42. Chapter 42
Chapter forty-two
Parker
“I’m done.” I toss my cards down. “You got my money.”
Maddox snickers, his hands dropping to the middle of the table to collect his earnings. “It was a pleasure kicking your ass.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I push to my feet. “I’m headed out.”
“Already? It’s not even dark,” Cooper scoffs.
He’s right. It’s early. But I miss my girl. And Trace.
“Sorry, Coop. Looks like they’ll be taking your money now.”
After I say my goodbyes, I jog down to my truck, then hit the road.
I know Laiken and Trace are cleaning Millie’s house, so I thought I could at least drop by with some ice cream.
I won’t fully crash their prep party. Just get my fix, then leave them to their night.
Even though it physically pains me to be away from her.
I take a brief detour to stop for Laiken’s favorite Cookie Two-Step, then proceed to the house that’s currently holding my entire world. I’m only a couple of minutes out when my phone rings. Laiken’s name flashes, so I swipe the screen.
“Miss me already?”
“Parker?”
The fear in Trace’s voice has my back stiffening.
“Trace? Everything okay?”
“I don’t know. He’s here again. I don’t like when he yells at Mama.”
Rhodes. That piece of shit.
“Where are you, buddy?”
“I’m inside Nana’s room. She told me to stay inside.”
“Okay, good. You stay there. I’m on my way. I’ll be there in two minutes.” I press the gas, flooring it past a Ford hauling a cattle trailer.
“Okay. Can you drive fast? I don’t want him to come inside.”
“I’m hurrying. I promise.”
As soon as I hang up, I see the street sign.
Skidding around the turn, I fly up the road, barely making the driveway.
My eyes scan the yard and when they land on Laiken, I curse.
I slide to a stop, tossing open my door without even killing the ignition.
A scream pierces the air, and when I see Rhodes yank her by the hair, everything in me goes black.
I’m right back at that rodeo again. But this time, he’s not getting away so easily.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
Jefferson, an officer that Laiken went to school with, asks as he crouches next to me.
I can barely move. My knuckles are bruised and busted, my shirt torn at the collar.
“He was attacking her.” I swipe blood from my lip.
He caught me just once. The rest of the time, Rhodes didn’t get in a punch.
I hit him six times before Laiken’s voice stopped me.
But what really hit me like a ton of bricks was Trace.
His big red-rimmed eyes as Laiken clutched him to her chest. I didn’t want him to see me this way. To see me violent.
“This isn’t the first time. I’m glad you were here.” He shoves up to his full height. “He’s going in tonight. We’ll book him.”
“And me?” I ask.
“Way I see it, you were protecting your family.”
He slaps me on the shoulder when another officer calls his name. Laiken managed to call the police during the scuffle and they got here before I did something I couldn’t take back.
A set of headlights illuminates the yard as Maddox speeds into the driveway. His door flies open, then the passenger door does the same. Ivy jumps out, her face marred with tears as they race to the porch.
“What happened?” Maddox barks.
“Where’s Trace?” Ivy touches my arm.
“Inside. Living room, watching TV with Laiken.”
Ivy brushes past me as another truck pulls into the drive. Cooper.
I face Maddox. “Trace called me.” I grit my teeth. “He sounded terrified. Said Rhodes was here and he was yelling at Laiken.”
“Fuck,” Maddox breathes out just as Cooper and Ryder cross the yard.
“You look awful.” Cooper grips me in a hug before he pulls back to study me.
“You should see the other guy.” I meet his eyes. “I almost killed him, Coop. If it weren’t for her.” My voice catches. “Trace being here. I would have.”
“You did your job, man. You protected them.” Cooper squeezes my shoulder.
“What did he want?” Ryder asks, his brows furrowed with concern.
“I haven’t gotten to talk to her. Police pulled up during the commotion. I look”—I glance down at my bloody hands and shirt—“like this. Didn’t want to scare Trace. And he needed her.”
Maddox shocks me by pulling me in for a hug. “Thanks, brother.”
I swallow down the thickness in my throat. “I’ll always protect them. No matter the cost.”
“I know.” He releases me. “I’m going to go check on them. Finish up out here and get cleaned up.”
I nod, clearing my throat as Jefferson approaches. “I already got Laiken’s statement. Rhodes will be taken in tonight. Just so you know, he’s already requested his lawyer.”
Of course he has.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
When he leaves, I face Cooper and Ryder.
Ryder meets my eyes. “He won’t stop till he’s dead.”
It’s not a question, but a statement. One we all know is true.