4. Nash
Chapter 4
Nash
“D ude, she’s busted,” some kid calls out.
No shit. But I have no idea how. What the fuck? One minute, I’m about to kiss the most interesting girl I’ve ever met, and the next she jumps from the canoe, screaming about ants and tossing her clothes.
I thought she was hurt. Then I thought it was a joke. This shit is no joke. Rosie is burning hot in my arms, covered in mud and scratches, and passed the fuck out.
“Out of the fucking way,” I growl, my alpha riding me hard to get Rosie some help. She needs a doctor, and these fucking assholes are all gawking and talking shit.
Sometimes I really fucking hate this place. These rich assholes tolerate me because I play ball, but they rarely let me forget I’m not like them. I’m starting to suspect that Rosie gets worse treatment.
Pushing my way across the crowded lawn, I call to Benny, an alpha on JV, “Find Marigold and get Dane. Tell him to meet me at his truck.”
I caught a ride with Travis out from Crawley, but Dane’s the only one around tonight I’d trust enough with this. We’re more teammates than friends, but he’s solid, and with his strict training schedule, I know he won’t be wasted. Marigold, on the other hand, is already blitzed. I’m just hoping she has enough fucking sense left to explain what happened.
I knew something was off with them when they wanted privacy. I never should have left Rosie alone with those vipers, but I didn’t wanna come off like the pushy alphaholes my mother always seemed to attract.
“Nash fucked her unconscious,” some punk calls.
Another asshole slaps on, “Save some for the next guy, man.”
Laughter ripples through the group, and it’s their lucky day. I’m more focused on her, or I’d shut their mouths. I ignore them, speeding up, but the rumbling sound in my chest doesn’t fade. Memories of finding my mother—the needle and the ashy grey color of her skin—try to take me under. I clench my teeth, my muscles flexing with the strain of not losing myself to my past.
Not again. Please don’t let me be too late.
By the time I reach the front, word has traveled, and I’m met with a parade of rubberneckers.
Dane lopes down the front steps. “What the fuck happened?” He falls in beside me.
“Wait!” Marigold shouts.
I stop, annoyed and near my breaking point, as Marigold and a group of her friends stumble through the crowd. I suspect she’s the one responsible for this shit-show. Rosie was fine, but she returned after their talk, and minutes later, she lost it. Whatever happened, Marigold knows.
“I don’t know, but she needs a hospital. You’re driving,” I bark at Dane, chest rumbling. The red-hot rush of rage builds behind my eyes, my alpha at the surface and desperate to take control.
Dane knows the look. We’ve been on the field together long enough, and he’s seen me lose my shit plenty. He grabs hold of my shoulder and squeezes.
“Hey. Right here.” I meet his eyes, and he doesn’t hold back, his dominance wrestling with mine. “I’ll go. We’ll get her help. But in order to help her, I need you to be calm. Tell me what you know.”
Marigold pushes between us, panting. “Did she perfume?” she asks with a drunk giggle, jumping to try to get a look at Rosie.
The growl that rips from my throat sends her flailing on a yelp.
Dane gives me another look. “Words, man.”
“What did you give her?” I glare. “She was fine before.”
The omega cowers at my outburst, eyes on the ground.
Dane looks between the two of us. “Marigold?”
Marigold’s friend Lindsey emerges from the crowd and digs a baggie from her purse. “This. It’s herbal. But I swear it shouldn’t hurt her.”
My alpha disagrees loudly. The menacing sound causes Rosie to shift in my arms, her face contorting in pain. I force myself to calm down enough to grit out the words, “Questions later. She needs help now.”
I weave through the cars in the grass, heading toward Dane’s truck parked by the road. Behind me, Dane’s shooting off more questions to the omegas as he takes the baggie from them and inspects it.
“We don’t have time for this shit,” I yell.
“Yeah, all right, man.” He races around me, opening his back door before running to start the truck.
Dane shouts directions for Marigold to have someone sober drive her to the hospital, but I can’t focus on anything but Rosie. Her muscles spasm, and her small body shakes in my arms.
Scared out of my mind, I climb into the back of the cab with Rosie tucked against me. “Now, Dane! Fucking drive.”
* * *
The hospital staff won’t tell us anything, but the cops? They have questions.
“I told you. She was fine. Normal. Then she started freaking out and passed out.” I rub my hand across the back of my neck in agitation.
