Chapter 7 #2
I felt Rhode slide his arm around my waist. He tucked me to his side. It was a damn shame I was in the middle of an epic drama because I really would’ve liked to savor the feel of his arm around me.
“I’m a grown-ass woman, Brook. I didn’t run away. I took a vacation.”
A vacation?
A fucking vacation?
“Des—”
“Babe,” Rhode interrupted me and gave me a squeeze. He turned his attention back to Kiki. “The right thing to do would be to contact your parents and let them know you’re safe.”
Kiki cut her eyes to Rhode, the look so ugly I didn’t even recognize the girl I’d grown up with.
The girl I’d spent countless hours playing with.
The girl who turned into a snotty teenager though she’d still have moments when the old Kiki would break through.
The teenager who’d grown into a selfish woman, but still every once in a while the sweet Kiki would shine through and I’d get a glimmer of the girl I loved so much.
But right then, I didn’t know who she was. Never in my wildest dreams would I guess she’d pull something so horrendous on her parents and sister.
“I don’t know who you are and I don’t really care,” she said to Rhode, then to me, “I’m here to tell you to tell my parents to call off the search and leave me the fuck alone.”
I was not going to relay that message to Michael and Tally but I didn’t get a chance to deny Kiki’s request.
“Brooklyn’s not your go-between. You wanna cut ties with your family? As you said, you’re a grown woman. So act it and call them yourself.”
That was pretty much what I was going to say so I didn’t add anything. I also didn’t speak because I was at a loss for words. Or I was at a loss for nice words—I could think of a few things to say, all of them mean.
Kiki shrugged. “Whatever. I’m not calling them. Tell them, don’t tell them, I don’t give a shit.”
Every muscle in my body seized.
They locked so tight it hurt.
“How can you be so hateful? What happened to you?”
“You happened, Brook. You. Everything was great. Then the perfect Brook moves in and I lose my sister and mom and dad. Everything’s about your parents dying and helping you.
You and Letty against the world. Best friends.
Mom and Dad shoved so far up your ass they forget they have a real daughter.
Me, not fucking you. Then Remington comes along and Mom and Dad are so happy to be grandparents they don’t even say shit about the colossal slut you are.
Hell, you don’t even know who his father is, but they don’t care.
They act like you’re the Virgin Mary birthing Jesus himself.
What a fucking joke. You have a bastard child and you’re still fucking perfect. ”
I found I was wrong again. So very wrong.
My muscles seized and anger ricocheted through me.
Kiki spitting out my son’s name like a curse sent pain slicing through my body, chased by a furiousness I’d never felt.
I couldn’t care less she called me a slut or her snide comments about me needing compassion after my parents died, and Michael and Tally giving that to me in spades.
Her jealousy meant nothing to me—but calling my son a bastard had me seeing red.
“Get the fuck out of my house before I claw your face off!” I shouted.
“Like you could,” Kiki sneered.
“Get out or I put you out,” Rhode rumbled.
He didn’t wait for her to comply before he unlocked the door, opened it, and used the hand still holding his gun to wave Kiki on.
“What, are you gonna shoot me?”
At that juncture, I figured Kiki was a little bit stupid. The waves of hostility rolling off Rhode couldn’t be missed. He was pissed and not hiding it. She didn’t know who he was and he had a gun practically in her face.
“I’m considering it,” he told her.
Kiki huffed out an obnoxious laugh.
Okay, there was no figuring anything. She wasn’t a little stupid—she was seriously whacked.
“Tell them, Brook,” Kiki said and walked to the door.
She’d barely cleared the threshold when Rhode’s deep, hoarse voice halted her process.
“Just so you know, I’m Remington’s father. I’m not a man you wanna fuck with so in the future, you better think twice about calling Brooklyn a slut. And if you want a future at all, I suggest you never call my son a bastard again.”
Holy shit.
He was sticking up for me.
Me and Remy.
“You threatening me, big guy?”
Totally stupid.
“Yep.”
“You don’t know who I am—”
“I know who you are. You’re a selfish bitch.
Your parents put up their life savings to find you.
They’ve been living in hell for weeks and you don’t give the first fuck.
Your sister’s been living in that hell and so has Brooklyn.
All of them, looking for you. Putting their lives on hold, giving it all to you.
But you don’t give a shit about that. They wasted their emotions on some spoiled brat throwing a temper tantrum, running away from home like a cowardly little girl.
Which you coming here asking Brooklyn to do your dirty work proves it’s true.
And if you think you got the protection of the Horsemen, think again. They don’t throw down for club ass.”
Kiki’s torso swung back and her face twisted into a snarl.
“They do for an old lady. And you just threatened one.”
God, I wanted to vomit.
“Seriously? Old lady? Gross.”
Kiki aimed her dirty look at me, cocked her hip, and placed her hand there.
“Yes, seriously. And Zeus is gonna hear about that, too.”
Zeus? How unoriginal.
“As long as you’re passing along messages, be sure to tell them Brooklyn’s under the protection of Takeback.
They got any questions about what that means, they should ask around.
They still need clarification and I gotta take time out of my day to communicate what that encompasses I’ll be displeased.
Tallulah, Michael, and Letty fall under that umbrella and I think it goes without saying but I’m gonna make myself crystal clear.
Remington is untouchable. Any of those assholes breathe in his direction they’ll be put down.
You get near my son and I’ll put you down. We clear?”
By the time Rhode was done I was breathing heavily. I was panting so fast I was getting light-headed so it was a good thing Kiki was ready to leave.
“Yeah, asshole, we’re clear.”
I watched her stomp away, my heart shattering into a million jagged pieces.