by K. Webster
Wes: Do you want to go to Josie’s? She’s been sprucing the place up. Comfier couches and on Fridays a violinist comes to play. It’s amazing.
Me: Can’t. Been busy.
Wes: But I miss you.
I cringe and shake my head. I’m not responding to that because then he’ll have a little freak out again about how upset he was the day he realized I’d transferred out of his class. The last thing I want to do is rehash that. Again. I shove my phone in my hoodie and watch the clock. As soon as the bell rings, indicating the end of my last class of the day, I rush to my locker.
Tonight I’m supposed to watch movies with the guys. I love movie nights because Roan and Hollis cuddle up on the sofa while Jordy and I lie on the floor. No one seems to notice our nearness. We play it off being in a small room or having to share a pillow or blanket. Hollis and Roan are too busy sneaking kisses to worry over the fact I’m holding hands with Jordy under the blanket.
I’m grabbing some books from my locker and stuffing them into my bag when someone pushes me. I stumble a bit and then whirl around to see Ryan walking by. Charlotte’s hand is locked in his, but she’s so spaced out, I don’t think she even knows where the hell she is. Her parents have forbidden her to see Ryan, but they can’t exactly stop her at school.
“Asshole,” I gripe.
Ryan flips me off and calls me a skank.
I shoulder my bag and head in the opposite direction of Ryan and Charlotte. But that puts me walking past Wes’s classroom. I’m thankful the classroom has already been vacated and is dark. My phone buzzes, so I stop to check it.
Roan: Signing some paperwork for the attorney about Sebban. I’ll be there just as soon as I can. You okay to wait?
Me: Yeah. I’ll go sit under the tree near the parking lot.
Roan: See you in twenty minutes tops.
With a heavy sigh, I head outside. The wind is harsh and unforgiving today. I wish I’d worn a coat and not just a hoodie. It smells like snow is in the air. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, which means we’re in for a harsh winter. I make it out to the tree, leaning my shoulder against it. It’s cold enough that I pull my hood over my head in an attempt to stay warm. I send Jordy a few funny memes, knowing he won’t be able to look at them until his break time, but he’ll get a laugh.
“I thought that was you.”
The deep voice makes my blood turn to ice. The leaves crunch as Wes comes to stand beside me.
“I feel like you’ve been avoiding me,” he says, hurt in his tone.
No shit, asshole.
“What?” I croak out. “No way. Just been busy.”
“That’s what you always say.”
“Because I’m always busy.” I lift my head to look at him.
Wes is handsome, no doubt. He’s just a psychopath. Obsessive too. I wish he’d go bother someone else. I don’t know what his fascination is with me.
“Want a ride home?” he asks. “You shouldn’t have to stand out here in the cold.”
“Roan will be here any second,” I lie.
Unbothered, he steps closer, pushing my hood off my head. “There. I almost forgot what you looked like.” He laughs. “I mean, your social media pictures aren’t the same. They don’t really capture your smile or how your eyes light up.”
I retreat a step. “Stalker.” I say it in a joking way and he chuckles as though it’s a joke, but it’s not a damn joke.
He grabs the front of my hoodie, pulling me to him. I let out a squeal of surprise, my palms flying to his chest to stop myself from crashing into him. His hand finds my face, gripping my jaw so he can angle my face up to his. My heart stutters in my chest as I worry how far he’ll take this.
“Please let me go,” I murmur.
He frowns. “Fuck. See, I knew your texts were bullshit. You’re scared of me.”
“I’m not scared,” I lie. “I just have a boyfriend.”
“No, you don’t,” he states. “Your social media status still says single and I’ve been asking around. Everyone says you’re single. Why are you lying, Roux? I thought we were friends.”
“Friends don’t do this,” I spit out. “Let me go.”
Determination glints in his eyes and then he smashes his lips to mine. I growl as I try to fight him off. He’s stronger and crazier. I manage to turn my head to the side and belt out a scream. His lips kiss along my throat as he laughs.
I hear heavy footsteps charging our way. Before I can even register what’s happening, Wes is being torn away from me. Kayden, red faced and furious, slings Wes to the ground.
