35. Chapter 35
Chapter thirty-five
Parker
“Parker…” Laiken whispers.
“I need a minute,” I rasp before barging out the screen door.
My boots hit the dirt, my neck hot as I head straight for the loft. I need a second to rage. To process the words that just fell from her mouth.
The conversation that played out in front of me nearly brought me to my knees. She didn’t choose to leave with him. He forced her. That bastard stole a piece of her and played her like she was the problem.
I hit the stairs, taking them two at a time before I bust through the door.
Fire lights up my skin, the need to get my hands on something like a carnal rush. He did this because of me. Hurt her to get at me. And now he’s coming after Trace, with Jet’s help, because of me.
The first thing I flip is the couch. Then I pick up a half-full soda can and hurl it across the kitchen.
It crashes against the fridge, spewing brown liquid all over the floor.
My hands grip at my hair. That unavoidable instinct to track him down and give him another beating is so potent I can taste it.
“Park.”
I spin to see Cooper and Ryder, both wide-eyed, standing in the open doorway.
“Calm down, man.” Cooper holds up a hand.
“Calm down?” I roar. “He…” I can barely say the words. “He fucking drugged her.” I whirl around, planting my fist in the sheetrock closest to me.
“Because of me!” I pound a fist against my chest. “Because I made one wrong choice. One wrong move and look what it cost her!”
I’m about to throw another fist when arms loop over my shoulders.
“You gotta settle.” Ryder’s voice is calm but firm.
He’s strong and has about three inches on me.
“Let me go,” I growl.
“Not till you calm the fuck down and stop destroying everything,” he bites out.
“I should have been there,” I rasp out. “I should have been here with her. I should have protected her.”
My body sags, the weight of the truth slamming into me so hard Ryder falls backward, landing us both on our asses.
I drop to my back, staring up at the ceiling as Ryder mutters curses next to me.
Cooper’s face enters my line of sight. “It’s fucked, Parker. I know. But she needs you right now. She needs you not to lose it because when the reality of it hits her, it’s you she’ll run to.”
I swallow hard, then meet his eyes. “I need to tell you what happened.” I glance over at Ryder. “Call Maddox. He needs to hear this too.”
We’re all four sitting on the floor of the loft.
“Fuck,” Cooper mutters.
“Yeah.” I sniff, swiping a hand over my scruff. “Now you understand the level of loathing I have for that son of a bitch,” I grit out.
“Why does he have a hard-on for you?”
Cooper asks. “Because you stole his girl?”
“Fuck if I know.” I shrug.
“How are we going to handle this?” Maddox asks, his eyes a level of serious that even has me hesitant.
“However she wants to.” I reach for the beer that sits next to me. “This is her call. I’ll do whatever she wants.”
“I can make a visit,” Ryder offers. “I’m pretty good with discretion.”
“No shit. We barely see your ass,” Cooper says before he tosses a bottle top at him.
“She said he’s in King Valley?” Ryder asks.
“Yeah. Allegedly. You know you can’t trust anything he says,” I scoff.
Ryder dips his chin. “I’ll call Memphis. At least get his address and anything he’s been charged with in the last five years. We all know that fucker can’t stay out of jail.”
“Thanks, man.” I sigh. “How is Memphis, by the way?”
Ryder shrugs. “We’re not teenage girls. We talk when we need to.”
“And how long has that been?” Cooper probes.
“I don’t know. Six months.” Ryder slides his hat back on. “But he’ll do whatever I ask.”
Memphis Cameron is good people. He grew up with Ryder before his prick of a father moved them to King Valley. I would say besides us, he’s the only friend Ryder tolerates. That and he’s the sheriff over there now, so I’m sure that comes in handy.
“I appreciate it.” I push to my feet.
“You ready to tear more shit up?” Cooper asks.
“Nah.” I shake my head. “I need to take care of my girl.”
“Is that what she is now? Officially your girl?” Maddox lifts a brow.
I level him with a look. “She’s always been my girl.”