Page 113 of Relapse
Fuck.
I pulled out my phone and texted a number I recently added. I couldn’t go back and change the past, but I could damn well make sure she was safe now.
Me: Carving the raven in his chest was a nice touch.
Ned: I don’t know what you’re talking about?
Me: Don’t play games with me, asshole.
Ned: The games have just begun. Besides, I think you should be a little more concerned with the living than the dead.
A shiver ran down my spine as my eyes shot up to Parker. “Call Lana.”
“What…”
“Right fucking now!”
“Alright,” he muttered and made the call.
Relief washed over me when Lana answered and said they were having a drink on the patio.
Then Parker shot out of his chair. “What the fuck was that?”
The horror on his face chilled me to the bone.
“Angel, answer me!”
When no response came, Parker snatched his jacket. “We gotta go.”
“What’s going on?” I asked, following him out the door.
The entire world stopped with four words.
“Someone’s shooting at them.”
* * *
I slappedthe dashboard of Parker’s station wagon. “Hurry the fuck up.”
Why the fuck did we take the mommy mobile? My Corvette would’ve been there by now. Instead we were trudging along, as fast as this thing could go, and I was ready to jump out and race it down the driveway. What if Harper was hurt? What if she was shot, or worse?
Everywhere I went I’d see that red hair that pissed me off. She was always there. In school, around town, fuck, I’d even run into her at the doctor’s office. I’d spent so much time consumed with making Harper’s life hell, I never thought about what I’d do if she wasn’t there. How empty would the halls in Ashworth feel if I didn’t see her?
No, stop thinking like that. She’s fine.
There was another time I thought those exact words.She’s fine.But she wasn’t fine. Not at all. Harper was drowning, and I took away her life preserver. I just couldn’t see it.
Please God let there still be time to make this right.
Would I suddenly become a pussy ass bitch that rolled over and took shit from his woman? No. I’d still be the same asshole I always was. But I’d make damn sure that Harper was safe and no one ever hurt her again.
Harper was mine. She’d always been mine. And despite how much I hated her, I’d always been hers. That’s what it all boiled down to in the end. Her and I. All the bullshit with Micha, the crap with Lou, even my addiction issues, were all because I couldn’t admit one thing to myself.
I still loved her.
I never stopped.
And now I might never get to tell her.