“Don’t fucking touch my girl,” Kayden roars, his chest huffing with fury.
Wes pounces back up to his feet. His eyes are wild with anger. He swings, landing a hard punch on Kayden. Kayden is scrappy, though, and attacks Wes. They land on the ground, fighting like little boys on the schoolyard. I’m panicked and worried, but I don’t know what to do. The fight ends when Kayden pulls a gun on Wes.
Everything seems to slow to a screeching halt.
Even my heart inside my chest.
“I said,” Kayden seethes, shoving the barrel of the gun painfully into Wes’s temple. “Don’t. Fucking. Touch. Roux.”
I grab Kayden by the arm. “Come on. Get off him. Let’s go. Don’t do this.”
Kayden spits in Wes’s face but then climbs off him. He walks me away from Wes and slings an arm over my shoulders. “You okay, baby?”
“I’m fine,” I rasp out. “Can we go? Please?”
Wes rises to his feet, his intense eyes boring into me. It’s as though he doesn’t care about Kayden or is even worried about him. No, his whole focus is on me. It’s terrifying.
“Let’s go,” Kayden mutters when he realizes I’m trembling. “That guy is fucking psycho.”
Kayden escorts me to his car and helps me in. It’s not until we’re in the car, driving far away from Wes, that I breathe out a sigh of relief.
“Thanks for rescuing me,” I murmur. “He doesn’t know when to quit.”
“He touches you again, baby, and I’ll blow his fucking head off.”
“I’m not your baby, Kayden, and don’t do that. He’s obsessed, but he doesn’t deserve to die. Thanks for coming to my aid, though.”
He turns on some rap music and tries to hold my hand. I grab my phone out of my pocket as an excuse not to touch him. I quickly text Roan.
Me: Looks like I’m catching a ride home. See you soon.
Roan doesn’t respond, which means he’s busy with the attorney or driving. Either way, he’ll get the message.
Kayden’s phone rings and he answers it. “What’s up?”
As he talks to whoever it is on the phone, I try to calm my nerves. When I get home, I’m going to crawl into bed and try to forget this day until Jordy can kiss it all away.
“Fuckin’ right my girl’s with me. Told you I was gonna get her back,” Kayden brags. “What? Why?” He pauses and grumbles. “I need to drop her off first.” Another pause. “Okay, asshole, I get it. Right the fuck now. You’re so goddamn bossy.”
He hangs up and then pulls a U-turn in the middle of the road, nearly sideswiping a car in the process.
“Where are we going?” I shriek.
“The shop.” He starts rapping along with the radio.
I mash the button to turn it off. “Take me home, Kayden.”
“Can’t, babe,” he says, turning back on the radio. “My brother says it’s important.”
“Just let me off here,” I demand. “Kayden. Now.”
He waves his hands, grinning, as he raps along to his stupid song. “A ho don’t know. A ho don’t know.”
I immediately text Jordy.
Me: I’m with Kayden. Don’t ask. But now we’re headed to your brother’s shop to see Renaldo. Can you come get me?
I send similar messages to Roan and Hollis both.
No one replies.
By the time we reach the shop, my nerves are a mess. I’m nearly in tears. The last time
I ran into Renaldo, he looked me up and down like I could be of use to him. Being useful to Renaldo is scary. Not to mention, I don’t know what sort of war that would bring down if he did try to use me. As much as Kayden has ruined things with me, I don’t think he’d sit back and let that happen with Renaldo. And I don’t know how Renaldo would respond to that.
And Jordy?
I can’t have him going back to prison because of me.
We pull up to the shop and Kayden starts to get out. I reach over and grab his arm, trying to adopt a bored expression.
“I’ll wait in the car. Look over some notes. Lots of homework.”
He leans over and kisses my cheek. “Probably for the best. I’ll be right back. Sit tight and after I’ll take you to dinner or something.”
No, he’ll be taking me home.
I nod and smile. “Okay.”
He climbs out and saunters into the building. I’m considering calling Kelsey even though things are weird between me and her daughter, when three guys step outside.
Kayden.
Jordy’s brother Juno.
And Renaldo.
They’re all looking my way, too.
Oh, crap.
