by Tate James
The message was short, just saying that he couldn't fly in the storm and to steer clear of Red if Zed valued his skin.
I snatched the phone from his hand, careful not to touch his fingers, and hit the call button. It rang only twice before Cass answered.
"What?" he barked.
"Thank fuck, you're okay," I exclaimed. "Fucking hell, Saint. I just saw something on the news about a crash and thought..."
"I'm fine, Angel," he replied, his voice drastically different from the one he'd answered the call with. The hard, fuck you tone was gone, replaced with concern. "Is everything okay there? Zed still breathing?"
I huffed a short laugh. "For now. No guarantees he'll stay that way." My eyes shifted to Zed, who was listening intently. Nosy prick never did understand boundaries.
Cass gave a low rumble like he was perfectly fine with whatever I wanted to do. "I've been checking the weather reports, and this storm doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon. I'd hoped to get back before it hit." He sounded irritated as hell, but there wasn't much to be done about it.
"How long are we talking?" I asked quietly, hating how needy I felt.
He gusted a sigh. "Days. I'm going to leave the chopper here and drive back. It'll still get me there quicker than if I wait for the rain to stop."
I swallowed hard, but relief had eased some of the tension in my bones already. "Okay, yeah, good plan. Just drive safely."
Cass gave a husky laugh. "To get to you? Always. I'll see you in twelve hours, Angel."
He ended the call, and I reluctantly handed Zed his phone back. He arched a brow at me in question, and I rubbed at my tired eyes.
"He's driving back," I told him.
Zed nodded. "So... do you want to talk now?"
I snorted. "Not fucking likely. Get out of my room. I'm nowhere near ready to deal with your betrayal, Zed." Against my own will, my voice cracked over that statement and my eyes heated with unshed tears. "Seriously. Get out."
He needed to leave me alone before I broke down and started crying. He didn't fucking deserve to see my pain. He didn't deserve anything but my anger and an ice-cold shoulder. I should shoot him and get it over with. Yet... I hadn't. Deep down, I knew I could if that was what I really wanted. Zed would have handed me the gun himself if I'd really wanted to kill him.
But I didn't. Because goddamn it, I still loved him. And that just made it all a thousand times worse.
"Get out," I whispered again, and this time he listened.
Tears started rolling silently down my cheeks before the door even clicked shut, and I could do nothing to stop them. Zed had hurt me worse than I'd ever known was possible. Worse than all of Chase's physical abuse. I'd let him into my heart; I'd fallen in love. Stupid, foolish me.
I should have known better. Part of me wanted to spit and hiss, raging about how no one could be trusted any more. That love brought nothing but pain.
But the other part of me just sat there and pointed to Cass and Lucas, the physical contradictions to all my negative thoughts. The living proof that just because Zed had betrayed me, not all love brought pain. Sometimes it made us stronger and better humans.
Brushing the wetness from my cheeks, I made myself a mental promise not to shed any more tears over Zayden De Rosa. Enough was enough, and I needed to take control again. I needed to stop giving other people so much power over me.
It was a promise I already knew I couldn't keep. But the intention alone gave me strength.
Cass would be back in just twelve hours. I could avoid Zed for that time and simply work on me. On healing. That was what mattered most.
Just twelve hours. Easy. Right?
12
"Bad news, Red," Cass looked grim on the video call from inside his car. His eyes were bloodshot and tired, and I knew he'd been driving nonstop since ending his call to me eleven hours earlier.
I groaned. "Don't say that. You're almost back."
"Yeah, unfortunately, almost is as good as it gets." His picture went blurry as he popped his car door open and stepped out into the pouring rain. "I got as far as the creek at the base of the mountain, but... look." He flipped the camera direction to show me, and I deflated.
"Where's the bridge?" I asked in a small, hopeful voice. Maybe I was looking at the wrong thing. Maybe he took a wrong turn somewhere.
Cass flipped the camera back to himself. "Good question. Looks like it's been washed out." He swiped a hand over his wet mohawk, sending water droplets flying. "I dunno how else to get to you. This is the only road up to Foxglove, and the water is way too deep to drive across."
