Chapter 17 Ezra
Chapter Seventeen
EZRA
How many ways are there to kill a person in a bowling alley?
Sure, there’s the classic bashing someone’s head in with a bowling ball, but that’s gotten old and boring. I guess I could see how far someone could be stuffed in the ball return, but even that seems to be lacking originality.
Jade takes my hand, hauling me closer to her as we cross the dark parking lot and head toward the bowling alley. “You look like you’re going to go in there and murder everyone. Maybe if you looked a little more friendly, they’d behave too.”
“You’re not going to put the blame for what happens on me. Your family has been causing problems for years, and you know it as well as I do.”
“It’s not like your family is any better.”
I reach the door first, opening it for her. “There’s going to be a horde of Lyndes in there, and they’re all going to want to kill me.”
“Ellie probably won’t. She’s the softest one, though. Summer, maybe. She’s decently removed from everything most of the time.” Jade steps into the bowling alley.
I follow her, wrinkling my nose at the scent of stale beer, wax, and popcorn.
There are children shrieking at the other end of the alley, and there, off in a dark corner, are the Lyndes.
And none of them look happy to see me.
Zoe’s jaw is clenched tight, and Gia looks like she’s seen a ghost, the color draining from her face. Their husbands are right behind them, looking like a pair of assholes who would love nothing more than to get their hands around my neck.
Or worse.
Probably worse.
Jade hurries across the room, throwing herself into Ellie’s arms.
Ellie grins and whispers something to her, the other siblings flocking around. Hands hover near what I can only assume are concealed weapons.
“All of you are going to be on your best behavior,” Ellie hisses, one arm still wrapped around Jade while she takes her time glaring at the rest of the siblings. “I don’t care what your problems are right now. We’re going to hear this out.”
A fist collides with the side of my face, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
I didn’t think twice about returning the punch, fist shooting out and slamming into Aiden’s face.
He stands there, stunned for a moment before he launches himself at me.
Within seconds, we’re on the ground, fists flying back and forth.
I ram my knee into somebody, but I don’t know who. I think Royce might be involved too, but all I can do is try to stay alive. And maybe get my hands on a bowling ball.
“Enough!” Jade shouts, her voice rising above the pounding music and the throbbing in my head.
Another punch lands against the side of my ribs, forcing the air from my lungs.
I let out a wheezing breath as the bodies on top of me are pulled back by two of the other men.
Joshua eyes me like he doesn’t trust me any more than the others, and he’s probably right for that.
Sean is the only one who seems unphased about everything that’s happening, but it’s likely because he has his own people to fall back on if this shit goes even more sideways than it already has. He might be playing nice with Aiden now, but he doesn’t have to if he doesn’t want to.
Jade rushes in and grabs my arm, hauling me to my feet.
I shake off her arm, wiping blood on the back of my sleeve before looking around at the other people in the bowling alley.
Most of the patrons have left, but the staff seems unbothered, as if the Lyndes regularly start fights there.
“Knew this would be a horrible idea,” I mutter to Jade, looking down at her. “Spend time with your family. I’ll be over there.”
“No.” She grabs my hand and holds it tight before I can get away.
When I try to get my hand free, she holds it tighter, squeezing until my fingers start to ache.
“You don’t get to walk away from this and pretend it isn’t happening. You’re going to grow a pair and put up with them, and they might respect you more for it.”
“Don’t need them to respect me.”
“What about Zoe and Gia? They’re your cousins. Don’t you want them to respect you? Don’t you want them to think you can fit in with us if you want to?”
She turns to look at me with those big eyes, and for the millionth time since I first saw her, I find it impossible to resist her.
“This is a bad idea.” Yet, I follow her, still thinking about pulling out a gun and killing all of them.
It would be easy, and then she’d be mine. I wouldn’t have to share her with her family or give a damn about their opinions. I could go on with my life with her by my side, and she’d be the last person in the world I’d ever betray.
I let out a slow breath as Jade gives me a bright smile. It’s enough to make me walk through fire and straight into the belly of the beast.