Renaldo stalks my way, his jaw clenching. I’m frozen in fear. He wrenches open the car door and squats beside me. His tongue runs over the front of his top teeth and then he grins wolfishly at me.
“Little Roux come to see her future brother-in-law?” he taunts.
I cringe, shrinking away from him when he reaches a hand forward. He seizes my wrist and pulls it to him, his grip tightening to the point I know it’ll bruise.
“Renaldo,” Kayden grunts out weakly from the other side of the door. “Leave her alone.”
Renaldo ignores him as he peels back every layer of me with one long stare. “No, man,” Renaldo murmurs. “That’s the part you don’t seem to grasp yet. When you want shit done, you figure out ways to do it.”
I try to tug my hand free, but Renaldo nearly crushes my bones in his grip. I give up hoping he’ll lessen his hold and he does, but doesn’t release me.
“With Roux?” Kayden says in exasperation. “Roux can’t do shit for you. She’s just a girl.”
“A girl my boy Jordy wants to fuck.” Renaldo grins at me.
My heart races inside my chest, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of an expression that would confirm his theory.
“He won’t fuck her,” Kayden growls. “She’s my fucking girl.”
Juno laughs. “If he wants to, he will. Just sayin’. My brother is stubborn as fuck. If he wants something, he’ll find a way to get it.”
Kayden kicks the front of his car in frustration.
“Kick what’s mine one more time and I’ll put a bullet in your foot,” Renaldo snaps. “I give everything to you for fucking free because you’re blood, but if you disrespect me again, I’ll make sure you don’t forget your place, bro.”
“You’re hurting me,” I say softly, noting my entire hand is turning purple from lack of circulation.
“Don’t you forget it either,” Renaldo whispers. “When our boy Jordy fails to comply, you remind him, little girl. Remind him of what I can do so effortlessly and without trying.” He brings my palm toward him and playfully snaps his teeth like he might bite me. “I’ll do much worse than bruise your pretty wrist.”
“What do you want from him?” I demand, hating how the tears of both pain and terror leak down my cheeks. “He already helps you. What more do you want?”
Renaldo twists my arm in such a way I nearly fly out of my seat in pain. I grab his shoulder, attempting to go with the way he’s turning rather than resist so my wrist doesn’t break. He stops twisting and leans forward, his nose on my wet cheek and his hot breath on my jawbone. My eyes are locked on Kayden’s. He paces, staring at me with torment written on his face, yet doing nothing.
“I have a big job for him. A job that Jordy can do because he’s ruthless and determined. It’s time for him to do more than just babysit for me. I need someone like Jordy to join my ranks. Juno has been good to me. It’s really that simple, sweetheart.”
I’m choking back a sob of pain when I hear the rumble of an engine. Gravel pings against Renaldo and the side of Kayden’s car. A car door slams hard and footsteps crunch our way.
“Renaldo.” Jordy’s voice is low and deadly. A terrible warning.
Renaldo grins at me as he finally releases me. He rises to his feet and faces off with Jordy. “My man. There you are.”
Jordy’s dark eyes slice my way and he assesses me with a quick look. Aside from the awful bruises I’ll have, I’ll be okay.
“No one ever told you to not fuck with little girls?” Jordy spits out, his body thrumming with rage.
I unbuckle my seat belt and grab my things, wincing at the pain in my wrist. Renaldo walks over to Jordy, poking him in the chest.
“Can’t say anyone ever has,” Renaldo taunts. “Is that what you came here to say?”
“Nope.” Jordy cracks his neck. “I didn’t come here to say shit. I came to give Roux a ride home. Her brother’s looking for her.”
I climb out of the car and start for Jordy’s car. Kayden calls after me, but I ignore him. Once I shove my things into the car, I wait for Jordy to hurry. He’s nose to nose with Renaldo.
“Jordy,” I whimper.
His shoulders tense and he fists his hands like he might beat the shit out of Renaldo.
“You do as I ask and I’ll leave the little girl alone. Deal?” Renaldo pats Jordy’s shoulder like they’re best friends.
