by Carol Lynne
Despite the ache in his gut, Ryker took off running through the trees toward home. As soon as he broke through to the clearing, he noticed Ranger’s truck wasn’t parked in its usual spot. “Fuck,” he screamed to the singing birds as he ran up the steps and into the house.
The first place he went was to the bedroom. Seeing the closet door ajar, Ryker swallowed the bile rising in his throat. He knew what he’d find before he even opened it. The ache in his gut telling him Ranger had gone.
After checking out the closet, Ryker picked up the phone in a daze.
“Dead Zone.”
“I need to talk to Lilly,” he managed to rasp out.
After a few long minutes, Lilly got on the phone. “Hello?”
“He’s gone.”
“What?”
“Ranger’s gone. I came home and most of his clothes are missing. He’s left me.” He felt the sting of tears seconds before they began to fall. “I’m gonna have Garron bring me back to the bar to pick up my truck. I gotta go find him.”
“No. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you,” she said before hanging up.
He fell back onto the bed and covered his eyes with his arm. “Where are you?” he whispered to the quiet room. Replaying the scene in the bar once again, Ryker tried to figure out what had set Ranger off. No matter how many times he went through the conversations, nothing odd stuck out in his mind.
The pillow under his head was Ranger’s and when he turned, he could smell his brother’s familiar scent. As he buried his face in Ranger’s pillow, a thought occurred to him. “Shit,” he said picking up the phone. He hit speed-dial and waited for Ranger to answer. Why hadn’t he thought of it before? His hopes were soon dashed when Ranger’s voice mail answered telling him to leave a message.
“I need you. Why’d you leave me? You’ve never done that before and I don’t even know what I did wrong. Please, love, please call me.”
* * * *
Fumbling with the phone, Ranger was barely able to figure out how to retrieve his message. Hearing Bub’s voice asking what he’d done wrong was like someone taking their finger out of the hole in the dam. A rush of regret and self-loathing washed over him in a wave of pain. Throwing the phone down, he picked up his second bottle of Jack, sloshing a good amount down his chin as he drank.
Looking around, he sighed. Sonny, he thought. Maybe I need to call Sonny. Although he was the youngest of the Good boys, Sonny seemed to be the glue that kept them all together lately. Since his injury, Sonny had changed, and in Ranger’s opinion, for the better. He couldn’t just leave town without telling someone where he was going and he knew if he tried to tell Ryker, his Bub would say anything he thought he wanted to hear to make him stay.
Falling off the couch in his attempt to retrieve his phone, he shook his head. “Damn, who moved the couch on me?” Blinking his eyes several times, he studied the display on the tiny phone before remembering Sonny’s number.
“Hello?”
Ranger opened his mouth to talk and a sob erupted instead.
“Where are you? Ryker called here frantic. He’s got Lilly on the way to pick him up so they can look for you.”
“Don’t tell.” Ranger fell back to the floor and rubbed his eyes.
“Okay I won’t. Just tell me and we’ll figure this out together.”
“The apartment. I can’t go back there, Sonny. I can’t. I’m…there’s something wrong with me.”
“You just stay where you are and I’ll come over. Don’t you move.”
“Gotta throw up,” he said getting to his knees. He tried to stand and fell back again. He heaved what little contents his stomach held and fell back to the floor.
Chapter Thirteen
Running toward Ryker’s truck, Lilly was so busy digging the keys out that she didn’t notice Jeff pull up. Opening the door, a hand reached out and grabbed her arm.
“I heard you was messing with them Good twins. I was right about you. You’re nothing but a filthy slut.” Jeff pressed her against the side of the truck flinging the door the rest of the way open. With a hand around her throat, he pushed her down onto the seat. With her legs still on the ground, Lilly’s back felt like it would break in her present position.
“I don’t have time for this.” She tried to get up, scratching at Jeff’s face, hoping to get free.
A jarring slap to the side of her face stopped her. “Listen to me, bitch, if you can spread your legs for those queer perverts, you can spread for me. Nobody teases me and gets away with it.” He started unfastening her jeans, the smell of his breath a testament to how much he’d already drank before coming to the bar.
