25. Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Ryan
T his can't just be a coincidence. It has to be fate. It's too perfectly twisted to be anything else. I didn't plan on finding Derek's truck cruising around town when I stepped out of the house this morning. I sure as hell wasn't planning on driving past his house to check if Faith's car was still there, parked like she belonged there. What was supposed to be a simple coffee run turned into something far more satisfying—the universe aligning just for me, just for this.
The moment I spot his truck, my pulse spikes, and I yank the wheel hard, careening out of the drive-thru, leaving my coffee order and a line of clueless drivers behind. My only focus is on Derek's truck as it merges onto the freeway. Every bit of self-control I have is hanging by a thread as I trail him, keeping a few cars between us, just enough to stay hidden.
As I sit, trembling, yelling out obscenities to myself, my anger growing, at a red light outside the café, my eyes are drawn to the couples inside, laughing and chatting over their morning coffee. The women smile at their men, who look back at them with such adoration, and it cuts me deep. That could've been us, Faith, you fucking bitch. It should have been us. Instead, you recoil whenever you see me, like I'm the enemy. You should be running into my arms, not away from me, damn it. I should be the one keeping you safe from all the bullshit out there, not Derek. He's the problem.
My mind tortures me with what-ifs and could-have-been. I'm stuck replaying memories and imagining the way things should have been. The way she should still be in my bed, bracing her arms above her head, listening to her yell out as I stuffed my dick inside of her, she always acted like she didn't want it. I knew better; I knew she wanted it. I can still imagine the smell of her scent that would linger on my sheets for days. God, I'd give anything to have her back—to feel her, to hold her, to taste her. But no, she has to be so damn stubborn, convincing herself she doesn't need me.
The light turns green, snapping me back to reality with a blaring horn from behind. I slam on the gas, heart pounding, as I keep Derek's truck in sight. My mind races, trying to devise a plan, any plan, as I follow them through the city, turn after turn. I have to keep reminding myself to stay calm and not lose control. I can see the punches and blood splatter in my head; I want to take him down and make him understand she's mine. Unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders, and ease up on the death grip you've got on the wheel. But damn it, it's hard when I know I'm this close, this close to getting her back.
Losing control would be a disaster, another slip I can't afford. Not with Derek poisoning her against me. That bastard doesn't know her like I do. He's filling her head with lies, making her think she doesn't need me when I'm the only one who truly knows what she needs. She needs my dick in her mouth, gasping for air for this shit she's putting me through. She's too naive to see how easily she's manipulated by someone like him, who's only interested in keeping us apart. But she'll see and feel it soon enough. She'll understand that I'm the one who really knows what's best for her. I always have been the one.
Then it hits me—I know where they're headed. And I can't let them get there. Another trip to the police would only mean more trouble, and I'll be damned if I let that happen. If Faith doesn't come back to me on her own, I'll just have to make sure she has no choice. She won't understand at first, but eventually, she'll see it's for the best. She has to accept it.
I weave through traffic, adrenaline surging as I get closer until I'm right behind them. My heart is beating like a war drum in my chest as I pull up beside Derek's truck, my car hidden in his blind spot. And then, with a cold, calculated move, I yank the wheel and slam into his back tire. The truck careens wildly, Derek's panic-stricken overcorrection a testament to his incompetence before it flips and crashes into a pole with a bone-jarring thud. The sight of his twisted wreck is a bitter victory, a fitting punishment for the idiot who couldn't handle the wheel.. He deserved everything bit of pain that came with that; damn asshole can't drive.
Finally, I have Faith right where I want her.