Chapter Thirty #2
“No. Not happening,” I barked. Coby gave me an exasperated look, like now was not the time to be beefing with her brother.
She knew her brother had sold her to Ocean, and it didn’t matter.
She still loved Roshaun—still felt an incredible amount of guilt over “stealing his life” from him.
“They’ll know to look for us here,” I explained. “We can’t stay, and we can’t go home.”
Coby began to pace. “We should just call Ocean. He’ll understand why we ran. His father was going to kill us.”
Feeling the back of my neck grow hot, I blew out a breath and winced. Yeah, about that…”
Reading me like a book, Coby closed her eyes and tilted her head back. “Hunter, what did you do?”
“The SUV that chased us wasn’t one of Malcolm’s.
It was Kellan. I think he was trying to help us.
” I swallowed nervously. “I know he was. I saw him, but I made you keep running anyway because of what happened between us last night and at the boutique. I wasn’t ready to go back, and it’s not just because I’m jealous as hell that he gets you.
It’s because I’m scared of saying yes. I need more time, and if I see him…
” Coby’s eyes opened, and I lost my nerve to admit my feelings.
“Call Ocean if you want, but I can’t go back. Not yet.”
Moving toward the stairs, I jogged to the second floor and went straight for Roshaun’s bedroom.
The urge to burn it all down as soon as I entered nearly overcame me until I remembered that this place wasn’t just another source of my trauma.
It was also where Coby grew up. It was the home she shared with her parents.
And she loved them, unlike me. She loved them so much that she’d turned herself into a remembrance.
It’s why she wore a ribbon every day. To remind herself that though they might be gone, they lived on through her.
When Roshaun moved me in, I think he’d been relieved to have someone else emotionally available for his sister, so he didn’t have to be.
He moved me in, and I endured his leering because it meant I could be close to Coby, but my gravest mistake had been assuming he was content to look but not touch.
Eventually, my body became the price I paid to be with her.
She still didn’t know what a dirty dog her brother was, and if I had my way, she’d never find out.
I scrunched my nose at a pair of Roshaun’s worn boxers sitting on the floor and beelined for the nightstand.
Roshaun couldn’t be that stupid, could he?
I slid open the top drawer and lifted the false bottom, grinning at the thick roll of green with rubber bands around the wad to hold it.
Roshaun was a fucking idiot.
Who doesn’t move their secret stash once someone else knows about it?
I grabbed the cash and tucked it into my bra.
I knew from experience that it was at least ten grand.
The same amount of hush money that he paid me when I finally moved out and took Coby with me.
I would have kept my mouth shut anyway—for Coby—but Roshaun didn’t need to know that.
The money had funded my new life with his sister, away from him.
The house was quiet when I left the bedroom. My steps grew heavier as I returned downstairs, where I left Coby.
She wasn’t there.
Feeling like my legs would give out at any moment, I sat on the stairs and stared at the floor.
Coby had chosen to return to Ocean without me, and while my heart was tugging me in that direction, too, I couldn’t bring my feet to move. I was so afraid of the things he made me feel. The things he made me want.
I needed more time. I needed to think. I—
“Why so glum, bubble gum?”
My head darted up, and I felt my chest cave with the crushing weight of exhilaration when I saw Coby standing with her hands on her hips.
“I thought—” I swallowed past the knot in my throat. “I thought you left.”
Coby’s gaze softened, and then she fell to her knees in front of me and placed her hands on my spread thighs.
“Ride or die, bestie. Remember? Either we both go back together, or we don’t go back at all.”
Unable to speak, I nodded.
Coby looked unsure momentarily, biting her bottom lip before she stretched forward and kissed me. A wave of warmth washed over me, along with gut-wrenching hunger when I felt her soft lips against mine. She pulled away too soon and blushed. “So, are you coming or what?”
I nodded. Coby rose.
Reaching out, I grabbed her hand, but not to stand. “I’m sorry that I fucked Ocean.”
“Hunter,” Coby said with a long-suffering sigh that made me frown.
“I told Ocean to seduce you. I told him to do all the things you’re feeling guilty about, so maybe it’s me who can’t be trusted.
I don’t know, and I don’t care. We’ve both made mistakes, so maybe we should stop repeating them and be a team again.
You need time, and I’m not going anywhere without you, so get your ass up and let’s go.
” She held up her hand, and I finally noticed the keys in her hand.
“I know where Roshaun keeps the spare car he uses for dirt.” She gave me an expectant look. “Did you find his stash?”
Reaching inside my bra, I tugged out the fat knot, tossed it in the air, and caught it. “Got it.”
“Then let’s not waste any more time.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me up.
Coby and I shared a grin once I stood, but that faded with the knock at the door.