"Fuck," I muttered. There was no way he could even charter a helicopter in this weather. The wind was too strong and the clouds were thick.
"I'm sorry, Red," he said again, getting back into his car and out of the rain. "I'm going to head back to the nearest town and try to come up with another plan."
I gave a long exhale, running my fingers through my tangle-free hair. Lucas had saved my ass by combing all that conditioner through it a couple of days ago. I'd have probably just lost my shit and cut it all off.
"No, it's pointless," I replied, trying not to look as devastated as I felt. "You're not going to rebuild a bridge any faster than it takes the rain to subside."
Cass grimaced, but I knew he agreed. "So, what now?"
I chewed the edge of my lip, thinking. It was silly to have him just sitting there in town and waiting for the weather to clear. We'd already checked the meteorology maps, and it was likely to be another three to four days of heavy rain.
"Where were you at on your secret mission?" I asked reluctantly. "When you found me, I mean."
Cass quirked a brow. "Uh... I hadn't done a lot more. After Lucas called me, I dropped most of it to help him search for you."
I nodded because it was what I'd thought he would say. "So, get back onto that. Now, more than ever, I want all those pieces to fall together. But I think our timeline needs to move up, and..." I gave a long exhale "I don't know how much of the plan Zed has spilled. It might all be for nothing."
Cass scowled. "It better fucking not be."
Maybe I did need to talk to Zed after all, even if it was just to get an idea of how badly he'd sold me out. If Chase already knew what I'd had Cass doing... if Chase knew Cass was still alive... we could be screwed no matter what.
"Head back to Seattle," I told him reluctantly. "Finish your task as quickly as possible, then come back to me."
"You're the boss," he murmured back, his eyes troubled on the video screen. "Are you going to be okay there?"
I gave a short, forced laugh. "I have to be, given we're trapped for the foreseeable future." My eyes flicked to the door, where Zed was likely to be lurking and listening. Or maybe not. Maybe I was being self-important thinking he had nothing better to do than stare at my closed door. "I'll survive, Cass. I always do."
His mouth tightened, and his brow dipped low. "I'll be back the second the weather clears. I love you, Angel."
Ah fuck, he had to go hitting me right in the feels while I was already fragile. "I love you too, Saint," I whispered back, then ended the call before I could fall to pieces. Goddamn, I needed to get a grip.
I knew just the way to do it, too.
Climbing out of bed, I tied my sweatpants so they weren't falling off my ass. Then I left the room for the first time since I'd arrived four days ago.
I’d barely made it two steps into the hall before tripping over Zed. Literally. He was sitting slumped against the wall opposite my door, fast asleep, and my foot caught on his outstretched leg as I tried to pass by unnoticed.
Epic fail. Especially when I stumbled, cursed, and caught myself against the wall with a loud thump.
Zed—still half asleep—leapt to his feet like someone was attacking.
"Dare," he exclaimed, seeing me standing there with my hand braced against the wall. "What happened?"
I scowled. "I almost died tripping over your stupid fucking leg; that's wha
t happened. What the hell are you doing out here, anyway? Don't tell me there's not a single other empty bedroom in this house."
Foxglove Manor, from what I knew, was a massive estate that had been added to multiple times over the years to accommodate the increased wealth of the Lockhart family. I didn't blame Cass for thinking it was the kind of property Channing Lockhart might have kept a vault within.
Zed just stared back at me, not rising to the bait I’d dangled. Dammit. I could have used a good verbal sparring match to shake me back into my Hades mindset.
"Cass can't get back," I finally told him. "The bridge at the bottom of the mountain is washed out. We're trapped until the rain eases." Zed's brow arched, and I glowered. "At least pretend to look unhappy about it."
He just shrugged. "Why would I be unhappy? We're trapped. Which means sooner or later, you're going to be bored enough to hear me out."
I scoffed. "Or I'll use that knife of yours to cut restitution from your flesh."
"Whatever works," he shot back, unconcerned. Motherfucker thought I was joking.
With a growl of frustration, I turned my back on him and headed down the hall away from my bedroom.
