Chapter 15
Isabella
I’ve never been much of a fighter, but I seriously want to punch this T guy in the face. Not only did he threaten Kai, but I’m also finding his constant humming of the Jeopardy tune incredibly annoying.
“Are you okay?” I ask Kai as we sit on the curb stretching along the grass at the back of the parking lot. “How’s your stomach?”
“I’m fine,” he mumbles, keeping his gaze trained on the ground. “He didn’t hit me that hard.”
Yeah, right. I heard the impact. But that’s Kai for you—always doing whatever it takes to keep people from worrying about him.
“So, how did you meet this guy?” I ask, casting a quick glance at the dumpsters where two of T’s friends are having a wrestling match while the others cheer them on, passing around a bottle of vodka. I have my fingers crossed one of them knocks the other out. Then we will only have five guys to worry about. Perhaps we’ll get really lucky, and they’ll end up beating each other up.
Le sigh. If only.
“Through Bradon. He’s the reason I’m in this mess. He screwed me over, and now I owe T money. I guess it’s probably my own damn fault, though, for even associating with T.” Kai rests his arms on his knees and lowers his head. “I’m so sorry for bringing you into this mess. I should’ve known something like this was going to happen, but I guess my father was right. I fuck up all the time.”
I lightly pinch his side “Hey, that’s no way to talk about yourself. And your father’s the one who messed everything up by treating you the way he does.”
“I deserve how he treats me,” he grumbles, scuffing the tip of his boot against the asphalt.
I pinch him again, harder this time and on the chest, and his head whips up.
“What the hell, Isa?” He rubs his pec. “What was that for?”
“For having a pity party.” I draw a circle in the air around us. “See this? This is a pity party free zone.”
His lips threaten to turn upward, but then his shoulders slump. “How can you joke around right now with everything going on?”
I shrug. “You usually do it, so I guess I learned it from you.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He heaves a weary sigh. “I can usually handle these kinds of situations, but with you being here and with …” His gaze travels over to T, who’s leaning against the dumpster, watching me with a look I can’t quite decipher, but that makes an unsettling feeling gnaw in the pit of my stomach. Tearing his attention from T, he turns to me and leans to the side, blocking me from T’s creepy gaze. “Do me a favor. If you see any chance to run, do it.”
I resist an eye roll. “Like I would just leave you.”
“Isa,” he warns.
“Kai,” I mimic his tone and stern look.
“This isn’t a joke, Isa. What T said …” His gaze flicks to T then back at me, worry lacing his every feature. “What he said … about touching you …” Taking hold of both of my hands, he laces his fingers through mine. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you, so I want you to—no, I need you to promise me that, when you get the chance, you’ll run and get help.”
I force the fear down my throat. “I won’t just leave you, but I will get into the gas station and call the police.”
Relief briefly flickers in his eyes. “Thank you for being cooperative for once.”
“You say that like I’m uncooperative all the time.” When he elevates his brows with insinuation, I sigh in surrender. “Fine, maybe I am stubborn sometimes, but so are you.”
He almost smiles. “But only to match your stubbornness.”
I scowl at him, even though he’s probably right. Then a thought occurs to me and wipes the scowl right off my face.
“Hey, speaking of the police, what about the flash drive? We never texted them back. You don’t think … Crap, what if they turn over that video of you?”
“I don’t really think they’re going to do that,” Kai says, glancing over my shoulder at the parking lot.
“Why not? Because you know who’s doing this?” I track his gaze, but all I can see is the parking lot, the street, and my grandma’s car. “What’re you looking at?”
“I’m just wondering how easy it would be for someone to get into the car and steal the flash drive without us noticing,” he explains, returning his gaze to me. “I think I might’ve seen someone creeping up over there just a few minutes ago.”
My eyes dart back to the car. “But how did they know we were here?” I look back at Kai. “We never texted them.”
“I have a feeling they might’ve been following us.”
“Really?”
He half-shrugs. “I wouldn’t put it past them. In fact, I’m guessing they’ve probably been following you around for a while.”
I nervously pick at my fingernails. “How do you figure that?”
He shrugs again. “Because of how they seem to know almost every move we make, like the files that were stolen out of the car. How did they know we had those unless they saw me get into the car with them? And then the flash drive. Either someone was accidentally feeding them information, or they’ve been watching us. And my bet is that person I just saw probably jacked the flash drive.”
“Wait a minute … You said someone was accidentally feeding them information …” A gust of wind blows through my hair, sending strands into my face. I don’t bother removing my fingers from his, though, too afraid to let go. “Just how well do we know the person who’s doing this?”
“Pretty well,” he answers with reluctance, looking away from me.
“You promise it’s not my dad?” I whisper then breathe in relief as he nods. “Then just tell me who it is before I go crazy.”
“Someone who’s going to have their life destroyed come tomorrow,” he says with a hollow laugh. “They’re not even going to know what hit them.”
Damn him and this revenge plot.
“Kai, I really don’t think—” He silences me with a kiss, only coming up for air after he’s kissed me breathless. “You know, you can’t just kiss me every time you want me to shut up,” I tell him through my ragged breathing.