I didn’t hesitate to pull my gun and let my voice deepen to sound like Roshaun when I spoke. “Who is it?”
Okay, that was terrible. Coby snorted despite the possible danger while I made a silly face and then shushed her.
“Seriously?” Kellan called through the door. Coby and I groaned. “You really think that voice is fooling anyone? We all know you’ve got balls, Parrish, but they’re metaphorical, yeah?”
I rushed forward and snatched open the door. “How the hell did you find us?”
“Again… seriously?” He quirked a pierced brow. “I’m actually disappointed you were dumb enough to hide out here. It’s the closest known location we have on file for you.”
I crossed my arms and popped a hip. “You really have a file?”
“Yup. Everyone does. Yours is as thick as my—”
“Ew. Don’t say it,” I cut him off.
Kellan gave me a withering look. “I was going to say thumb.”
“Sure, buddy.” I blindly reached behind me, and Coby slipped her hand into mine again. “Now, if you’ll fuck off. Coby and I have some disappearing to do.” I tried to pass him, but he blocked me with his arm and grinned when I glared.
Behind me, Coby sighed after our silent battle of wills dragged on.
“Where is he?” she asked Kellan. Coby already seemed resigned to our fate while I was still plotting a way out of here. I dodged Kellan once. I could do it again.
Kellan didn’t look away from me when he answered smugly. “Eager for you to join him at Glainne.” Kellan retreated a step, probably in case I thought about hitting him. “Now if you’re done stalling, let’s go. We both know you’re not getting away a second time.”
“Fine,” I agreed to everyone’s surprise, including my own. We followed Kellan to the Denali, where Paul was waiting.
Coby stopped me before I could climb inside. “Are you sure?”
“No,” I mumbled. “But look how fast Ocean found us. There’s no reason to believe Malcolm couldn’t find us just as fast. Where else are we going to go?
” Coby’s worried gaze searched mine, so I smiled to assure her that I was okay with this before we climbed in.
“Hey, Paul,” I greeted with false cheer.
He chuckled good-naturedly while watching me warily through the rearview. My reputation had been well earned. “Hunter.”
We rode silently until we reached the onyx tower in the city’s center.
I looked around in awe as Coby and I followed Kellan up to the penthouse, which conveniently had a private elevator.
Once we reached the top floor, the elevator opened directly into an apartment that called me ‘poor’ and ‘peasant’ in five languages.
As soon as we stepped inside, I spotted Ocean standing in front of one of the many windows with his back to us.
The muscles were coiled tightly, and I knew even before he turned around that he was angry.
When he did, I saw that the dress shirt was unbuttoned, showing off his sculpted abs and chest, but it was the blood staining the crisp white linen that held all my attention.
Ocean’s unguarded expression was hard as stone, the tension in his broad shoulders taut. When he spotted us, I could have sworn he softened a little.
“I found them at her brother’s house just like you said,” the ass-kisser snitched. He didn’t mention that we had been getting ready to run again.
“Thank you, Kellan.”
The associate turned to go, but he surprised me when he reached out and squeezed my arm reassuringly as he passed. It worked to settle my nervous gut a little. I didn’t want to like his meddling ass, but he was slowly becoming my friend.
Kellan stepped back into the elevator, and then he was gone.
Still, Ocean said nothing to either of us as he stalked to the fully stocked bar.
I peeked over my shoulder.
Water from the small sink ran as he cleaned his hands.
When he looked up, I faced forward again like an errant child awaiting punishment.
I listened as he dropped ice into a glass before pouring himself what was probably a stiff drink.
A few more seconds passed as he gulped it down, and then the glass slammed on the bar loud enough to make Coby and me jump.
Ocean finally spoke, his voice a dark promise of blood and vengeance. “Are you hurt?” he asked without making it clear who he was speaking to.
“No,” Coby and I chorused.
Suddenly, Ocean was standing in front of us, raking his gaze over every inch of me and then Coby before he seemed satisfied with our answer.
Coby was staring up at him like he was her god, and he was staring down at her like he wanted to worship at her altar.
I looked away and reminded myself they’d be married in a week (assuming that was still happening).
They had every right to look at one another as if they couldn’t live without the other.
I stubbornly kept my gaze on the wall when I heard them kiss moments later.
For every second that passed, I felt my control slipping.
The kiss continued until I thought I might snap, and then I heard Ocean say, “Come with me.” They moved together toward the stairs while I stayed put near the elevator.
I was contemplating riding it down and quietly disappearing to let them live happily ever after together when Ocean called out to me without turning around.
“Hunter.” My gaze snapped to his strong back.
“That means you, too,” he ordered sternly.
1 . Of the blood.