"Where are you going?" he called after me, but I just replied with a middle finger over my shoulder.
"Bite me," I muttered under my breath, taking my time heading down the stairs. My feet had mostly healed up, but the muscles all through my legs were still aching, so my speed was roughly that of an arthritic tortoise.
Zed didn't crowd me, but I could feel his eyes on me as I moved through the enormous house, eyeing the god-awful hunting décor. I doubted Cass had touched it since he’d taken possession, aside from searching for a vault. The huge, mounted stag heads and bearskin rugs definitely didn't feel like his idea of interior decorating.
I didn't really have a plan in mind, just knew I was losing my damn mind cooped up in that bedroom. If Zed and I were stuck here alone another few days, I needed to find something else to do. Especially because Lucas and Demi refused to involve me in business, citing some crap about me needing to rest and recover.
"What are you looking for?" Zed asked after shadowing me through the kitchen, the formal dining room, and the casual lounge areas.
"Good fucking question," I muttered under my breath, but didn't raise my voice to offer an actual answer. Truthfully, I had no idea. I just wanted to explore a bit. I wanted to focus on something productive, but with the rain pouring down outside, I was stuck with whatever was inside the house.
"If you're bored, we can sit down and have that talk that's long overdue," Zed offered when I returned to the kitchen and stared blankly inside the fridge. At least there was plenty of food in there, so we shouldn't starve while trapped.
"Pretty sure that boat sailed about two weeks ago," I snarked back, grabbing a bottle of soda and slamming the fridge shut again. "Or, shit, maybe it sailed years ago. Either way, it's long fucking gone, hit a storm, capsized, then been smashed against jagged rocks. We're done, Zed. There's nothing left to discuss."
Zed snapped, his hand slamming down on the polished wood counter. "Bullshit!" he barked, a flash of frustrated anger crossing his face. "You're punishing me, and I get it. I fucking deserve it. But you and I both know that boat is still happily afloat out on the ocean. Ignore me, ice me out, make me grovel, but don't fucking lie to yourself, Dare. You're better than that."
Indignation and outrage swept through me, and I stalked toward him. I put my soda down, ready to punch him with my good hand—since I still wore my sling—but at the last second, I reeled it in and gave a bitter laugh.
"Cute," I spat. "You think you can push my buttons that easily? Think again. I'm not mad at you, Zed. I feel nothing. The only reason you're still alive is that you might prove useful when I take Chase to his knees. Don't read too much into it."
With a serene smile that lacked even the tiniest bit of sincerity, I grabbed my drink and brushed past him. Maybe I was better off in my room after all.
When Zed didn't follow me onto the stairs, I glanced over my shoulder. He seemed frozen at the edge of the counter where I'd left him. His hand was balled into a fist against the wood, but he remained motionless.
Cursing myself out silently for even turning to look, I continued up and shut myself back in the little haven of safety that my bedroom had become. My TV was still on, turned down low like I'd kept it almost every minute since Cass and Lucas had left, and High School Musical was playing.
Fucking Zac Efron bouncing around in his red singlet just made me snarl—the last time I'd seen that movie was one of my favorite memories with Zed. So instead of throwing the remote at the screen, I took the mature option and flicked the TV off.
I'd missed a call from Lucas while I was on my little wander around the house, so I climbed back into bed to call him back and fill him in on Cass's situation.
"Ah shit, Hayden," he groaned when I explained the bridge being washed out. "I'm so sorry I'm not there."
I smiled. "I'm not. You're doing me a hell of a lot better being there. Is anyone giving you a hard time?"
Lucas gave a low chuckle, the sort that warmed me all the way to my toes. "Nah, nothing I can't handle with a little help from Demi and Rex. He's a barrel of fun, by the way. You didn't warn me."
I wrinkled my nose. "Fucking Rex. I knew he'd take this as an invitation to slink back into the Timberwolves."
"I don't know your history there—Demi said to ask you another day—but he seems like an asset." Lucas sounded curious but was also respecting Demi's advice not to ask for all the history just yet.
