Treacherous by Alex Grayson & Melissa Toppen

by Alex Grayson

  I don’t know how to react to that statement.

  Oliver takes a step toward me, reaching out to lay a tentative hand on my shoulder. “I hope one day we can move past all this. If you’re going to be in Zayden’s life, then you’re going to be in mine.”

  “Our parents are married. Pretty sure I’m in your life whether you like it or not,” I point out.

  “This is true.” He smiles, dropping his hand. “But you know what I mean.”

  “I do.”

  “I guess I should give you some time alone. I know I’ve given you a lot to process and honestly, I’ve got a few things I need to work through myself.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll track down Z and set everything straight. I know it’s not easy but be patient. This isn’t the first time he’s disappeared, and he never stays gone long. He’ll come back, and when he does, I’ll fix this. I promise.” He waits until I nod before stepping past me, pulling open my bedroom door moments later. “Oh, and you may want to give Charles a call. He was pretty worried about you last night,” he adds as he steps into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind him.

  ZAYDEN

  I CRUISE DOWN THE interstate, the radio on low, as I head back toward home. I have no desire to go back, but I know I need to. Not only for Dad and Danielle, but also because I can’t afford to miss more school. Today’s Tuesday, and while it’s only a couple of days of missed schoolwork, I refuse to let Rylee fuck up my life any more than she has.

  My blood heats as my anger comes back. I refuse to acknowledge the incessant pain in my chest, choosing instead to focus on the rage. I still can’t believe how much of a fool I was. How easy it was for her to get to me. I’m usually a good judge of character, but with her, my attraction blinded me. I should have stuck with my original assessment. Spoiled rich bitch.

  I grip the steering wheel so tight my fingers cramp. The rest of the school year is going to be hell. While I could pull an Oliver and pay her back in kind, I’m done with the games. Fuck Rylee. Fuck Oliver. Fuck the entire fucking school. There’s only a few more months left before graduation. With Danielle on the transplant list, there’s no dire need for me to be around as much. I’ve got enough money saved up to get an apartment close to campus, no matter where I decide to go, and to still help dad out financially. I’ll come back as much as I can, but as soon as school lets out, I’m out of here.

  When I walk through the front door an hour later, I’m immediately accosted by a nine-year-old hurricane.

  “I missed you,” she mumbles against my chest, tightening her arms around my waist.

  I smooth her hair from her cheeks and tip her head back so she’s looking at me. Her breathing is labored, so I pick her up and carry her to the couch where her oxygen tank is. Guilt eats at me when she takes the mask and settles it over her mouth and nose, pulling in several deep breaths.

  “I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. I just needed a bit of time away.”

  She pulls the mask away. “Please don’t do that again. I was scared you weren’t coming back.”

  Her words break my heart. “I’ll always come back, Danielle. You never have to worry about that. Never, you hear me?”

  Her lip trembles slightly. “Okay.” She nods. “Where did you go?”

  “To Aunt Teresa’s house. She actually gave me something to give you.”

  I get up to grab the bag I dropped when Danielle barreled into me and hand it to her.

  “What is it?”

  “Open it and see,” I tell her and sit back down.

  Grabbing one handle in each hand, she pulls the bag open. The knot in my chest loosens when she smiles.

  “Art supplies.” She beams up at me. “A whole bunch of them.”

  “Aunt Teresa said she’s going to come visit soon and she expects a couple of pictures from you.”

  “I can make her a hundred with everything she sent.”

  I laugh. “I’m sure two or three will do just fine. Save some for me and Dad.”

  She lifts her head from peeking in the bag of goodies, her expression turning serious once again.

  “Are you okay now?”

  I tug her toward me and place a kiss against her forehead. “I will be soon.”

  Just as soon as I get out of this godforsaken town and away from the girl who so callously wrecked me.

