25. Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Four
Reeve
Stepping out of the shower, I grab the towel from the hook on the back of the door. Rubbing it over my dripping body, I tie it around my waist, then reach for another one to dry my hair.
As I'm swiping the cotton over my head, the music from my phone cuts out, and the sound of the device vibrating against the wood of my chest of drawers flows through from the bedroom.
Making my way out of the bathroom, I glance down at the screen, frowning as Milo's name and face stare at me.
Flicking my finger across the screen, I put the call on loudspeaker, then continue drying myself.
"Why the fuck are you calling me at this time?" I grumble, pulling the damp towel away from my hair, then tossing it into the hamper.
"You may want to come downstairs," he says loudly, voice battling against the wind.
Looking down at my naked body, I scoff.
"It's almost two o'clock in the morning, and I just got out of the shower. I'm not coming outside."
He huffs, and I can picture him shaking his head, which makes me roll my eyes.
Opening the top drawer of my unit, I pull out a pair of boxers. Unwrapping my towel, I let it fall to the carpeted floor.
"Okay, suit yourself. I guess I'll just continue to watch her walk toward me and ask why she's here myself."
His words stop me in my tracks, my brows furrowing deeper.
"Who?"
I'm already stretching out the band of my boxers and hurriedly stuffing my feet into each hole. My stomach twists with the conclusion I've already come to.
"Who do you think?"
Pulling open a second drawer, I grab a pair of gray sweats, shake them out, then step into them before whipping a top out.
"Stop fucking about with me, Milo," I grumble as I shove the top over my head. "Is Trix outside?"
He chuckles. "Yeah, she's currently walking down the road. Hard to see her, in all honesty. I had to check the cameras to see who it was when I saw a shadowy figure moving between the trees."
Sliding my arms into the top, I pick my phone up and immediately swipe to the surveillance app Ghost set up for us.
Zooming in on the small, grainy image I find Trix slowly walking down the road, arms wrapped around herself, and her head swiveling around, taking in her surroundings.
What the fuck is she doing walking back here?
"Be down in a minute," I say as I hang up and chuck my phone onto my bed.
Grabbing a pair of socks, I slip them on, then pick up a pair of shoes, sliding them on.
Striding out of my room, I rush down the stairs, almost jogging down the hallway until I'm pushing through the door and out to the porch beside Milo, who's leaning against the wooden post with a lit cigarette in his mouth.
We both stare ahead, past the graveled area lit up by the lights in the house, and down the darkened road.
It's hard to make out where she is at first, but once my eyes adjust, I can see her gradually getting closer.
Stepping down from the porch, I stuff my hands into my pockets, squinting as I focus on her shadowed figure.
Her head is bowed, eyes focused on the ground, and shoulders curled inwards.
"What are you doing back here?" I shout, hoping she can hear me now that she's closed most of the distance between us.
She falters, her head snapping up in my direction. Her hair and the night sky obscure most of her face from my view.
Turning, she looks over her shoulder again, before glancing back toward me, then finally moving forward.
I take another step, lips pressed into a thin line and shoulders tense as she grows closer.
When she reaches the large, circular patch of gravel that's mostly taken up by everyone's bikes, her feet scuffing against the floor, wind billowing through her red waves, she drops her gaze back to the floor before she steps into the light.
My heart drops at the sight of her. The knot in my stomach tightens as my muscles turn rigid.
"Red." My voice comes out quiet and strangled as I storm toward her, not stopping until we're face to face.
I gently cradle her jaw in my hands, and my eyes widen when I see the swollen, bruised skin across the right side of her face.
Softly, I swipe my thumb over her cheek, instantly pulling away from her when she hisses in pain.
My eyes move to meet hers.
Unshed tears add a shine to her unusually dull green orbs.
"What happened?"
Her nose crinkles, and she shrugs.
"It's nothing," she mumbles, voice raw.
I shake my head, my hands dropping to her arms, which she still has wrapped around herself.
"This isn't nothing, Trix! You're hurt," I bite out, eyes flicking back to the red and purple mottled skin. "What happened?"
Her eyes fall away from mine, and she shrugs again.
"It was an accident, that's all. Honestly, it was just a mistake."
My eyes narrow, jaw tightening.
Sweeping her hair away from her face, I tilt her chin back up, waiting for her eyes to find mine.
"Did someone do this to you?"
Her eyes dart off to the side, and I tighten my grip on her chin, stepping even closer.
"Look at me, Red."
Squeezing her eyes closed, a tear trickles down her cheek. She sighs before her lashes flutter, and then her eyes connect with mine once again.
"Who did this to you?" I ask calmly, even though my body is wound tight, and my other hand is now clenched into a fist at my side.
She pulls her bottom lip into her mouth, then shakes her head.
"It doesn't matter, it was—"
"Who. Hurt. You?"
She gulps, her fear-filled eyes darting back and forth between mine.
"My dad." She finally unwraps her arms from around her body, and her hand shoots out to reach mine, soft fingers running over the grooves of my knuckles. "I'm fine, though, Reeve."
My body's burning, vision blurring as I continue watching her, unsure of what she's currently saying. I can't hear her voice over the ringing in my ears.
Dragging my eyes over her bruised skin once more, I look at where everyone's bikes are parked before looking back at her.
"Where is he?"
Her eyes go wide, and she shakes her head.
"Reeve, just leave it."
Twisting on my foot, I turn back to the clubhouse, ignoring Milo, who's still standing at the steps. I storm past him and throw open the double doors as I charge inside.
Fists clenched at my sides, nostrils flared, and chest rising rapidly, I scan the room, the corners of my vision darkening.
"I need someone's bike."
Everyone stares at me, some of them confused, others intrigued, but no one moves or says anything.
"Now!" I snap, voice cutting through the silence.
Movement from the stairs catches my attention, and I watch as Mouse hovers on the bottom step, eyes curiously glancing around the room.
The doors behind me open, and the sound of footsteps moves toward me.
My attention stays on Mouse, as his eyes fall away from me, dropping to the woman at my side. I watch as his jaw goes slack, his eyes shooting back up to mine.
"Reeve, please," Trix whispers, coming to stand in front of me, her back to the rest of the room. "Just let it go."
Raising a brow at the man I'm staring at, my lips twitch when he digs a hand into his pocket, pulls his keys out, then throws them through the air toward me.
I finally allow my gaze to fall down to the woman before me.
"No one lays their hands on you and gets away with it," I tell her, stroking my thumb across the cheek that isn't bruised. "I'll be back soon."
Spinning on my heel, I push past Milo and stride outside, ignoring Trix's protests as she follows after me.
Finding Mouse's bike, I swing my leg over it, put the key in the ignition, then fire it up.
I think it's only right that Trix's dad gets a taste of his own medicine, and I'll gladly be the one to give it to him.