Jordy nods. I don’t understand what the implications of this will be, but I don’t like it. Renaldo terrifies me and everything he does is illegal. He’s going to pull Jordy under and drown him. Jordy whispered to me in the supply closet at his work—after Renaldo had beat the crap out of him a few weeks ago—that he’d eventually untangle himself from Renaldo, but that it’d take time and patience. I feel like we’re running out of both.
“Good boy,” Renaldo praises. “Run along. I’ll call you when I need you.”
“Roux,” Kayden grinds out. “I thought we were going to have dinner—”
“No,” I hiss out, glaring at him in accusation. “We’re not.”
He brought me right to his brother. I sure as hell am not having dinner with him.
I refuse to let his kicked puppy expression get to me. Instead, I hop into the car with Jordy and buckle in. The car kicks up gravel as he peels out of the lot. As soon as we’re on the road, he reaches over, taking my sore wrist in his gentle grip.
“I’m sorry, Little Hoodlum.”
Me too, Jordy.
Nothing can ever be easy for us.
Jordy
I see red.
Deep, bloody red.
The rage consumes me to the point it’s blinding. I want to kill him. Renaldo Ramirez needs to fucking die. How dare he touch Roux? How dare he threaten me with her? I knew he’d sniff out my weakness and use it against me. I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly.
Fuck.
This is going bad fast.
By the time I’ve reached the apartment, Roan and Hollis are already there. They’re both waiting outside, freaked the fuck out. As soon as I saw her text, I blew out of the restaurant so fast to get to her. Roan called me, losing his goddamn mind, but I told him to let me handle Renaldo. Roan would get his ass shot. At least Renaldo feels like he needs me in some capacity, which works to my advantage.
I’ve barely shut off the car before Roan is yanking open the door and pulling Roux into his arms. She clings to her brother, sobbing. We didn’t speak on the way home. I was too overcome with rage and she was trembling with terror. Roan has a way of calming Roux down when shit gets too rough. It gives me a sense of peace watching her relax as he whispers assurances to her. Hollis’s brows are pinched with worry.
“Come here, kiddo,” Hollis says, hugging Roux next.
Roan pulls out his phone and makes a call. He hang
s up and nods his head for us to go upstairs. “They’re on their way,” Roan tells me.
Roux looks over her shoulder at me in confusion. We all pile into the apartment. Hollis sets to fussing over Roux, making sure she doesn’t want anything to eat or drink. Roan and I sit at the table wearing matching scowls.
“How did your meeting go with Samantha?” I ask.
The anger floods from his face as frustration takes over. “Fine. Gio’s attorney keeps throwing wrench after wrench in our attempt to get this paternity test done. It’s fucking annoying.”
“That’s the nerd I know,” I grumble.
“Hollis went and saw Sidney. To see if he could talk some sense into her. She blew the hell up, man.” He scrubs his palm over his face. “I don’t understand why she’s being so difficult over this.”
“Because he’s obviously your kid and she doesn’t want to share him.”
He scowls. “But I would be good to him. I’m not trying to steal him away or anything. I just want to know him.”
“And thank fuck for the laws of our country. Just give it time. Samantha is good. She’ll get you your son if he’s yours. Trust me.”
Someone knocks and Roan calls out for them to come in. My eyes dart over to Roux, who stands by the fridge, sipping on a Coke. As soon as our guest arrives, the color drains out of her face.
“Tom,” Roan and I greet as he enters with Garrett and Samantha.
“Boys.” He smiles at Roux. “Hey, stranger.”
Roux sets her Coke down. “Were you stalking me?”
He chuckles. “I’m only looking after you.” He nods at Roan and me. “And them.”
Samantha sashays into the room, swaying her hips. I don’t miss the fact Roux’s nostrils flare in annoyance. “Tom would like to talk to you, Roux. He needs your help.”
Roux’s eyes dart to mine and I nod. She’s argued time and time again she can handle all the dark, fucked-up elements of my world. My girl is about to be tested.
“I’m going to wash today’s restaurant grime off my body while you guys talk,” I tell them. “Be back in ten.”
By the time I’ve showered and changed into some sweats and a T-shirt, Tom and Samantha are gone. Garrett is huddled with Hollis and Roan while Roux sits in the recliner, her face pale. As though she’s seen a ghost.