  Getting to my feet, movement out of the corner of my eye has me looking over at dad. Concern draws down his brows as he leans against the wall watching Danielle and me. I’ve ignored all phone calls and texts over the last couple of days, including his. He knew I was at Aunt Teresa’s house. If he needed me for anything important all he had to do was call his sister.

  “Danielle, why don’t you go find a place in your room for your new supplies?” Dad suggests, and I know it’s so he can talk to me in private. I really don’t want to talk about what happened, but I’ve got to give him something to explain my disappearance.

  After Danielle leaves the room, he walks over to the couch and sits. He tips his chin to the other end. “Take a seat.”

  I’m exhausted and want nothing more than a shower and to sleep, but I walk over and take a seat anyway.

  “You wanna tell me what happened to make you up and leave like that?” he asks, getting comfortable with one arm stretched out on the back of the couch.

  “Just some shit that happened with Rylee.” I lean forward, rest my elbows on my knees, and clasp my hands together. “It’s over between us.”

  “What happened?”

  I sigh. “Dad, I really don’t want to get into details right now. I just drove eight hours and I’m tired.”

  I feel his eyes on me for several long seconds, but he thankfully doesn’t force the issue. “It’s a shame. I really liked the girl.”

  I grunt. “I did, too, but apparently she didn’t feel the same.”

  “You sure about that? You sure it’s not something you can’t work out?”

  I bark out a harsh laugh. “I’m pretty damn sure. Even more sure that it’s certainly not something we can work out.”

  Just then, there’s a loud knock on the door.

  “That’s probably Oliver,” Dad comments. “He’s come by the last two days looking for you.”

  Why the hell is Oliver looking for me? All he’s done is avoid me as much as possible since Rylee and I got together. Although, he was there the night I caught Rylee on the verge of fucking Bryant, so maybe he’s come to renew our friendship now that we aren’t together anymore. But then I think of the way he acted right before I walked out the door. He sat on that fucking bed, looking like he was trying to comfort her. Like he actually cared and was worried about her. All the while his supposed best friend stood by feeling like his heart was being ripped from his chest.

  I get up from the couch, stomp over to the door, and yank it open. I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off, and that I’ll talk to him later, but the haggard look on his face forestalls the words. He looks like shit warmed over. His hair, which is normally styled, looks like he’s raked his hands through it a couple hundred times, and his eyes look tired and wary. His clothes are wrinkled, something Oliver wouldn’t normally allow.

  “We need to talk,” he grunts.

  Not waiting on an invitation, he shoulders past me. I shoot his back a glare and slam the door shut.

  “What do you want, Oliver?” I ask, following him into the living room where dad is still sitting comfortably on the couch.

  “Hey, Allen,” he says, ignoring my question.

  “How have you been, Oliver? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

  He shrugs. “Been busy.”

  “Oliver!” I bark.

  He turns to face me. “There are things you need to know.” He looks back at my dad. “With all due respect, sir, your son and I need to speak in private.”

  “Have at it. Maybe you can talk some sense into him about whatever’s going on
between him and that girl.”

  Oliver gives him a jerky nod, then tips his chin toward the hallway. “Bedroom,” he says to me.

  I bite back a retort and follow him to my room. I leave the door open, but he walks over and shuts it.

  “Take a seat,” he orders, like he’s my father or some shit, and my patience crumbles.

  “Just spit out what you have to say and get the fuck out. I want to be alone,” I growl.

  “Take a seat, Z,” he repeats firmly. “You’re gonna need the support after you hear what I have to say.”

  I cross my arms over my chest, silently giving him a fuck you.

  “Fine,” he grates out.

  He crosses to the desk chair, takes a seat, and leans his elbows on his knees. He looks tired and worn out.

  “There are things that went down Friday and Saturday night that you don’t know about. What you saw with Rylee wasn’t what it appeared to be.”

  A harsh laugh escapes me. “My eyes work just fine, Oliver. I know what I saw.”

  “No, you think you know what you saw, but it was wrong.”

