Chapter 10 #2
“You’ll get dragged into it if your guys find out you were helping. I need you to trust me, okay? I’m going to get her out. You have enough going on, and I need you clear-headed when she’s back. Do you need rehab?”
“No. I’m sorry, I really don’t know why I snapped like that,” he said sheepishly, his face heating with embarrassment.
“You know not to apologize for struggling. So, can I get Skeet to come and get you? You’ll sleep better with company,” I promised, making him snort.
“That rule only applies if it’s Rory.”
“Try and rest. As much as she wouldn’t mind, I know you don’t want her seeing you like this.
You good if I go and get Skeet now?” I asked, and he thankfully nodded.
“Good. I’m only a phone call away, alright?
If you can’t be strong for yourself, be strong for Rory. That girl needs you to be okay, D.”
He looked exhausted as he nodded again, and I stood, taking my phone and putting it into my pocket.
“Are there any more drugs in the house?” I asked, and he shook his head.
“No, I only had that because I caved the other week. Told myself it was just there as a security blanket,” he snorted, and I gave his shoulder a pat, my voice soft.
“If you get like that again, tell someone. I know you’re tired, but keep fighting.”
He blew out a breath but nodded, thanking me on my way out, and I checked my tracking app once in the car. Skeeter was at Wet Dreams, which wasn’t exactly ideal, but I’d have to get over it.
I put my phone in the holder and called Marco, putting it on speaker.
“Everything okay? You’ve been gone a while,” he said as a greeting, and I sighed.
“I’m fine. Diesel had a breakdown and tried shoving a needle in his arm, so I’m getting Skeet to pick him up. He can’t be alone for long, and I can’t take him with me. I’ll be back once I’ve handled it.”
“Shit, is D okay?”
“He will be once Skeet realizes how far gone he is and actually starts helping him. You guys all good?” I asked, driving towards Ashburn Valley.
“I’ve been showing Ty some defense moves. I sort of broke his nose though, I think. He’s icing it,” he said with a light chuckle like it was funny.
“Jesus Christ. Don’t break any more of him, I’ll be there soon,” I grumbled, putting my foot down a little and hanging up.
Wet Dreams was pretty quiet since it was early in the evening, so I headed towards the door but was instantly blocked by Myles.
“No way in fucking hell,” Myles scoffed, eyeing me knowingly.
“C’mon, man. I need to talk to Skeet. It’s urgent,” I snapped, only making him grin.
“You guys can argue about that bitch on your own turf.”
“It’s not about Donovan. I’m not going to shoot at him. I might shoot at you though, if you don’t move,” I warned, his grin turning into a scowl.
“Watch yourself, Rivera.”
“Go and fucking get him then if you don’t want us arguing inside the club.
I’ll wait out here,” I shrugged, lighting a cigarette and leaning against the wall to show I was waiting.
He bit out a curse before closing the door to hopefully do as I asked, Skeeter appearing a moment later with a pissed off glare on his face.
“I’m busy and don’t have time for your bullshit, man,” he said sharply, crossing his arms.
“You need to make some time for the people around you. You’ve lost enough already,” I said dryly, finishing my cigarette before flicking it towards the parking lot.
I scruffed the front of his jacket and slammed his back against the wall, lowering my voice.
“You owe me a lot of fucking favors, you know? I have to keep picking up your slack because you’re either too blind or too stupid to realize things are crumbling. ”
“Get the fuck off me,” he demanded and shoved me back.
“Do you actually care about your friends? Did you know Diesel’s been struggling?”
“What are you talking about? Of course, I know things are hard for him right now. Did you see him? I fucking told him to get his ass home and—”
“Which is where I found him trying to shove a goddamn needle full of meth into his arm,” I barked, making him go still.
“I don’t give a fuck if you want to cut Rory off.
Drown in your hatred for her for all I care, but this shit is going to literally kill Diesel.
He’s a mess, and you need to go and get him.
You’re too busy? Me fucking too, but here I am trying to fix things for everyone still.
You know he fell in love with her, so take it easy on him. ”
“What?” he said quietly, his hands dropping to his sides. “D’s using again?”
“No, I stopped him. He’s on the edge. He’s not sleeping, you’re being an asshole, and you know he feels trapped in the crew. You and Rory are his lifeline, and he’s lost both of you.”
“He hasn’t fucking lost me.”
“No? You’re threatening to kill him. He’d rather relapse than talk to you about his problems because he feels like the second he brings up Rory, you’re going to just lose it on him.
Trap him in the crew and take away that one last thing he’s found hope in, and you’re going to find him dead.
If you really don’t want to deal with it, I’ll take him to mine, but I’d rather not do that and cause him more drama.
Not to mention, Mark’s spiraling too, so the last thing they need is to feed off each other’s bullshit. ”
He cursed, scrubbing a hand over his face. He was bruising from fighting with the guys earlier, and part of me was happy about it.
“He let you in his house?” he finally asked, and I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah, so that gives you a good indication on how bad he is right now. I put the drugs down the sink and he claims there’s no more, but I didn’t check. So, are you going to go to him, or do I go back?”
“I’ll go. God fucking dammit,” he snapped, frustration seeping out of him.
“He needs support. He’s hurting, and you’re letting your hurt get in the way of your thought process,” I said calmly. “While you’re lashing out in anger, he’s being torn apart from the inside.”
“You don’t think I am too?” he bit out, giving me another shove.
“You’re using your experience with Marco against Rory. She’s not him. Even now, she’s still sitting in that fucking prison waiting for you to call her so you can talk it over.”
“She’ll be waiting a while.”
“I won’t let her suffer like that. You were worried about me stealing your girl before?
Nothing’s holding me back now that you’ve discarded her like trash.
I’ll fuck you right out of her pretty little head.
You wanted her gone? Your wish is my command.
Since she’s my problem now, you go handle D before he fucking offs himself.
If I have to keep saving him too, that’s going to start looking bad on your part. ”
He snarled before stomping inside, most likely to excuse himself, so I took that as my time to leave. There was a fifty percent chance he’d gone inside to get a gun or something and I really didn’t want to risk it.
The trip to the warehouse was uneventful, and I gave Marco and Tyler a dirty look when I found them at the bar with ice packs on their faces.
“Well, don’t you both look stupid.”
“You should be impressed with the stray elbow the little shit gave me,” Marco grumbled, icing his eye.
“I’d be more impressed if I could leave for a few hours without someone getting in trouble or ending up bleeding,” I deadpanned, motioning for Faris to get me a beer. “So, who won?”
“Me, obviously,” Marco smirked, and I reached out to take the ice pack off Tyler’s face to look at his nose.
He hissed in pain as I gently pinched either side of his nose to feel it.
“I don’t think it’s broken. If it is, it’s not too bad,” I said, handing the ice back. “I fucking told you not to fuck around with him today.”
“It was an accident,” Tyler grumbled, but Marco scoffed.
“Was not. I told you to defend.”