Looking around, Lilly spotted the keys on the floorboard where Jeff had tossed them in his haste to get her into the truck. Taking a deep breath, she managed to get a hold on his hair with one hand. She pulled and kicked while stretching out to grab the keys. Another blow to her cheek came seconds before she swiped a key across his smarmy face.
“Fuck,” Jeff screamed, releasing her and bringing his hands to his face. Blood ran between his fingers as she kicked him out of the way. Jeff seemed to be so shocked that she’d hurt him he let his guard down long enough for her to scramble and get the door closed and locked.
As soon as he heard the snick of the lock, he charged the truck, his face red from both blood and fury. Lilly’s hands were shaking as she worked the key into the ignition. A loud crack sounded and she looked over just in time to see Jeff’s foot come flying once again toward the driver’s side window. Putting the truck in reverse, she hit the gas, not caring whether she ran him over or not.
Pulling out of the lot at a high rate of speed, she looked around the truck for her purse. “Dammit,” she screamed when she realized it must still be in the parking lot. Lilly didn’t know if Jeff would follow her or not, but she knew if she went to the Sheriff’s station, they’d make her stay until they tracked Jeff down. Unwilling to waste the time, she decided to go straight to Rawley’s house.
Lilly honked her horn as she pulled up at Jeb and Rawley’s ranch road. Both men came flying out of the house, running toward the truck. She tried to get the window down but the damn thing wouldn’t budge. Finally opening the door, Rawley pulled her out of the truck. He took one look at her face and cussed as he held her in a tight embrace.
Shaking off his hold, she tried to calm down enough to tell him what happened. “I can’t stay, Ryker needs me.”
“He didn’t?” Rawley’s face went white.
“No, it was Jeff. He attacked me, tried to get my pants off in the parking lot. I hurt him. You’ll see the evidence on his face. He’s probably half-way to Lincoln by now. Arrest him, do whatever you have to do, but I have to get home to Ryker. Ranger’s gone. We don’t know where but we’re going to find him.”
“What?” Rawley gave Lilly a gentle shake. “Slow down, where’s Ranger?”
Exasperated, Lilly huffed. “I don’t know. Ryker got home and his clothes were gone. I need to go.” She tried to pull away. “They need me.” The words stopped her. “Or maybe they don’t,” she said in a small voice. “Maybe I’m the problem.” It was suddenly too much and she started to sink to her knees. “Oh God, this can’t be happening.” Her dreams were crashing down around her as Rawley did his best to hold her upright.
Turning his head, Rawley yelled for Jeb. “Get my truck.”
The next thing she knew she was being cradled in Jeb’s arms as Rawley drove toward Ryker and Ranger’s house. Jeb dabbed at the tears on her cheek with a bandana. “I called the station. They’ll find Jeff. It’ll be okay, Lilly. We’ll get you to Ryker and help you find Ranger.” He continued to talk to her until, in her exhaustion she drifted off.
* * * *
Ryker heard the sound of a vehicle pull up and ran to the front door. Opening it, he was surprised to see Rawley running toward him through the dark yard. “What’re you doing here?”
Rawley ran up the steps and blocked his view of the truck. “There’s
been a situation.”
“Yeah, I know, I’m waiting for Lilly to get home so we can find him.”
“No, yes, oh fuck.” Rawley ran his fingers through his hair. “I know Ranger’s gone and we’ll help you find him, but right now Lilly needs you.”
“Lilly?” He tried to look around Rawley’s bigger body. “Where is she?”
Rawley grabbed his shoulders to keep him still. “She’s in the truck with Jeb. Jeff attacked her in the parking lot of the Zone.”
“What!” Ryker fought the restraining hands trying to hold him back. “Let me go,” he growled taking a swing at Rawley.
“You need to calm down before you upset her even more. Jeb called the station and we’ve got people out looking for Jeff. He’ll be charged, but Lilly’s the one I’m most concerned with. She seems to think Ranger left because of her.”
