Page 39 of Hate the Way You Lie (Hate 2)

Somehow, I know he’s not going to hurt me. I don’t know how to explain it, but I can tell he’s trying to protect me. Of course, he would, we’re friends.

“Come on, Rocky, let’s get you back home.” His deep voice rumbles through his chest as he lifts me from the ground, carrying me bridal style. Leaning my head against his hard chest, I exhale loudly before allowing my eyes to drift shut.

“We can’t leave it. We can’t. Put me down, please. We have to keep it,” I croak, frantically trying to open my eyes.

“Seriously?” he groans.

“Look at it! It has no one else.” My focus should not be on this ragged-looking dog, but I can’t help in finding similarities between me and the little thing.

“No fucking way. We are not taking the dog.”

“Zep. Please,” I whimper. I don’t know why, but I feel like I need to protect the dog. I need to keep the dog safe just like it kept me safe.

“Fine,” he grumbles, and a small smile plays at my chapped lips knowing I’ve won this argument with my stubborn friend.

I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. Every ounce of fight I had has drained from my body. If Zep is taking me back to Zayan, I don’t have the strength in me to get away, not like I could overpower him, but I don’t think that’s where he’s going to take me.

“Now, let’s get you back where you belong.” His voice softly drifts in my ears.

“I don’t belong anywhere. I don’t have a home anymore.” The words slip from my lips as the darkness consumes me.

My finger aimlessly draws a line down the rough white brick of my house as I bounce my head steadily against it—the complete opposite feeling of Tara’s smooth skin and soft lips.

I thought the fresh air would help me calm down, but it hasn’t done a damn thing to keep me from obsessing over her.

Fuck.Tara.

It’s only been a week since she’s been gone, but it feels like forever, and we’ve got jack shit. Just like I am, the others are sulking, feeling defeated and hopeless. It’s been hell without her, and this house feels like a fucking prison, empty and cold. She gave this place life, and I took hers away.

Reilly has grown even more distant over the past few days, and I don’t blame him. I’m the reason the woman he obviously loves is in danger. It’s my fault he’s hurting. I always thought Reilly and I would choose each other over anything, but I’ve learned that a good woman trumps a brotherhood.

Rush hasn’t completely shut me out yet. He does his job and gives me short answers to questions that have to do with Tara, but anything else, he ignores me. At least he still does that, but I can tell I’m slowly losing him too. He wants to beat me to a pulp, but I think he’s waiting until Tara gets back to take another swing at me.

Finding her is starting to seem impossible. I just want to know she’s safe. I want to know that she will come back to us in one piece.

My phone shrills in my pocket and I dig it out, answering without looking at the caller ID.

“Yeah?” The pounding of my heart booms in my ears. Praying whoever is on the line has some good news.

“That’s no way to greet an old friend now, is it?”Randall’s croaky voice echoes through the speaker.

Not fucking now. I can’t deal with his shit. “What do you want?” I seethe.

I should’ve checked the caller ID so I didn’t have to deal with this fucker. I figured it would be one of the Snakes telling me they found her, but instead, it’s Randall trying to make a shitty day even worse.

“Just seeing how that little wife of yours is. A little birdie told me she hasn’t been around much lately. She left your arrogant ass already? Or is this all a game?”

How the fuck would he know that? It’s not like it’s been broadcasted, and although it feels like she’s been gone an eternity, it hasn’t been that long.

Something about this seems suspicious. I wouldn’t be surprised if Crowe has people watching my every move just waiting for me to slip up so he can have control.

Fuck the firm. Fuck my dad’s will. And fuck Randall Crowe. At this moment, that shit means absolutely nothing to me.

“Fuck off, Randall.” I hang up before he gets a chance to piss me off even more. I probably shouldn’t feed into his little plan, and I should’ve come up with some kind of excuse, but anger is driving me right now. Every rational thought I could have has gone out the window.

As soon as my finger hits the red circle, my phone lights up with another call. One that makes my heart skip a beat.

Viper.

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