickly. In class, they ignored me, and while I was grateful for the break from them tormenting me, I felt like a used rag just tossed to the side.
Friday rolled around and I was grateful the week was over. The final bell rang and Jax was out the door before I could even ask him to talk. My texts to him had gone unanswered.
I went to my locker to find Aiden standing next to it. His eyes were darting around the area, and when I got closer, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into an empty classroom.
Aiden had been doing what he was told for weeks now. We still talked on the phone and texted, but it wasn't the same as hanging out in person. I missed him and wished he hadn't been thrown in the middle of my problems.
"I overheard them today." He pulled me into a hug and then pulled back, a seriousness to his eyes I hadn't expected. "None of what they said made sense, but something big is going to happen."
"What did they say exactly?" A lump formed in my throat.
"Something about the admiral getting impatient about their lack of progress. Who's the admiral? Like the navy?"
"Jax's father. He wants my father, but I think it's for more than just the oil spill."
Things all of a sudden connected and my knees turned to mush. Aiden caught me and helped me sit down. "What is it, Ri? Should I call for help?"
My mom was with Finn West for years. She had to have known he was different, just like I knew they were different. Is that why she left him in the first place?
Just how dangerous was he?
How dangerous were they?
"I think we just need to forget about everything for the weekend and focus on you." He rubbed my back. "I'm coming to your party."
I stood and looked down at him. "You can't."
"I'm done being blackmailed. Let them release the video. Then everyone will see how great I am."
I laughed. "What about your parents?"
"I'll have to deal with them. I can't hide it from them forever. I was just hoping to wait until I went away for college." He handed me my bag that I had dropped. "We have a party to plan because I'm sure Ivy has messed everything up."
I put on a smile, despite my mind screaming warnings at me.
I couldn't believe I was eighteen. Things felt real now.
I was on my own and no one cared if I was without a mom and without enough money to pay the electricity bill.
My mom probably didn't anticipate it being so difficult for me to get the money out of my trust. If she had, she probably would have gone about it a different way.
Did she just wake up one morning and decide she needed to put things in place in case something happened to her? Did she not think my father would step up and take care of me?
I dressed casually in ripped black skinny jeans and an oversized, off the shoulder cream sweater with a lacy black bralette underneath.
I could already smell the scent of the hamburgers Alex was grilling. My mouth watered as I applied the last of my make-up.
"We're ready!" Ivy walked into the bathroom without knocking and whistled. "Damn, girl."
"Is it okay?" I walked into my room and slid my feet into black and white checked Vans. "I didn't want to wear a dress like you suggested."
"No! It's perfect." She linked arms with me and we headed down the stairs. "Shut your eyes."
I had been banished to my room over an hour ago so they could set up the outdoor area. I really had some of the best friends a girl could ask for.
The night air was cool and I was glad I wore a sweater and not a dress. "Can I open them yet?"
The smile on my face didn't feel forced for the first time in weeks. Guilt welled in my belly but I pushed it away. My mom would want me to enjoy my birthday.
"Open them!"
It was perfect. They had moved the kitchen table out and made one giant table with the patio set. There were candles running the length of the table. Strung along the fence and across the space between the house and the fence were lights that made the area seem like something out of a fairytale.
A table along the side of the house held tins filled with iced drinks, snacks, and a small pile of presents.
"This is perfect." I bit my lip to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.
"Let's get this party started!" Ivy put on some music before pouring Sprite into a cup and adding rum. "A drink for the birthday girl."
I took a sip and couldn't taste the alcohol at all. I'd probably drink too much if I wasn't careful.
As friends arrived, I was tempted to check my phone. I had invited the yearbook staff since we worked so closely all the time. I hoped Ashley didn't show up, but if she did and was a bitch, Ivy said she'd kick her ass to the curb.
We sat down at the table to eat. I glanced down at my phone. I don't know why I cared, but I had expected them to say happy birthday.
"Stop it." Ivy put another cup in front of me. "They aren't doing a good job of redeeming themselves."
Ivy hadn't said much when I told her about dinner with Morgan and what happened with Jax. I couldn't tell her it was something else that was probably making me want them. She'd think I was crazy.
Aiden stood and made a noise to imitate clinking glasses. I rolled my eyes and took a big gulp of my drink, knowing he was going to embarrass me.
"I know this isn't a wedding, but I feel like turning eighteen requires a speech.
" He cleared his throat and held his cup in his hand.
"Riley, you are the best friend a guy could ask for.
If I was into the vag, you'd totally be my woman.
" Everyone laughed. "Don't ever change, because you are something special. "
I sniffled and everyone touched their cups together. He was right, I was special, but change came as we grew and had more experiences. I just hoped the changes I was going through didn't ruin my life.
I'd had alcohol before, but after three cups of Ivy's concoction, I felt great. After we ate, had cake, and opened presents, games were brought out. I was a big fan of intoxicated Cards Against Humanity. My stomach hurt from laughing so hard.
My phone rang and Aiden picked it up off the table. "I'll get it, sweetie. You just keep drinking." His speech was slurred slightly. "Hello, this is Riley's sexy secretary. How can I be of service?"
I practically fell out of the chair, and I would have if Ivy wasn't sitting right next to me. I put my head on her shoulder.
"Oh, bitch, we've been looking everywhere for you!" Aiden stood quickly, sending his chair toppling back.
My brain took a minute to process, but then I jumped up and grabbed the phone from his hand. "Mom?"
I walked into the house and shut the sliding door behind me, shutting out the noise of the party.
"Riley." Her voice was barely audible. "Happy birthday, sweetie."
The alcohol running through me made me unable to stop the sob that came from my throat. "Mom, where are you?"
There was some shuffling on the other end of her phone and I hoped she wasn't about to hang up. "I'm with your father."
The room felt like it was spinning. I had somehow made it to the living room and gripped onto the back of the couch. "You left me! I have no money! They took my car!"
Anger surged inside me and I wanted to break something. I should have known drinking given my emotional state was a bad idea. I had been on the edge of snapping for weeks, but her being with my father was my tipping point.
"I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice. Did you find my letter?"
I wiped at my eyes and sat on the arm of the couch. "Yes. Are we part siren? Why are you with Dad? When are you coming home?"
I could barely understand my words through my tears and my slurred speech. There was a moment of silence.
"I can't come home. Not yet. Are you safe? Did you get the money from Tran Nguyen?" Her words were rushed, like she was running out of time.
"Anytime I try to get help, they stop it from happening." I was starting to blubber. "I don't know what to do."
"Sweetie, you need to calm down, I can barely understand you." I repeated myself. "Who is stopping it?"
"They want Dad. They won't stop until I turn him over or whatever. You need to make him come home."
"Riley, who?"
"The Tritons. They know about the knife and about me and-"
"You need to run."
"What?" I jumped up and stumbled, catching myself with a hand on the wall. "Run? Mom, what's going on?"
I heard a door slam on the other end of the phone and my chest hurt from how fast my heart was beating.
"I love you. Run."
The phone went silent and I looked at the ended call on the screen. I tried redialing the number, but all I got was a busy signal.
"Fuck!" I threw my phone on the couch and turned back to the back patio. My friends were laughing and having a good time. I couldn't go out there and ruin their fun.
There was a knock on the door and I wiped my tears before unsteadily walking to it. The last drink I'd had was really starting to catch up with me.
I flung the door open. I should have looked through the peephole.