“No! It’s because of me.” He struggled again. “So help me God, if you don’t let go of me I’m gonna kill you.” He narrowed his eyes at Rawley who released him, holding his hands up and backing off.
Running to the truck, Ryker swung open Jeb’s door. Lilly was cradled in his arms with her head buried in his neck. “She’s asleep,” Jeb whispered.
“Get in,” Rawley said, getting behind the wheel. “We’ll drive around and see if we can’t find Ranger.”
Jeb scooted over as much as he could while still holding Lilly. Ryker climbed in and immediately took her into his arms. Once she was transferred, Ryker got his first look at her face. Two big bruises were blossoming on her otherwise perfect skin. “Oh, sweetheart,” he said, cupping her face in his hand.
Lilly opened her eyes and looked up at him. “I’m sorry.”
“Shhh, just rest while we look for Ranger,” he soothed. He looked down and noticed her unbuttoned jeans, the zipper half down. “Sweetheart? Did he touch you?” He asked, pulling up her zipper. He flashed a scowl at Rawley and Jeb who shook their heads like they hadn’t noticed.
“N-No, he tried but I cut his face with the keys.”
Bending down, he tilted her chin and kissed her. The overwhelming relief that that animal hadn’t raped her had him squeezing her to his chest. “He’ll pay for this, sweetheart. Ranger will make sure of it.” The thought of Ranger finding out what Jeff had done seemed to galvanize his strength. Ranger may be able to just walk out on him, but he’d never let someone hurt Lilly and get away with it.
* * * *
Sonny let himself into the apartment above the feedlot offices. “Ranger,” he called as he entered the dark living room. Stumbling around, he finally found the light switch and flipped it on. “Oh shit,” he said as he saw Ranger face down on the carpet beside a pile of vomit.
Squatting beside his brother, he rolled him over. “Ranger,” he said, slapping his cheeks. Sonny couldn’t tell if Ranger was just passed out or if he needed an ambulance. He started to worry when he was unable to rouse him. Ranger was a lot bigger than he was, so he knew he couldn’t carry him into the bathroom.
Rubbing his chin, he looked around the apartment. With a grin on his face, he walked into the kitchen and dug around until he came up with a large stew pot. Filling the pan with ice-cold water, Sonny carried it back to Ranger. “Forgive me, brother.” He poured the contents of the pot in Ranger’s face, after making sure it was at least turned to the side. The last thing he needed was to drown him while trying to help.
Ranger coughed and swatted at the water pouring down on him. “What the hell?” Ranger tried to sit up but fell back to the carpet.
After setting down the pan, Sonny helped Ranger to the sofa, away from the mess. “You called me over here and then passed out.” He took the blanket off the back of the couch and dried Ranger’s face and hair. Ranger was still swaying until his head fell onto the back of the old sofa.
Sonny had never seen Ranger like this. He wasn’t sure that he’d even seen him tipsy more than a couple of times in his life, but this? Something was seriously wrong. While he waited for Ranger to wake up a bit, he pulled out his cell and called Garron.
“Sonny?” Garron asked as soon as he picked up the phone.
“Yeah, it’s me. I found him passed out next to a pile of puke. I got him onto the couch but I still don’t know what the problem is.”
“Rawley came by looking for him. He had Ryker and Lilly in the truck with him and Jeb. Babe, Jeff attacked Lilly tonight when she left the bar to go home.”
“Shit, is she okay?” He looked over at a still dazed Ranger.
“Physically, she’ll be fine. She’s got a couple bruises on her face where he hit her. Damn, babe, I guess he tried to rape her.”
“Fuck!”
“He didn’t get further than undoing her jeans before she slashed him across the face with the keys and managed to get away, but emotionally she’s not doing well. Rawley said on top of everything else she’s been through this evening, she’s blaming herself for Ranger.”
“What the hell is going on?” Sonny shook his head. “Okay, give me fifteen minutes then call Rawley and let him know where we are.”
“Sure thing. You doing all right? Getting a headache or anything?”
Sonny smiled at the concern in Garron’s voice. “I’m fine. Just need to put my family back together.”
