Page 59 of Unloaded
My eyes close to block out the pain, but it doesn’t help the ache that has set up in my chest. “I need a favor,” I continue, turning and opening my eyes to making eye contact with Bo. “I don’t know how long I’ll be tied up with law enforcement. Make sure she’s comfortable, will ya?”
Bo glares at me long enough that I begin to squirm under his scrutiny. After a long inspection, he agrees instead of arguingwith me again. He gives my shoulder another squeeze and heads for the front door.
“Dalton? Rachel out of here,” I command my closest friend, who’s a brother from another mother. He’s giving me the stink eye, but he nods.
I hate what happened between Enos and me. I lost control. I’d never have done that before losing the 1Lt, but since? It’s happened much too often. What if I’d lost my shit with Ricky or Nicky? They’re not even eighteen, yet.
I could be charged with child abuse by an authority figure (I know I’m not really an authority figure, but I am in their world) not to mention I’d have Rachel to deal with, and I honestly think I’d rather fight my brother than her. She doesn’t fight fair. She makes me feel shit I don’t want or need to be feeling.
Dalton and Rachel advance toward me. She eyes me with uncertainty. The need to hold and comfort her and take that look away is overwhelming, but I don’t. I can’t keep leading her on. No matter how much she says she understands we aren’t a forever deal, I can read her like a book. She wants forever. She’s a forever kind of woman.
Approaching me, she tiptoes to kiss me, but I don’t respond, keeping my eyes off hers, even though it takes all my restraint not to take her in my arms.
“Thank you,” she whispers, good-bye in her tone. That gets my attention. My eyes find hers, and I see the resignation in them. “For everything.”
Then she’s gone. I don’t even have time to process she just walked away.
“Huge fucking mistake, bro.” Dalton slaps the back of my head, this time, before he too walks away, leaving me alone in what’s left of my destroyed home. My stomach drops and sick feeling washes over me. It feels like the world is coming to an end.What the fuck did I just do?
26
RACHEL
Iwill not cry. I will not cry.This is the mantra on repeat in my head as I walk over the broken glass and debris that had once been Rosco’s beautiful home. I pass Luke at the entry. He reaches out to comfort me, but I ignore him and keep walking. I can’t take kindness at the moment, or I’ll fall apart, which I refuse to do.
I’d overheard the fight between Rosco and Enos. I’d also heard what Rosco had said to Bo. I’d decided, then and there, I will not fight it. He isn’t going to fight for me, for us, so I’ll go with my dignity. I’d grabbed my duffle from his room and my gun from the closet floor. Mercifully I hadn’t unpacked it last night, being too occupied with other things.
Dalton, being the sweetheart he is, doesn’t say a word as we leave. He hurries ahead of me to open the passenger side door of one of the Invictus Company’s SUVs. He lands in the driver’s seat moments later and puts the vehicle in reverse to back out of the driveway.
Rosco doesn’t come out to watch us leave, unlike the rest of the men. Even Enos, who just had a knockdown, drag out fight with his brother, gives us a chin lift as we pass, while pinching his nose to stem the flow of blood.
Even though my heart is breaking, I manage to keep it together. Breathing deeply, I begin counting in my head. It centers and calms me. The end of Rosco and Enos’s fight plays on repeat in my head.
I know Enos was just pissed and lashing out to hurt Rosco with his words, but those words have indirectly hurt me, too. Enos just confirmed every doubt Rosco has had about us.
Ifwe are successful in getting my brothers back and removing the threat from my stepfather, I’ll never be able to convince Rosco he’s wrong when his own damn brother just said every fucked-up thing Rosco’s had going on in his head. I’ve lost the war before the first battle has even begun.
It's for the best.I know this, but a growing part of me had hoped…no, hadwantedthings to be different. Different for me, different for him. I’d roll my eyes for letting myself believe we had a chance, but I don’t have the energy. I’m completely spent. I have nothing left to give, not right now.
Nicky and Ricky are my priority. Finding out where Reginald is holding them is paramount. My mind races with possibilities. He could’ve taken them back to Lawrence’s, but I don’t think he’d do that. He’ll be focused on getting them back to Chicago where he can groom them to be what he wants.
Nausea rolls through me, but I will my stomach to settle. I don’t have time for weakness. I have to be strong. They need me.
Thankfully Dalton is the quiet, reflective type most of the time anyway. He doesn’t seem to need to fill the silence with mindless chatter, nor does he attempt to get me to ‘talk about it’. He doesn’t try to bullshit me into not worrying about the twins or what might be happening to them.
Thirty minutes later, we arrive at Luke and Marley’s beachfront home. It’s a place I’ve always loved visiting, but it doesn’t have the same appeal today. My brothers are in the wind,and a certain sexy man, who gave me the best orgasms of my life, isn’t here.
Having had time to think on the ride over, I know what I need to do. I have to locate the boys, get them away from Reginald, and then we need to get the hell out of Dodge. I need my van. It’s still sitting inBaby Girl’sparking lot where Rosco had insisted I leave it yesterday when he kidnapped me for the catering event.
Dalton parks in the driveway, but before he can get out, I reach over and place my hand on his forearm. “Will you do me a favor?”
Our eyes meet. He studies me a minute, but then nods, again without words. “Is it possible to have someone go by the restaurant and bring my van here?” Another intense stare. I can tell he’s working something out in his mind, but eventually he nods.
He pulls his phone from his back pocket typing out a quick text. Then he exits and comes around the SUV. He helps me out of the monstrosity of a vehicle.What’s with all the company tanks?
Yeah, I know it’s an SUV, but they are huge, and I’m pretty sure they’ve had some serious modifications. The doors are heavier and thicker than average.Are they bullet proof?
“Rachel!” Marley calls from the front door, ending my musings. Before I can stop her, she hurries to wrap me up in her warm embrace. “Are you all right? Luke said there’d been an attack on Rosco’s house?”
