Page 23 of Frenemies

These two were so sappy it made me miss the days when I had to watch Logan fawn over his girl. Public displays of affection were not a strong enough term for what he did to that girl.

I watched Jaz sigh and cuddle into her husband’s embrace. She was one tough chick. In the few months I’d known her, I’d seen her kick the asses of numerous bikers. She refused to back down, even to the biggest one of the bunch–which just so happened to be her husband. In fact, there was only one person I’d seen her bow down to—Chase.

She worried more about him than his mother would. I figured that was why she didn’t come down here with us. Jaz said she had something to do, but that was bullshit. I knew something about not wanting to see someone you love in pain. I’d lived through that nightmare more than once…

Ava was crying.Her sobs echoed through my ears louder than Daddy’s drum set. Mommy was always telling him to play them in the garage because of the volume. I wished he was playing them right now, so I wouldn’t have to hear Ava.

I didn’t want to see her either. That’s why I hugged my knees and hid in them when Ryker dragged Ava over to the pool table. Ava was my friend, I should help her, but I was too scared to move. Every time I fought past the stink of sweat filling my nostrils and prepared to move, someone would grunt, and I’d freeze again.

“Sweet, Ava,” Nash hissed, making me tuck my face further away. “Your tears are so beautiful.”

I hated the sound of his voice. Daddy said police were the good guys, but the sheriff gave me more nightmares than the monster in my closet. Maybe we could’ve done something against Logan’s dad–there was only one Ryker and three of us–but when Nash arrived…

“I’m telling Dean,” Logan yelled from beside me.

Dean was Ava’s daddy, but I was more scared of her brother Preston. Her daddy was too nice to fight off the boogeyman.

Ryker’s growl sent a shiver down my spine. “Quiet down, boy!”

I whimpered and shuffled back against the wall. Logan shouldn’t have said anything. He knew better than to make his dad mad.

“It’s okay, Naomi,” I flinched when Logan’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. “I won’t let them touch you.”

He was just a kid—he couldn’t stop them. None of us could. The only thing I could do was stay huddled on the floor and hope they forgot I was here. If I couldn’t see them, then they couldn’t see me.

“Don’t worry, Naomi,” Nash sang. “As soon as we’re done with your friend, we’ll play with you.”

I didn’t want to move, but suddenly, Logan seemed like the safest spot in the room. I couldn’t stop myself from hiding in his arms, even though I knew he was nowhere close to safe. He got it worse than any of us. Daddy’s should love their kids, not hurt them.

“Leave Naomi alone,” Ava yelled.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I pushed off Logan’s chest and met my friend’s angry glare. Ava had two brothers, so she was stronger than me, but she knew better. Sometimes being brave was worse than being quiet. Ryker didn’t like it when we talked back, and no matter how bad things were, they could always get worse.

“Ava, Ava, Ava,” Ryker tsked and walked over to pick up a cue. “We really need to work on your manners. . .”

“Whatever he said to you,”Jaz rested her hand on my shoulder, pulling me back from memories better forgotten. “You know he didn’t mean it, right?”

Oh, he meant it.

Chase wanted to push me away because it’d be easier to destroy himself if he didn’t have to give a shit about anyone else. Problem was, Chase Mathers didn’t have shit on the boogeyman.

If he wanted to hurt me, he’d have to try a lot harder than throwing random fucks in my face. What he did with his dick wasn’t anywhere near as important as what he did with his heart. Besides, I was better at this game.

“Don’t worry about me.” I waved at her and headed for my car. “I have thick skin.”

“Be careful, Naomi,” Jaz warned. “Your skin’s never as thick as you think.”

That might be true for some people, but they hadn’t been through half the crap I had. I promised myself years ago that the actions of others wouldn’t affect me. That’s what all the monsters in this world wanted—a reaction. As long as I didn’t give it to them, they’d leave me alone.

Ready to put this day behind me, I sighed and opened the driver’s side door. I stopped when a loud boom thundered through the sky so loud that it shook the ground under my feet.

My gaze turned up to the pillar of black smoke rising in the air. It wasn’t close enough to tell where it was coming from, but I could see the tips of flames off in the distance. Something was burning but good.

Not my problem.

Beast shielded his eyes and stared off as three fire engines flew past with their sirens blaring. Jaz was about as interested in it as I was. By the time Beast dropped his hand, she was already putting her helmet on and getting ready to go herself. I was with her. Who cared about some random fire?

Apparently, Ava did. She was calling before I could slide in the car and shut the door.

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