“Well if anyone can do it, it’s you. Love you.”
“Love you. I’ll call when they get here.” Sonny hung up and looked at Ranger. “Come on, wake up. We need to talk and there are some things you need to hear.”
Chapter Fourteen
Giving Ranger another cup of coffee, Sonny stepped into the bathroom and called Ryker.
“Hello?”
“Did Garron call?”
“Just a few minutes ago. We’re on our way.”
“Well, I’d like you to stay outside ’til I come get you. I’m not trying to piss you off, but he asked me here to talk, and I’m just now getting him sober enough to form sentences.”
“Sober?”
“He was passed out when I got here.” Sonny went on to tell Ryker what he’d found. He heard Ryker’s broken sigh on the other end. “Please, let me talk to him. I don’t know what’s going on with the three of you, but I’ve never seen him like this.”
“I’ll be waiting at the bottom of the steps.”
Sonny hung up and flushed the toilet, hiding the phone away in his pocket. “You ready for another cup?” he asked walking back into the living room.
Ranger turned his head and looked at him through half-closed eyes. “Doesn’t matter,” he sighed, “nothing does.”
Stopping by the kitchen Sonny filled a cup for himself before carrying the pot to the living room. He topped-off Ranger’s and set the pot down on the table. “Drink,” he pointed toward the cup. “Then you can tell me why nothing matters.”
Taking a sip of the hot brew, Ranger stared into the black depths. Sonny thought he was about to drop off again when he finally spoke. “I can’t do it anymore.”
“What can’t you do? Are you talking about your new relationship with Lilly? I thought you really like her.”
“I did, I do, but…I’m jealous.”
“Jealous?” Sonny didn’t understand. Ranger and Ryker had bedded several women in the past, why was this one making him feel this way. Setting his cup down he scooted closer to Ranger, who it seemed had curled in on himself. “You’re jealous when you see Ryker making love to her?”
“Yeah.”
“And she doesn’t let you make love to her?” Hell, maybe Ranger wanted Lilly all to himself.
“I haven’t really tried.”
Sonny rubbed his eyes. It was like trying to get a piece of candy out of a child’s hand. “I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand. Why are you jealous?”
In a moment of sudden rage, Ranger threw his coffee across the room. “Because she gets to make love to Ryker.”
Trying to calm his brother, Sonny cupped his face. “I love you so much, and I really am trying to understand…”
; Before he could get any further, Ranger broke down, tears pooling in his eyes. “I’m sick. That’s why I have to go away. I love him so much, and I want to make love to him. And I know that’s dirty and wrong, but I can’t help myself.” The tears began running down his chiseled cheeks as Sonny pulled him into his arms.
“Are you telling me the two of you have never had sex?” That was completely unbelievable to him. He’d never known two closer people in his life. The love they had for each other was pure, whether the rest of the population felt so or not. The idea that Ranger had never allowed himself to physically demonstrate that love with Ryker broke his heart.
He hugged Ranger tighter, rocking him back and forth. “I had no idea. We all just assumed…”
“We kiss, we jack each other off, but there’s a line we promised we wouldn’t cross. It never hurt like this until I watched Lilly and Ryker make love for the first time. They love each other so much that it wasn’t just about sex. It was like, while I watched, their souls joined.”
Ranger pulled back and buried his face in his hands. “I’ve thought of nothing since but making love to him.”
“Tell him.”
“No, I’d rather just leave than to have him look at me with disgust.”
“Ranger, forget about what society thinks for a minute. Who told you not to make love to the person you love most in the world?” He already had a good idea, but he needed to hear it.
“Dad. He came into our room one night after we thought everyone was asleep. We were almost eighteen, but we still couldn’t sleep apart. So after everyone else was down for the night, Ryker would crawl into bed with me. We didn’t do anything then, not even kissing. We just needed to hold each other. But one night Dad came in and caught us. He screamed and told us we were disgusting. That we were too old for that kind of thing and it would only lead to us fucking each other like a couple of sick perverts. We promised him we’d never do something like that. Then we begged him to allow us to sleep together at night.”