“Wanna bet?” A teasing glint shines in his eyes as he slants forward to steal another kiss.
“Would you two knock that shit off?” T hollers, shattering the moment into pieces. He stalks toward us, glancing at his watch. When he reaches us, he makes an annoying buzzer sound. “Time’s up. Looks like it’s one beating for you.” He shoots Kai a smirk then his gaze settles on me, and he puckers his lips, making a kissy face. “And one hot make out session for you.”
Kai jumps to his feet and shoves T back. “You fucking touch her, and you’ll pay.”
“You and what army?” T says, shoving Kai back.
Kai stumbles, and I leap to my feet, grabbing hold of his arm. When T’s friends notice the commotion, they stop horsing around and storm toward us.
Kai sidesteps in front of me and backs us up with his arms out to his sides. “Come near her, and I’ll break your arms.”
T laughs, but the noise sounds warped and all sorts of wrong. “Are you fucking stupid? Just admit you’re outnumbered, hand the girl over, let us beat your ass, and then you can go back to your stupid, pathetic life.”
“You can beat my ass …” Kai’s voice is shockingly steady. “But you’re not going to touch her.”
T’s lips twist into a menacing smile. “You know, the more you say that, the more I want to touch her.” He shrugs. “It’s kind of my thing, you know. Tell me I can’t do something”—he leans to the side, catching my gaze—“and all I want is to do it.”
Vomit burns in the back of my throat. Could this night get any worse?
“Isa, run,” Kai hisses from over his shoulder.
I hesitate, unsure. “Maybe I should—”
“You promised you would,” he cuts me off. “Now go.”
Sucking in a wobbly breath, I nod and then step back to run.
“A
nd, Isa,” Kai says before I take off, “just so you know, I love you.”
Before I can even fully comprehend his words, he sprints forward and crashes into T. I let out a fearful shriek as they fall to the ground in a tangle of punches and kicks. I think about going to Kai, but when T’s friends focus on me, I spin around and make a beeline for the gas station.
Not even halfway there, someone seizes hold of my arm and yanks me back against him.
“You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart,” an unfamiliar voice says. He reaches forward and strokes my cheek like I’m a freakin’ cat or something. “You and I are going to have some fun.”
Internally, I puke yet remain composed on the outside.
“Wanna bet?” I say then bash the back of my head against his face like I’ve seen people do in movies. But unlike in the movies, I can’t run away because I’m too flippin’ dizzy. “You know, they really should … warn … you … how bad that … hurts.” I stagger forward as headlights cut through the darkness.
“Kai!” I hear someone shout.
“Over here,” Kai groans in pain from somewhere behind me.
I shield my eyes from the light, trying to see who is out there. I can’t see very well, but I do make out three or four cars forming a wall across the parking lot.
“What in the world …”
A guy around my age, perhaps a bit older, with dark hair and a piercing in his lip steps out from the light and rushes toward me. “Isa, get in the car.”
“Um … Who are you?” I ask, unsure whether he’s on the good side or the bad or if he has nothing to do with this at all. “Wait. Are you my stalker?” As soon as the words leave my lips, I want to retract them.
Smart move, Isa. Let him know you’re on to him.
He jerks his head back in shock. “What? No. I’m Kai’s friend, Jules. We’re here to help.”
My lips form an O. I’d feel like a giant idiot, but considering the circumstances, I don’t care.
“Just get in my car, okay? It’s the blue one in the middle.” Jules pats my arm. “We’ll take care of this.”
“We’ll?” I question at the exact moment the car doors begin to open.
One by one, people climb out and head for the fight. By the time Kai’s army—or whatever the hell you want to call them—has all passed me, my jaw is hanging to my knees.
“I so don’t care what Kai says,” I mutter to myself as I hurry to the blue car. “He’s so in the mafia.”
Chapter 16
Kai
I was so lucky tonight. So damn lucky. All I ended up with were a few cuts and scrapes on my face and knuckles, along with an achy body. If Jules and his friends hadn’t shown up when they did, though … I don’t want to even think about it. But it’s all I think about as the fight breaks up and people go their separate ways.
I hand the money to T and get my phone back. Then he blows a kiss at Isa as he walks by Jules car. It takes all of my willpower not to charge after him for the move, but my gratitude for being okay keeps me in place
So damn lucky. So damn lucky.
Never again. Never again will I get into this mess.
I am done.
“The flash drive’s gone,” Isa announces after we’ve climbed back into her grandma’s car.
She doesn’t sound that surprised, and neither am I. I saw someone messing around with the car while we were waiting for Jules to show up. I would’ve gone after them, but I really doubt T would’ve let me get that far.
Isa reaches inside the console and removes a folded up piece of paper. She carefully unfolds it, and her eyes sweep across the handwritten words. “We took matters into our own hands since you looked pretty busy. Just consider yourselves lucky this time. Don’t worry. We won’t tell if you don’t.” The paper crinkles as her fingers fold inward. “I can’t believe they’re blackmailing us.”
“Well, they’re not really blackmailing us, just me. And I’m more than happy to deal with the consequences.” I throw out the opportunity for her to change her mind and let us go to the cops. After what happened, I wouldn’t blame her. But her lips remain fused, the stubborn look forming. “Fine, have it your way.” I stick my hand out. “Can I see the note?”