I huffed a sigh. "I guess. Are his boys keeping their dirty fucking hands off Seph?"
"They're getting along alright according to Rex. I'll stop by and see her tomorrow if you want."
My chest ached, and I rubbed the heel of my hand across my breastbone. "Yeah, that'd be good if you could. She's probably worried. Or, I dunno. Maybe she's not." The last time I'd spoken with her, it'd been an argument. Maybe she was glad to have me gone and out of her life. I hadn't called her myself, partly because I didn't want to put her in danger—Chase would expect me to reach out to my sister. Partly... I didn't want my fears confirmed that she was better off without me.
"I'll visit tomorrow," Lucas assured me. "After my meeting with Vega."
I hummed a thoughtful sound under my breath. "Vega is a good ally. Hopefully, that hasn't changed and he can help with this Maurice bullshit. Steer clear of Ezekiel though. He's... a slippery fuck."
"I know," Lucas replied, patient as a damn saint. "I've got this, babe. You don't need to worry. Just take care of yourself. Have you been remembering your antibiotics?"
"Of course," I murmured, reaching out for the pills as I spoke. I was only an hour or two late.
There was a pause on the phone before he asked his next question. "Have you and Zed talked?"
I grunted an annoyed sound as I swallowed the pills. "Talked in general? Yes."
I could practically feel Lucas's deadpan glare down the phone. "Hayden..."
"Why do you care?" I rebutted. "Do you truly think what he did can be explained away? You must if you're pushing me to hear him out."
"I'm not..." He gave a frustrated sigh. "Look, I won't ever make you do something you're not comfortable with. And no, I don't think it can be explained away. But I also don't believe for a fucking second that he set you up like it seemed. He loves you, Hayden. And I know how that feels. He would do anything for you... even at the risk of his own happiness. Just think about it. There're two sides to every story."
When I said nothing in response because words were failing me, he changed the subject.
"Are you going to be okay showering without Grumpy Cat to help out?" His concern was evident, and I couldn't help smiling. It was absurd, really.
"I'm sure I can handle it," I replied with a short laugh, "so long as I take it easy and don't use my shoulder. Better that than marinate in my own stink until Cass gets back. Besides, I tol
d him to head back out to Seattle, so it could be longer than expected."
Lucas hummed a thoughtful sound. "Well... you can always call me. I can't be there to help, but I could chat with you. Distract you a bit."
I knew what he meant. He wasn't worried about me hurting myself so much as sliding into another panic attack if the water hit my face. Fucking Chase, it was like he deliberately chose torture techniques that would mess me up in the deepest ways.
"Thank you," I murmured, meaning it. "I'll work it out, though. I can't shower with you for the rest of my life."
"Why not?" Lucas replied, and I could hear his grin. "I'm not complaining. It's kind of nice being able to take care of you for once." Then he gave a small groan. "I didn't mean... Ugh, sorry that came out wrong. Obviously, I don't think—"
"You're fine, Lucas," I cut his panicked ramble off. "I know what you meant. I promise, you can wash my hair for me any time you want. You do a really good job of it." He actually did—hairdresser standard of clean—and the way his long fingers massaged my skull would have been downright sexual if I wasn't such a broken mess.
He gave a happy hum. "I'll hold you to that, babe. I’d better go, though. Demi is tapping her watch at me."
I smiled. "Say hi for me."
"I will," he promised. "I love you, Hayden. Think about what I said."
My only response to that was a grumpy huff and a muttered, "I love you back, Gumdrop."
Despite him pushing me to talk with Zed, I ended the call with a warm, happy glow inside. Talking to Lucas always seemed to leave me feeling like that, like I could shed a ton of emotional baggage in just one conversation with him. Damn kid was a wizard. Fuck, I was lucky to have him.
13
Stupid me, I should have grabbed breakfast while I was wandering aimlessly downstairs. Only a few moments after ending my call with Lucas, my stomach was rumbling. I badly didn't want to deal with Zed again so soon, though, so I just drank my bottle of soda and hauled my ass through to the bathroom.
After discussing it with Lucas, I knew I needed to push through and shower alone sooner rather than later.
