27. Chapter 27
Chapter twenty-seven
Laiken
It’s been a long day. Parker’s session went surprisingly smooth this morning.
There was a different vibe today. Quiet yet charged.
Comfortable, but buzzing. I hustled back for a packed afternoon since Matthew was out sick.
Dr. Whitaker had a family function this evening, so that left me to close up the office alone.
Which is fine. I’ve done it a hundred times.
Locking the back door, I double-check the deadbolt before I head to my SUV.
The sun isn’t quite gone yet, but it casts beautiful orange and magenta hues over the ridges that border Mayson Ridge.
A small smile hits my lips at the sight, but it quickly slips at the sight of a figure propped up against the hood of my car.
Panic wraps around my throat, but I don’t let it swallow me.
After everything Parker confessed to me, it only solidified what I already knew about the man before me. He has evil inside of him.
Steeling my spine, I keep my steps firm, marching to the man who’s continuously made my life a living nightmare.
“Rhodes,” I say his name with a tone that is neither welcoming nor enthusiastic.
“Laiken.” His eyes cast down my body with approval. “You look good in a pair of scrubs.”
“And you are unwelcome.” I shift my purse on my shoulder. “Why are you here?”
“I called today.” He’s still leaning back, his elbows resting on my car like he has a right.
“And I was working,” I point out.
“We need to talk.”
I study his face. Rhodes is by no means ugly, but he’s not what I would consider traditionally handsome. He’s got a sharp jaw, and he’s built well. But it’s his eyes that turn your stomach. His attitude that expels danger. The kind that knows no bounds. The kind you want to avoid.
And today, those eyes are slightly off. He’s on something.
“I’m not sure what it is you want.” I try to step to my door, but he slithers to the left, blocking my way.
“I want to be a part of Trace’s life. Get him on the weekends or whatever.”
“Get him on the weekends or whatever?” I hiss. “He doesn’t even know you, Rhodes. You don’t just show up and demand to see him every other weekend like you’re an involved parent. You don’t even live here. Aren’t you traveling on the circuit?”
He clenches his jaw. “I’ve got a place in King Valley.”
That’s news to me. It’s only a town over, but still, too close for comfort. He was the one who slept on a different couch every week. Steady rent was unheard of for him.
“Okay. That doesn’t mean you get to show up like this.” I wave a hand. “Can you please move?”
“Fine. You don’t want him with me on the weekends, let’s make it simple. You both come with me.”
I blink. “I’m sorry. Are you insinuating you want us to what? Be together?”
“You didn’t seem to mind it that night at the Mayson Jar.” He scans my body again and I instantly feel like I need to scrub my skin. “In fact, you were all too happy to climb into my bed.”
“It’s not going to happen. Ever. We will never be together in that way, Rhodes.”
“Look, bitch.” His voice changes, that familiar fear skating along the skin of my neck at his sudden shift.
“I got things going for me now. A lot of money on the line and being a family man is what is going to sell sponsorships. Get my fans to see I’m just a cowboy wanting his son to follow in his footsteps. ”
A scoff rolls off my tongue. “So you want to use my son to build up your career?” I shake my head. “What happens when your beloved fans find out you told me to ‘get rid of it’ when I told you we would just be co-parents?”
His hand snatches my forearm so fast I don’t have time to react. “Shut your fucking mouth. Maybe if you weren’t such a whore, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he sneers.
I attempt to slip out of his hold. “Let go!” I tug again. “You’re hurting me.”
He squeezes tighter, digging his dirty fingertips into my skin. “I came to warn you. I’m in the big leagues now and I’ve got someone to pull the strings to get me where I need to be. Starting with showing the world I’m not some deadbeat dad. I have a family to show off.”
He finally lets go, and I stumble back, gripping my burning skin. “You’re delusional. I will be contacting an attorney.”
He grins, manic and chilling. “You do that, Laiken. But I’ve got one on standby now and a team willing to play dirty. So we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“What are you talking about?” I frown.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cigarette. “I signed with a new agent. You probably know of him.” He lights the end, puffing out a cloud of smoke. “He’s not afraid to do what needs to be done to get my name in the spotlight.”
“And who is this new agent?”
“Jet Jackson.”
My stomach drops.