Page 50 of Left in the Dark

Zayne

My hands clench and unclench as I stalk into the bar. Striding behind the counter, I snatch my cell phone and call Dad.

“Hey, Zayne. What’s?—"

“I need you to come to the bar. I’ve gotta get the hell outta here.” I give him a brief rundown, putting him on speakerphone so Ian can fill in the details of Delaney’s injuries.

“Zayne. Don’t do anything foolish. You don’t know if it was Tim who hurt her.”

I don’t give a shit.That asshole is capable of abuse.

“Why don’t you call her and try talking to her?”

“I’ll try, but I’m not sure she’ll answer.” I don’t tell him about Delaney walking in on Jayleen kissing me.

Fuck. When she needed me the most, she thought I was kissing some drunken barfly.

Hanging up with my dad, I call Delaney’s burner phone. It rings and goes to voice mail. I’m about to leave her a message when the door opens, and Tim, Daniel, and Aidan stroll inside, smug grins on their faces.

“Don’t act irrationally,” Ian whispers, touching my shoulder. I shrug him off, marching over to the trio of jackasses.

“What the fuck are you assholes doing here?”

Tim smirks at me. “Just checking to make sure Delaney didn’t sneak —”

I lunge for him, but Ian grabs me. Tim, Aidan, and Daniel run out the door as I growl and flail like a madman.

“Zayne. Come on. It’s not?—”

I head-butt him, and he releases me, staggering back. “Sorry, Ian. I’ve gotta go.” Shoving my phone into my back pocket, I sprint out the door.

When I hit the parking lot, the assholes are in their vehicle. Tim leans out the driver’s side window, his middle finger in the air. “You gonna chase us, pussy?”

The vein throbs in my temple as I run toward my truck.

I start it and slam it in reverse. Loose gravel on the pavement hits the bottom of my truck as I shift into drive and take off, my eyes zeroing in on Tim’s vehicle a short distance away.

Pressing my foot on the accelerator, I chase after them, adrenaline coursing through my veins. My knuckles are white as they grip the steering wheel, rage pounding in my ears.

I’ve had enough of their shit. I’m gonna fucking kill all three of these bastards.

My phone rings, but I ignore it, focused on Tim’s pretentious SUV ahead.

He slams on the brakes and makes a sharp left into the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse. I stomp on the accelerator harder, and a few minutes later, I’m turning in behind them.

I slow down as my truck sinks into the potholes I can’t avoid. This place has been abandoned for years, so it’s fallen into ruin.

I curse as my headlights illuminate what appears to be a chunk of concrete block in the parking lot. Swerving around it, my headlights glimpse the tail end of Tim’s silver SUV.

An evil grin turns up my lips as I slowly drive around the building and park my truck. Quietly opening the door, I slip out, pocketing my keys before stealthily creeping around the building.

My eyes adjust to the darkness as I move, my ears straining. When I spot a piece of metal pipe lying on the ground, I grab it, leveling the playing field. It’s no longer three against one.

As I get closer to the edge of the building, I hear Aidan’s voice. “Are you ready?”

“Shut up, dumbass. Of course, I’m ready.” Tim’s voice shakes slightly.

I see them standing with their backs to me, obviously waiting for me to come around the other side.

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