Page 95 of Dozer

“I’m on my way.”

I hung up and rushed to the group. “I think the Crawlers know about Pippa. Vance is on his way to her place. They broke in.”

“It’s not going to be the Crawlers,” Levi snapped. “She’s in trouble.”

Hana held up the notes. “It’s him. Her fucking professor.”

“What?” The ground shifted beneath my feet.

Levi touched my hand, keeping me focused on what they were saying rather than flying into a fucking rage. “He won’t leave her alone. I know she’s scared, but she’s convinced he’s not dangerous. The other day at school, he cornered her.”

I took off in a run. I scrambled onto my bike, hit the throttle, and raced toward Pippa’s house. Why the fuck hadn’t she told me? I recalled the times she’d declined phone calls, hid her screen from me, and this morning how she’d evaded my questions.

Brilliant, stupid girl. Fuck. I throttled back, propelling the bike forward and roared through the streets. When I arrived, Vance’s bike rested in the drive. The garage door was open. With my 9mm in my hand, I burst through the door.

Vance surged from the hall, facing off against me in the kitchen.

“Who was here?”

“Fuck if I know. She won’t say shit, but she’s freaking the fuck out.”

I raced to the bedroom.

“Pip.”

Her wide eyes turned to me. “Get out, Dozer.”

Sweat trickled along her face. She’d stripped the bed. Steam billowed from the bathroom. She’d shoved the sheets, pillows, and blanket into the shower.

“Baby.” I set my gun on the dresser.

“Baby?” She stilled. “Don’t you mean Heller whore.”

“God, no. Fuck, Pip, if you’d told me about the notes, about the shit you’ve been going through, I’d have taken care of the problem. He’d never write another fucking note. He’d be lucky to hold a spoon once I broke every bone in his hand.” I took a hesitant step toward her. Blood rushed through my ears, and my heart was in my throat. The wild beat hit with the force of a fist.

“Vai al diavolo!Go to hell! You need to leave.”

I sat on the edge of the bed. “Please, talk to me.”

“Get off!” she screamed. “Get off the bed,” she wailed with a choking sob.

I lunged to my feet and reached for her. “What the fuck happened?”

“Don’t touch me.” She backed away. Her red rimmed eyes were swollen. “I’m a lying, fucking bitch.”

“I was angry.” No excuse. “I’m sorry.” But I didn’t just fail her today. I didn’t have her trust. And I proved today she didn’t have mine.

More motorcycles roared into the drive. A door slammed, and Romeo burst into the room.

When Pippa saw Romeo, she crumbled to her knees and covered her face with her hands.

“She doesn’t want me,” I said, and took a step back. I didn’t blame her. Insecurity had me jumping to my fallback emotion, jealousy. When I struck, I didn’t care who I hurt. “Help her,” I said to Romeo.

I’d never felt like this, like an open gash in my chest, feeling life seep out from the black hole where I was supposed to have a heart.

Romeo crouched on the floor in front of her. “Pip, come on.” He pried her hands from her face.

Hana rushed into the room and shoved Romeo out of the way. “Move.” She wrapped her arms around Pippa. “Did he hurt you?”

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