  “What? Rylee has a twin none of us knew about and she magically happened to appear at the same party we were all at?” I ask sarcastically.

  The notion is ridiculous, but it’s the only possible explanation he could give.

  “I need to back up to Friday before I get into Saturday night’s events.” He pauses long enough to slash his fingers through his hair a couple of times. When he lifts his head again, his eyes are glazed over in a mountain full of regret. “I heard the two of you that night.” His voice is quiet. “I knew you had sex with Rylee, and it pissed me off. I was fucking jealous, because I thought I was going to lose you to her, just like I lost my mom because of Rylee’s mom. I had a girl over, Julia, and when I heard your phone ringing in your jacket, an idea formed in my head. I sent myself text messages from your phone, faking a conversation between the two of us. They basically said you were playing Rylee the whole time, that it was all a joke between us. After you left I showed her the fake messages.”

  I’m shaking by the time he stops talking. My nerves are completely shot and iron-hot lava forms in my veins. Taking out his resentment against his parent’s divorce on Rylee, I understood. But this? I was his best fucking friend. We’ve known each other for years. I considered him a brother.

  “I know you want to hit me, and you have every right. I deserve every punch you’ll inevitably throw, but there’s more you need to hear first.”

  There’s fucking more?

  What more could there be after finding out my best friend betrayed me?

  It takes every ounce of will power I possess to not beat the shit out of him this moment. Walking over to the bed, I take a seat on the end, rest my fists on my thighs, and give him a tight nod to continue.

  He blows out a long breath.

  “After showing Rylee the text messages Friday night, she was devastated. Which is exactly what I wanted. I didn’t see or hear anything from her after that. From what Charles told me after the fact, Rylee called him Saturday evening and asked him to go with her to Regina’s party. Apparently, she wanted to get out of the house and blow off some steam. He somehow lost track of her. He was looking for her when you met him at the stairs. After you beat the shit out of Bryant, you left, so you didn’t see what we saw. By the way Rylee was acting, Charles and I came to the same conclusion.”

  He stops and his eyes take on a hard look. His hands mimic mine, turning into fists between his knees.

  “What?” I snarl, dreading what I already know he’s going to say.

  “Something was slipped into her drink.”

  I explode out of my chair and pick up the first thing I come across. The lamp on my desk goes sailing across the room and shatters against the wall. I release a roar of rage and pick up a statue dad got me a couple years ago and it receives the same treatment as the lamp.

  A wave of dizziness hits me, and I realize my breathing has become erratic and uncontrolled.

  A red haze fills my vision as I begin to shake. I bend and put my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath.

  The vision of Rylee lying on that bed, drugged and out of her mind, defenseless and alone, fills my head. I fucking left her there. I fucking left her there and was gone for days. I didn’t help her. I didn’t stick around to ask questions. I just believed she was cheating on me. It fucking destroyed me to see her like that, to think she was capable of that type of betrayal. I should have stayed and demanded answers.

  I knew in my gut that wasn’t something Rylee would do, but my heart was being torn to shreds at the time, so I ran. I ran because I couldn’t handle the truth. Or what I thought was the truth. That Rylee didn’t love me like I love her. That I was just a means to an end; to get back at me.

  I squeeze my eyes shut and pull in several deep lungful’s of air, until the dizziness begins to fade. I slowly stand up and lock eyes with Dad over Oliver’s shoulder. I can’t hear what Oliver tells him, but dad looks back at him and gives a tight nod before turning and walking away, closing the door behind him.

  I lace my fingers on top of my head and regard Oliver. “Is she okay?” I ask hoarsely.

  “She’s fine now. Sunday morning she had a hell of a hangover and doesn’t remember much about the night before, but the drug had no lasting effects.”

  I drop my arms and stand rigidly. “What happened to Bryant?”

  If I had my way, he’d be six feet under. I’ve never wished death on anyone before, but damn it if I don’t wish it on the person who almost raped Rylee.

