Page 8 of Burning Truths

Moving to the edge of the ring to grab my bag, I hear her trying to follow, but West must stop her because the person stepping into my back is my size.

“G, don’t. I don’t want to fucking hear it. Until you have her back where she belongs, I don’t want a goddamn word falling from your mouth.” Slinging my bag over my shoulder I turn, “I left her to you and you lost her. Cole’s- “ I stop shaking my head.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. It takes monumental effort not to punch him in the face, driving his lip rings into his skin, making him hurt like I do. Clenching my fist I pull in a breath through my nose and squeeze my eyes close.

“Rye, I'll find her. I’ve already-” He cuts himself off.

Moving back a step, his eyes drop to the floor then move up to meet my hard stare.

“You what?”

His tongue slips out to play with the metal ring hooped through his lip.

Stepping forward I push into his chest, “Spit it the fuck out.”

“I called for a little help. They’ll be here tomorrow. I promised I’d find her and this is the only way I know how.” He leans into me, the fight coming back into his eyes, “She’s like a sister to me and I’m going to get her back. For you, for us. She’s a Stone through and through, no matter what her last name is. It may have taken you way too long to see it, but I’ve known from the first moment.”

I nod, letting his words sink in. “You’ve known huh?” I question, eyebrows raised.

“You can’t build the loyalty that girl was born with.”

He clasps my shoulder before moving past me to climb down from the ring. I follow suit and head for the stairs when West calls out to me.

“You know what today is Ryker. You can’t push it away any longer. Now that mom’s here, it’s time.”

I don’t turn, “Time for what?”

Rolling my shoulder to loosen up my muscles, it's the velvet voice that answers.

“You have three hours to clean up. We’ll take care of the disaster here, but son-” She pauses, waiting for me to turn, but I don’t. She lets out a heavy sigh, “Don’t let this mediocre shit happen again over a fling with a has been Kingston fallen princess. I’ve taught you better. This school has the best of the best in bloodline and you can have your pick. It’s time to step into your father’s shoes and I won’t allow the Kingston trash to tarnish this family’s name for a second time.”

I don’t give her the response she was pushing for, instead, I climb the stairs two at a time. It takes everything in me to hold back a retort, but I know she thrives on the bullshit, so I keep moving. G’s pacing on the phone outside when I step through the front door out into the bright sun. It’s barely five in the morning and the sun is out in full force. It takes a few beats for my eyes to fully adjust to the brightness, but once it does I take stock of the scene in front of me. The yard is marked with tire thread and torn up grass, the house and yard is littered with trash, and no one is in sight.

“I don’t fucking care. Handle it or I’ll do it for you, got it?” He snaps into the line.

Gio has never been one to refrain from speaking up and handling business. It’s why he’s been with us from the start. He’s loyal and strong. A fucking force. One that can and has matched my own when pushed. It’s the reason I hold so much respect for him. His hand runs through his black hair. He passes the SUV two more times before he stops at the hood and spins to meet me.

“No one can locate that bitch Jax. Little Savage seems to have lost her little pet and is now intent on passing the bullshit onto us so she can play detective for Kenna.” He spits.

I can see the weight he’s holding, the guilt eating at him, and it’s my fault he’s feeling it at all. Looking away, unable to look him in the face through my next words.

“This isn’t on you. It’s all on me. I’m the head of the family. It’s Stone business and she was my one blind spot. Cole, Kenna, dad. It’s all on me, brother.” The words taste like acid on my tongue.

Slipping my hands in my pockets, I feel the pack of cigarettes in my left one and pull them out. I place it between my lips, but come up short on a lighter. Patting my back pockets, I look to G, but see he’s already heading to me with a small metal lighter inhand. For a second, a flash of scarred skin and red blisters flash in my head.

My Killer.

Striking the flame, I puff until the end burns bright red.

“When is the funeral?” He asks, letting what I said go. He knows better than to push me too far right now.

“Three hours.”

Shaking his head, he drops the lighter into my hand and walks towards his car.

“Where are you headed?”

Opening the silver car door of the Audi, “To find our girl.”

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