Aiden eyes me like he’s still thinking about beating the hell out of me. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
I step to him. “She wants me here. You have a problem with that?”
Zoe sighs, raking her fingers through her hair. “All right, boys, I think we’re done swinging our tiny dicks for now. Why don’t we all put on our bowling shoes and have some fun?”
Royce snorts, his hand on Gia’s back as he tries to nudge her away from me. She bats his hand away and comes over, pulling me into a tight hug.
I stiffen in her embrace before hugging her back. “It’s good to see you. I was worried they were going to kill you.”
Gia laughs and pulls back, shaking her head. “I don’t think you need to worry about that. Royce isn’t going to let that happen, and the others aren’t that bad either. I like them, and I’m sure, in time, you’ll learn to like them too.”
“Don’t know what makes you think I’m going to be spending more time with them. I know what side I’m on in all of this. Even being here is a risk for me.” I glance at Jade as she and her siblings go to get their bowling shoes. “Noah could have me killed for being here.”
Zoe rolls her eyes. “He won’t risk that. You’re too good of a fighter. He can’t afford to get rid of you yet.”
“Tyson is nearly as good.”
“But not quite.” Zoe crosses her arms, a subtle flicker of impatience in her eyes. “Why did you take Jade?”
“Revenge. Their family took you and Gia. Figured I should have something of my own to show for it.”
Gia’s lips purse. “Then what are you doing here right now?”
I tuck my hands in my pockets, looking down at the two of them. “She asked me to be here, so I’m here.”
Gia’s eyes light up. “You love her.”
They can think whatever they want in that regard. If they knew what I think of her, how long I’ve been following her, they would likely try to keep her as far from me as possible.
Zoe clears her throat as the others come back. She goes with Aiden without another word, off to put on her shoes and input their names into the screen. The other siblings dissipate as well while Jade stops beside me, handing over a pair of shoes.
“You look like you’re seconds away from losing your mind.” Jade sits down and puts on her shoes. “I know they’re a lot and to be honest, I’m having second thoughts about being here too, so if you want to go, we could go.”
I want to leave. I really do.
But I also want her to stop being so scared of her family and what they think about her. I want her to live up to who she wants to be, and if that means forcing myself to get through the next several hours of hell and risk what comes with Noah, then so be it.
Zoe is right, Noah won’t put a hand on me while I’m still winning fights for him.
It’s what comes after the fighting is done I have to worry about.
I force a small smile. “No, we should stay. Have you told them about going to culinary school yet?”
I say it loud enough so her siblings can hear, knowing she’ll back out if I don’t.
She shoots me a small glare as her siblings turn to her, curiosity in their eyes.
Her lips press into a thin line.
Aiden’s the first one to speak. “What about business school?”
“I’ve never wanted to run the businesses,” Jade says with a small voice, getting up and grabbing a bowling ball. “I just told you I would because I thought it would be easier.”
Aiden’s mouth starts to open, his eyebrows pulling together, but in an instant, Zoe is there, putting her hand on his shoulder and saying something under her breath I don’t catch.
He backs down and turns around while Skyla pulls Jade into a hug.
Skyla steps back to look at her. “I was wondering when you were going to stop trying to take over my jobs.”
“You want to spend time in Vermont.” Jade’s tongue darts out to lick her bottom lip before she turns and takes a couple of steps toward the lane, throwing the ball down.
Seven pins fall.
Skyla scoffs. “I don’t care where I live. I can do what I need to do and still help with the family things. You should be happy.”
Jade pauses, her head tilting to the side just a little, like she hadn’t considered what that would look like. “I thought you wanted to step back.”
Skyla shrugs. “Yeah. But there are other ways to step back. I don’t need you coming in and taking over everything just because you think it’s the right thing to do. Joshua is helping more with the businesses.”
“Well…” Jade pauses, grabbing another ball and knocking down two of the last three pins. “I think I want to open my own restaurant. One day. I think it could be good for the family business too. It’d be good to run money through to clean.”