  “He had a busted jaw and a broken nose. He was forced to spend the night in the hospital. I went to see him the next day. He confirmed the assumptions that she’d been drugged. He didn’t give it to her; he was only meant to take advantage of the situation. He claims he wouldn’t have taken it all the way.”

  I narrow my eyes. “Who spiked her drink?”

  His eyes turn glacial. “Tiffany.”

  I let out a string of curses and spin around. My fist meets the wall and chunks of plaster fall to the floor.

  “I’m going to fucking kill that bitch,” I growl darkly.

  “She’s gone.”

  I spin back around and pin him with a glare. “What the hell do you mean she’s gone?”

  He stuffs his hands in his pockets.

  “Sunday, after I left Bryant, I paid a visit to Tiffany. I told her parents what Bryant said. She’d promised him a week’s worth of blow jobs to get Rylee upstairs in that room. I was going to threaten her parents with going to the cops if they didn’t ship her off somewhere, but there was no need. Apparently, they’ve been having issues with her the last couple of years. She was sent to live with her aunt in Alaska for the last few months of the school year. They’re also giving her no choice but to attend college there or be cut off.”

  Thank Christ for that. I’m not sure how much self-control I’d have if I ran into her again.

  “I also advised Bryant to not try and press charges against you. It’d be fucking stupid on his part. We may not be able to prove he knew Rylee was drugged, but if word got out, his family would suffer. We both know how important reputation is around here.”

  I grunt. Last I heard, Bryant’s dad was running for Mayor. If word got out that his son was involved in something like this, he could kiss his chance of winning goodbye. The public doesn’t take kindly to scandal, especially when it’s of the sexual variety.

  I’d still like to get my hands on the bastard again.

  “Zayden,” Oliver calls my name, pulling me from my thoughts. “I know it doesn’t mean much, but I’m sorry.”

  His apology doesn’t mean shit to me. He may not have orchestrated Rylee getting drugged, but she was at that party because of what he did.

  “You say you didn’t know at first that she was drugged?” He nods. “Then why did it look like you were trying to care for her? Before
I left, I saw you sitting on the bed and you looked concerned.”

  He drops his head for a moment before lifting tormented eyes to me. “I knew something was off. I never wanted her to get hurt like that. I swear, Zayden. I would never wish that on any woman. I knew Rylee wasn’t that type of girl, and I knew she was only there because of what I did. I felt like shit for my part in it. But when I saw how much it hurt you when you thought she cheated on you, it made me see how much you actually care for her. I thought she was just some girl you were using to pass the time, but she isn’t. I felt like the lowest bastard for hurting you like that and for almost getting her raped.”

  That last word has my blood boiling again. Bryant said he wouldn’t have taken it all the way, but he could have just been saying that to save his own ass. The thought of it being a possibility makes me want to find the bastard and finish what I was forced to stop that night.

  As calmly as I can, I walk over to Oliver. He stiffens and stands, but he doesn’t move away from my advance. Once I’m in front of him, I take a good look at my best friend. I don’t even know if I want to label him as a friend at all anymore.

  The Oliver I know can be a bastard and sometimes mean, but I believe him when he says he’s sorry and that he never meant for it to go this route. But it’s hard for me to look past his role in all of this. Knowing that it was his selfishness that hurt Rylee in such a cruel way, albeit unintentionally, is something I’m not sure I can get over.

  Without warning, I rear back and clock him in the jaw. He stumbles back a step and bumps into the desk chair, losing his balance. He falls to his ass, then slumps back until he’s lying down. He holds his nose, as blood trickles out from between his fingers.

  I stand over him.

  “I don’t know if I can ever forgive you for what you did. But if I ever find out you so much as say one bad word about Rylee ever again, I’ll take you out. You got me?”

  With his hand still covering his nose, he looks right at me, no anger, only understanding, and gives me a single nod.