We’ve been through this. I didn’t drug her. Fuck them for insinuating I did. Maybe the optics aren’t good, but I’ve told them the truth. It’s Marigold they should be questioning. So far, she hasn’t shown up.
Dane’s father, some big-shot lawyer, steps in. “The boys have told you what they know, deputies. They handed over what they believe she was given. They have nothing to hide. I suggest you focus on finding out how those girls got their hands on those drugs. These boys are done talking. See if you can get us an update. They’re worried for their friend.” Mr. Daniels gives a sharp nod, and the deputies eye one another.
“Don’t go far. In case we have more questions,” the less hostile of the two says. They excuse themselves and return to the nurses’ station, where a staff member buzzes them in.
I think about making a run for it, trying to get to Rosie, but Dane stops me with a look. Instead, I pace the waiting room, wishing to redo this night. I barely know this girl, but I feel like shit. She was with me, and I didn’t keep her safe.
Mr. Daniels pulls Dane aside, chewing him out. It’s my fault we’re in this mess. We both have scholarships on the line, and trouble with the cops is an easy way to get dropped. Probably not for Dane, but my ass is already riding the line with my history and GPA. But what the fuck was I supposed to do? Leave her?
A growl rumbles from my chest, and a beta woman glares, pulling her daughter closer.
Mr. Daniels gives me a sharp nod, and I join them. “Yes, sir?”
“Did you call your parents, son? Are they on their way?” he asks.
“I’m eighteen.” I live with my grandpa, but I’m not about to wake him for this.
The sharply dressed alpha narrows his eyes. “Not what I asked.”
“It’s the answer you need. I’m on my own in this,” I explain.
Dane looks at me in surprise, but I’m not sure why. We may have been playing together for years, but he doesn’t know me like that.
“Don’t answer any more questions unless I’m present. You’re heading to LU in the fall, and you don’t need this following you. Understand?” Mr. Daniels looks between the two of us. “I asked Dane, but is there anything else I need to know?”
Dane groans. “Dad, I told you. We brought her here, but we didn’t do this?—”
Mr. Daniels cuts Dane off with a sharp look and turns to me. “Son, I can’t protect you from what I don’t know.”
I shake my head, disgusted by this conversation. “We told you the truth, sir. I dragged Dane into this. He wasn’t around and didn’t see anything. But Rosie’s cousin admitted she gave her whatever was in that bag.”
He nods, his hands sliding to his hips as he surveys the ER. “All right. Wait here. Let me see what I can find out about the girl.”
“Rosie,” I grit out. “Her name is Rosie.”
* * *
Dane taps my shoulder, and I turn to watch as a group rushes through the double doors and to the front desk. Marigold is with them, and I’m on my feet and heading toward them before I’ve thought about it.She pulls off from the group, nervously looking at her feet.
“Do you know anything? They won’t tell us,” I ask.
Marigold shakes her head, her curls bouncing. “I don’t know,” she whispers. She bites her lip, and I can tell she’s been crying.
Tough shit.
“What did you give her?” The alpha bark comes out harsher than I mean. My control is shit right now, and I don’t have the patience to spare this girl’s feelings.
“I bought it from Travis. It’s a perfume enhancer. It was supposed to help her,” she sobs.
“Yeah, tell her that,” I growl.
Motherfucking Travis. I knew he sold pot to the Knotty Pines kids, sometimes fake IDs, but this shit?It looks like I’ll be paying his ass a visit. Too bad for him I’m itching for a fight.
An older omega who looks a lot like Marigold stares at me. The look is so sour I can almost taste it.
An arm wraps around my shoulder, and Dane tugs me. “Not the time.”
I manage to push back the alpha rage by pacing. It takes another hour before Mr. Daniels confirms Rosie is stable and another three before the cops give us the clear to go home.I park my ass in a chair and wait. I’m not leaving until I see for myself that she’s okay.
Dane’s presence hovers over me.
“I’m not going,” I growl, eyeing him warily. His dad has made it clear we should keep our distance and do it now, but I can’t leave her. Not like this. It doesn’t feel right.
“I know. I told my father I would give you a ride home.” He sits beside me and plants his elbows on his knees. “I go when you go.”
“How’d he take that?” I ask on a chin lift, eyeing Mr. Daniels as he barks into his phone.
Dane sighs. “He’ll deal.”