Page 91 of Crew
We waited, but Race didn't yell. If he had, duct tape soon would've covered his mouth. The guys pulled him up into a sitting position in the middle of the bed. Cross and Zellman stood back, but they were ready on either side, prepared to jump in if Race tried to bolt.
"I'm not going to yell." Race eyed the roll of tape in Jordan's hands. "I know what will happen then."
With that confirmation, Jordan stepped aside.
"We just want to talk to you," I said from behind them. "We're not here to hurt you."
Cross grunted. "Unless we have to."
Race started to lift his head to scowl at Cross, but I stepped forward.
I was the speaker this time.
I was the visual too. We wanted Race to see all the bruises on me. We wanted him to see what his cousin had done and yet, only a few hours later, I was standing here.
We wanted him to see what I'd endured and we would still come after him.
The scowl was forgotten. Race stilled, seeing me, and he cursed. "Fuck."
Zellman jostled next to me. "Shut up and listen to her."
The shock dwindled. Race's features clouded with anger. He started to struggle, trying to get free. "My mom went to get ice. She'll be back--"
"Your mom is getting shit-faced in Fallen Crest. She'll probably sleep in some old rich dude's bed tonight," Jordan countered. He folded his arms over his chest, nodding to me. "Listen to what she's got to say, and then we can go. No harm, no foul here."
Race's glare didn't go anywhere, but I didn't expect it to.
"You told me you came here to fight and because your parents are getting a divorce," I began.
This wasn't new to the guys, and no one reacted. All wore stone-cold expressions.
Zellman added, "We don't believe you're trying to become our sidekick because Drake told you to do that. That's weak, man."
I kept going as if Z hadn't said a word. "You keep stepping in. All our fights, you're there helping. We don't trust Normals, and while we're grateful for what you did, we can't let it go anymore. We have to know the real reason for it."
"You doing all this cause you're sweet on Bren?" Jordan asked. "Is this all for pussy?"
"Fuck off!" I snapped at him.
He lifted a shoulder. He didn't seem like he was sorry.
"You think I'm doing this because I want in her pants?" Race asked.
"Why are you doing it?" Cross lifted his chin, his eyes blazing.
Race sat forward, his eyes glazed, like he wasn't even in the room at the moment. Then he lifted a shoulder like Jordan had done.
"God. Fine. You guys are like bloodhounds. You want to know why I'm helping you?" He glared at all of us. "It's because I fucking hate my cousin. Okay? Got that? I hate my cousin. I hate his crew. I hate my uncle and my aunt. I hate how it's their fault that my parents are getting a divorce. I hate everything about their fucking world, and I want to destroy it all."
I...hadn't expected that.
"You're doing this because of your parents?"
"My aunt had an affair with my dad--"
"Then why the fuck are you here?"
Race kept on like Jordan hadn't said a word. "--but my mom doesn't know. She knows my dad was cheating on her, and the last affair was the straw that broke the camel's back, you know? She used to find out who the women were, but not this last one. He kept her hidden."
