22. Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Freya
L oud hip-hop music surrounds me, blocking out my mother’s words that keep repeating in my mind.
I just want to forget about tonight—to move on, to leave her in the gutter.
She doesn’t deserve to take up space in my head.
Never again.
Kai moves through the crowd and it parts.
He carries a bag of frozen peas and passes them to me before he sits on the couch by my side.
I take them, pressing the cool bag against my cheek.
I didn’t realize I was seriously injured until I saw Kai and he lost his shit.
He was a second away from storming into her trailer and killing her himself.
I told him she wasn’t worth it, that she’s better off alive, living with the consequences of her actions.
Ending it is doing her a favor, and she’s well and truly out of favors.
Zion and Bear sit on the opposite couch.
Bear flicks his lighter on and off, staring blankly at the wall behind me, as if he’s stuck in his own thoughts.
Zion shuffles a deck of cards and deals them out on the table between us.
“You’re staying here tonight,” Kai says, and I sigh, not wanting to argue with him.
I’ll stay with him tonight, but then tomorrow, I need to see the guys.
My phone’s been going off, and it won’t be long before they come looking over the tracks, and with all the shit that’s gone down, that will only spell trouble.
Zion’s phone rings, and he answers, putting it on speaker.
“Kai’s here.”
“We’ve got a contact ready for those guns. I’ll send it over,” the voice on the other line says, and I glance from the phone back to Kai, frowning.
He nods and Zion takes it off speaker, then walks away, talking quietly.
Kai grabs a cigarette from a packet on the table, placing it between his lips.
What the fuck is he playing at?
“I know there’s going to be a war—but really? You’re going to lead it?”
“We are.” Kai shoots a glance at Bear, then Zion, who comes back into the room, carrying a beer.
“And all we’re doing is trying to get a better life for all of us.”
“This is just going to end in more bloodshed, please—”
He cuts me off.
“I’ll give you tonight to rest, but tomorrow you’ve gotta choose whose side you’re on. There’s no more coming and going, Frey. You’re either with us or them. You’re my family, Frey. I care about you, and I want you out of this. Preferably out of Daring altogether,” he says, staring at me, his eyes softening slightly, begging me to choose him.
Even if I go see the guys, it doesn’t mean I’m picking them over Kai.
He’s been in my life since we walked over the tracks with just the clothes on our backs.
I met him at the trailer park; he helped Alec and me settle in, and we’ve been best friends ever since.
He’s like a brother to me, and with Alec now gone, I need him more than ever.
But Hazen, Gage, and Lucas have stolen my heart right out of my chest and claimed it for themselves.
The way I feel when I’m with them, protected and loved—it’s confusing.
They didn’t save me when Dominic forced us out all those years ago.
They broke my heart then, and now they’ve wormed their way back in.
How did they tear down all the barriers I’d put in place?
How did I let that happen?
If you asked me months ago which side I’d choose, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here with Kai, but now everything is different.
I’ve fallen for the enemy, and I can’t switch that off.
I need them and they need me.
“That’s not fair, and you know it,” I huff, and Kai picks up his cards, then hands me mine.
I fall back into the couch, pushing the frozen peas against my eye.
I’m fucked if I do and fucked if I don’t.
Maybe setting up that tent on the tracks isn’t such a bad idea.
That way, I’m not picking anyone.
Create my own little town, Daring-Frey-town.
That’s sounding like the winner in this situation.
I’ll even make a flag and claim my area.
“I can’t protect you if you’re with them.”
“I don’t need to be protected, and I can’t choose.”
Silence follows my statement, and I cling to my cards, letting the frozen peas fall to the ground.
My cheek feels swollen and cool.
Kai passes me a cup filled with box red wine, and I take it from him, swallowing down the burned grapes.
“Let’s get fucked up. That’s tomorrow’s problem,” Kai says, and the corner of my mouth lifts.
Now, that’s the best thing he’s said all night.
Tonight, I’m going to let go and forget about all this shit.
I reach out, landing my hands on the couch, and push myself up.
My legs wobble and my head spins.
The room sways like I’m on a boat and the wine threatens to spill from my lips.
Fuck me dead.
Bear and Zion are talking to each other in low whispers, while Kai is passed out on the couch beside me.
We’ve been playing cards all night, and I’m way too drunk.
My shin smashes against the table between us.
Pain shoots up my leg, and I curse.
Bear snorts.
“There’s a table there, kid. Can’t you see?”
“Fuck off,” I growl, then chuckle under my breath.
I manage to walk around the table and toward the door.
I need some fresh air before I throw up.
Kai’s trailer is in a hell of a mess.
Bottles line every surface, and the smell of smoke tickles my nose.
Fucking gross.
After taking my phone from my leggings, I find a text from the private number.
My stomach drops.
When is my stalker freak going to give up?
Unknown: If you think your boys miss you, you’re dead wrong.
Stay where you belong.
I squeeze my eyes shut and push my phone into my pocket.
Fuck them.
They don’t know shit.
Walking outside, I pull the door closed behind me, and the crisp morning air kisses my swollen cheek.
The sun rises over the horizon, casting the sky in a yellow-and-orange hue.
It’s beautiful.
I stand there for several seconds, or minutes, mesmerized by the sky before I have to pee.
Not wanting to go back inside, I move around the trailer to the back.
There’s a couple of trees back here, and I lean against one, pulling my leggings down.
Once I’m finished, I stand and pull them back over my ass.
A twig snaps, followed by the distinct sound of footsteps, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Fuck, I’m too drunk to deal with anyone.
I peek around the tree, looking for whoever’s here, but I find no one.
The trailer park is quiet, apart from the low birdcalls overhead.
My shoulders relax slightly and then there’s a shift in the air.
I whirl around, but I’m too late.
Hands wrap around my waist and a bag falls over my head.
I scream, but it’s muffled by the bag.
The air around me closes in.
I kick and throw my arms out, hitting someone behind me.
They groan but don’t let go.
The arms around my stomach tighten, and I’m shoved forward.
My legs give out, and I fall face-first to the ground.
I land with a heavy thud and everything disappears.