Page 27 of Rampant

“Bullshit,” he muttered. “Whatyouputherthrough?” He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “She screwed you over, man. She had it coming.”

“No one deserves that.”

“Her spoiled ass did.”

“A couple of days ago you cared enough about her ‘spoiled ass’ to look into her whereabouts.”

Jax sighed. “I did it for you. Not like it did any good though. She must’ve been hiding on the moon.”

We arrived on the fourth floor, and I stepped out before Jax could further needle me. His footfalls landed with more attitude than usual. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something about the situation rubbed him the wrong way—besides the whole we-could-go-to-jail aspect. Something aboutAlexrubbed him the wrong way.

We turned the corner and headed down another hall. Up ahead, a circular reception desk took up the middle. A woman sat on the other side of the counter, eyeing me behind feminine pink glasses, when a bulky form stepped in the way.

“You’ve got balls to show up here.”

I met the hard-as-nails gaze of Abbott De Luca, a man I’d once admired. The calendar told me a lot of time had passed since then, but it seemed like only yesterday his opinion of me mattered. The man I remembered had given me his utmost respect. Time and accusations sure had a way of changing things. Now he stared me down as if I were a cockroach that needed exterminated.

“I’ve always had balls. You know that.” He’d been impressed with the way I handled myself during fights. Determined with a ruthless edge, was what he used to say about me. Though Zach never admitted it, I knew my relationship with his father had bothered him.

“What are you doing here, Mason?”

“I came to see Alex.” I cleared my throat, wondering if she’d told him about the kidnapping. “Is she okay?”

His gaze darted left then right. “Let’s go into the lounge.” His attention glanced off Jax, and I introduced them as we moved into the vacant room. Abbott closed the door before turning to me with a glare capable of icing the bowels of Lucifer.

“You’ve got one minute to explain yourself before I have you removed by force.”

I held up my hands. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I don’t remember shit about the last eight years. Doctor calls it dissociative amnesia.”

“How convenient.”

“Just tell me, is she all right?”

“She’s fine. She’ll recover.”

His tone hit me in the chest hard. It was so…unfeeling. “I want to see her.” I had to see her. Something wasn’t right about all of this.

He lifted a brow. “Do you honestly think I’d let my daughter’s convicted rapist anywhere near her? You’re lucky I don’t call the cops.” He stepped forward, bringing his chest inches from mine. I held my ground, refusing to back down.

I opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, to say how I was innocent…except I didn’t know for sure. How could I know what I was guilty of if I couldn’t remember?

He poked a finger at my chest. “I want you out of Alexandra’s life.”

I tilted my head. “I’m not in her life.”

He thrust his face into mine. “I know you kidnapped her. I don’t give a shit if you remember or not, but if you come anywhere near her again, I’ll do far worse than have you arrested.”

Jax slumped into a chair. “Told you this was a bad idea.”

I returned Abbott’s hard stare. “She told you?”

“Please,” he scoffed. “She didn’t have to.”

“Why aren’t you pressing charges?”

“Alexandra has been through enough. The last thing she needs right now is another trial. She needs treatment. Because of you, she almost killed herself, just like her mother.”

His words punched me in the gut. I turned away, unable to return his disgusted gaze. Or maybe the disgust I saw in his eyes was a reflection of my own. Jax hadn’t given me details on what I’d put her through after we’d taken her, but for her to feel the need to end her life…

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