She hands it over and observes me intently as I read it. Yep. Just like I thought.
I don’t know what kind of expression I pull, but apparently, it gives away exactly what I’m thinking.
“You recognize the handwriting,” she says with a frown. “Don’t you?”
I stuff the note into the pocket of my jeans. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Fine, lie to me.” Her harsh tone startles me.
“Isa …” I start, but she cuts me off, starting up the engine and cranking up the stereo.
Fuck. I’m messing this up just like I do with everything. One of my biggest mess ups, though, was stammering that I love her right before the fight broke out. Seriously, could I be any more melodramatic? That was not the way I wanted that to go down at all, but I panicked.
“I really think we should talk,” I shout over the music as she pulls out onto the street.
“I only want to talk if you’ll tell me who it is.” She gives me a moment to say something before turning up the music so loudly she couldn’t hear me if I screamed.
I spend the rest of the drive to her grandma’s apartment fighting the urge to gouge my ears out. Sure, I’m all for music, but I’d prefer to be able to hear music for the rest of my life.
When we finally pull into the parking lot of the apartment, she parks the car and jumps out before I can even get my door open.
“Isa, would you slow down?” I call out, hurrying across the grass after her. “Look, I know you’re upset, but I …”
She storms into the house, leaving me outside, talking to myself.
Huffing a frustrated exhale, I open the door and walk in. She’s in the kitchen when I step inside, rummaging around through the cupboards.
“I get that you’re upset, but this is for the best.” Because if you knew who was doing this, your heart would be crushed. “Just trust me on this.”
“I do trust you, and that’s the problem.” She flings open the cupboard above the sink and grabs a medical kit. “I trust you so much, and you didn’t even trust me enough to tell me what was going on with T.” Her voice cracks, and she quickly turns her back on me.
Fuck, I’m the worst person alive.
“Isa …” I wind around the kitchen island, stopping just behind her. “I do trust you … a lot. You’re the only person who knows about how shitty my dad treats me. Well, besides Kyler and my mom, but they only know because they witnessed all the shit he’s done to me.” I hold my breath, waiting for her to do something, and finally, she turns around.
“He’s hit you, hasn’t he?” she asks quietly. “Your dad, I mean.”
I know what she’s asking of me, but she doesn’t want just an answer. She wants me to trust her.
“He has a couple of times,” I admit for the first time aloud, maybe even for the first time to myself. “But it’s not a big deal. He mostly just told me what a fuck up I am. But that doesn’t matter … I’m not living there anymore, so …” I shrug, unsure what else to say.
She brings her hand up to my cheek. When her palm touches my skin, I automatically lean in.
“You’re okay, though, right?” she asks. “You know all those mean things he said aren’t true?”
“Yeah …” I struggle to keep my eyes open, but her touch makes me want to lie down and fall asleep beside her. “You know what Lynn and Hannah said to you isn’t true, right?”
She nods. “I mean, for a while, I didn’t, but … I don’t know … Things are getting better … and certain people helped me realize who I really am.”
“I hope I’m one of those people.”
“You are.”
“Good.” I wet my injured lip with my tongue, ignoring the pain. “Can I kiss you now? Or are you still mad at me?”
“I�
�m not mad at you anymore,” she says, her gaze flicking to my lips. “And you can… kiss me.”
Smiling, I slant forward and seal my lips to hers, hoping she realizes I meant what I said. I do love her … enough to make my own brother’s life a living hell for what he did to her.
Chapter 17
Isabella
“Will you stop wiggling?” I scold Kai for the millionth time. “I need to put peroxide on this, or you’ll probably get an infection.” I move the cotton ball toward his lip again. “God knows where T’s hands have been.”
“His hand didn’t cut my lip,” he says, wiggling around on the barstool. “It was the corner of a dumpster.”
Ew, yucky. Then again, so is T.
“I don’t know which one’s worse,” I tease, dumping a few drops of peroxide on the cotton ball.
“Probably his hands.” He flinches as I press the cotton ball to his mouth. “Goddammit, that hurts.”
“Quit being such a baby.” I smile at him so he’ll know I’m kidding then toss the cotton ball into the trashcan.
He relaxes against the counter. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were enjoying torturing me.”
“Maybe I am just a little,” I admit, digging out an icepack from the freezer.
“Wow, you’re mean,” he jokes as I stand in front of him and rest the ice pack against his cheek.
“I’m not trying to be mean.” I slant forward to examine the cut on his brow, wondering if he needs stitches. I offered to take him to the hospital, but Kai being Kai, he refused. “I’m just trying to fix up your boo-boos.”
“My boo-boos?” He tilts his head, leaning into the icepack. “Man, you make me sound like a baby.”
“You kind of are. But that’s okay. I think it’s cute.”
“Hey, that’s my line,” he gripes with a grin.
Even with the fat lip and the puffy cheek, he looks absolutely adorable. How did I not notice this before? How could I ever have been so obsessed with Kyler while Kai was right there?
The Year of Second Chances (Sunnyvale Alternative #3) Page 12