Ellie gets up, grabbing a ball of her own as the pins reset. “You know, you don’t have to do everything with the family in mind. You can live for yourself, and that’s perfectly fine.”
Jade sits down beside me, her foot brushing against my calf as she crosses one leg over the other. “I know I could. But culinary school is what I want to do, and it seems like a good idea to attach another restaurant to the business.”
Aiden scoffs and shakes his head.
Zoe digs an elbow into his side, not saying anything.
He grunts, his attention still on Jade. “Are you really sure this is a good idea? You were almost done with school, and now you’re back to starting over. Not to mention how hard it is to make it in the restaurant industry.”
“She’s really good. She’s talented, and she’s determined.” I fix him with a look, tension crackling through the air between us.
A muscle ticks in Aiden’s jaw. “Coming from the man who kidnapped her and kept her away from her family. You’re going to have to forgive me if I don’t believe every word that comes out of your mouth.”
“Sure, think I’m a liar, but are you really willing to do that at the cost of doubting your sister?” I sling one arm over the back of Jade’s seat.
My fingers brush against her shoulder, and she leans into my touch just a little.
Aiden’s gaze darts to my hand. “I would think you don’t know the first thing about her, and one day she’s going to wake up and realize that being with you is only asking for trouble.
And when that day comes, she’s going to come home and finally see sense.
She’s going to see that you’re nothing but another asshole, and she’s going to cut you loose. ”
Jade scowls, her icy glare turning on her brother. “I’m sitting right here, you know that, right? You can’t just talk about me like I’m not here.”
“Stay out of this.” He doesn’t spare her a glance.
I stiffen. “You’re not going to speak to her like that.”
Zoe sighs and rolls her eyes. “Both of you need to calm down and learn to live with each other. And stop speaking about Jade like she’s not there. She’s perfectly capable of speaking for herself.”
“Thank you.” Jade shoots to her feet as Ellie gets a strike, clapping and cheering.
I get up for my turn, and as I grab the ball, I only consider spinning round and smashing it on Aiden’s head.
It’s a fun thought, one that eases a little more of the tension that’s got my shoulders up near my ears.
I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to last around her family, but if I can make it to the end of the night, then everything might be fine.
Jade gives me a happy smile as she passes her bowling shoes over the counter, exchanging them for her other ones. “Thank you for coming tonight. And for letting me see them. I know this is not what you wanted to be doing with your time, but it meant a lot to me.”
My fingers brush against the small of her back as she wobbles while trying to put on her shoes. “They’re not as bad as they seem at first.”
“Well, you might still change your mind about that. They can be a handful, but at the end of the day, they really do care. I think the problem is that they just care a little too much, and since Aiden and Skyla basically raised us, we’re all a little…
complicated…in the emotion department.” She puts on both shoes before heading for the door.
“Well, I’m not surprised about that, at all. I do have to admit I’m surprised to still be alive, though. Aiden looks like he wants to kill me.” I walk with her out of the alley and into the parking lot.
She turns and puts her hands on my chest, staring up at me.
“Can you blame him? You did take me away from them, and none of them is going to take too kindly to that, at all. But in time, they’re going to get over it.
” She shrugs. “All of them have done things they aren’t proud of, and you know as well as I do that they’ve all got their fingers in something illegal in one way or another, so kidnapping isn’t as black and white as they’d like to make it seem. ”
“And how would you like to make it seem?” My hands fall to her hips as I stare at her, trying to decipher everything going on in that head of hers right now.
I know nothing is as it seems with either of us, but there’s something going on with her. Something is shifting between us.
That something is only going to cause more problems down the road, but I’m not sure I care if I get to keep her.
Jade’s tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip. “You’re not who I thought you were.”
“And what does that mean?”
“Take me home.”
“Gladly.”
I take her by the hand, pulling her back to the car, but a thousand different thoughts are circling through my mind.
Do we really have a home, or is she just staying with me because I took her in the first place?
Is she only getting closer to me so her family can get revenge?
As I hold the car door open for her, I can’t decide if I’m the person she wants, or the person she’s holding onto until her family decides to kill me.