Page 157 of Zero Chance

I waved, she waved back, and then she shut the door.

Her mom waited until she was out of earshot and halfway back to the porch before snarling, “If you think you’re going to see my daughter again?—”

Without looking at her, I pushed the window button, rolling it back up and muffling whatever bullshit she was going to say next.And only once it was completely closed, did I turn to look at her, my glare scathing.

If I followed my girl’s advice and took a step back from this, I could understand why Ms.B was worried—I could even appreciate the fact that she cared about her daughter—but I still thought she was being a complete bitch and reacting in the worst way possible.

Scowling back, she flashed her teeth at me, then whirled and stalked off, following her daughter to the door.I waited in the Jeep, making sure both women made it inside safely before I put the engine into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

As soon as I was on the road, I fetched my phone and dialed a familiar number.

“What’s this?”Parker’s voice drawled curiously by way of greeting.“Is Duggie callingme?I heard you weren’t going to approach me first.Ihad to be the one to start the truce between us.”

“Yeah, well…” I rolled my eyes.“What do you want me to say?You’ve got the bigger dick.Congratulations.Are you going to help me with a problem, or not?”

There was a pause, and I could feel Ohrley’s surprise leak through the phone.But he answered with, “Of course, little brother.Always.What do you need?”

“Vengeance,” I said.“A handful of fucking ballers harassed Waverly at the library tonight.”

“Harassed herhow?”Parker demanded, his voice going hard.

“How do youthink?”I snarled.“They saw me kissing her goodbye before I left for the evening and thought she was open season.One put his fucking hands on her, tried to kiss her, and then a whole slew of them chased her when she ran off; they cornered her in the?—”

“Their names?”Parker ground out.

“I don’t know their fucking names.She didn’t either.Just that they were on the team.But campus police took them down to the station so there’s probably a record of?—”

“That’s enough information for me,” Parker cut in.“I’ll take it from here.The fuckers will never play ball again, I promise you.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I closed my eyes briefly as I paused at a red light.“Thanks, man.I appreciate it.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Duggie.This one will be my pleasure.”

I nodded, grateful I had a rich prick for a friend who happily ruined the lives of anyone who fucked with one of his people.

After a moment of neither of us saying anything, he cleared his throat and mumbled, “So yeah, I’m sorry I refused to tell you about Waverly being your?—”

“It’s fine,” I broke in, probably more uncomfortable about hearing an apology from him than he was giving it.“All water under the bridge,” I added.“She told me why you did it.”Shuddering in sympathy over the whole suicide thing, I murmured, “She told me everything.”

Parker was quiet before surprise filtered through the line.“She…did?”

“Yeah, about her depression and suicide attempt.And, man, I don’t know how to thank you enough for saving her life when she overdosed.I just—yeah… Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that either,” he said before pausing for an extended moment and then clearing his throat.“So that’s all she told you about?The suicide attempt?”

I frowned.“Why?What else is there to know?”

“I—” I could hear him hissing his regret under his breath for revealing too much.

“Hey.I don’t like you knowing shit about her that I don’t,” I growled.

“I know,” he snapped back.“And I’d tell you.I swear to God, Keene.I hate keeping shit from you.But it’s not my place, and it’s not my story.It’s hers.And she should be the one to tell it when she’s ready.Trust me, youwanther to be the one to tell it because when she does, you’ll know she can trust you with anything.”

“Fuck,” I breathed, my throat dropping into my stomach as I reached home.“Is it that bad?”

“It ain’t good,” he answered gravely, and my mind started to spin with all kinds of dark horrors.

“You’re freaking me out,” I told him, hoping he’d give me at least a hint to ease my mind.

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