Page 56 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

She laughed, not caring if it made him angry. “No one would ever mistake you for Rip.”

He sniffed. “You did. You rubbed your sweet little body up against me like a hot, juicy fuck. Too bad we didn’t go any farther than that. Damn Buddy ruined it all,” he said in a sugary saccharine tone.

She needed to keep him talking.

“Did Jackson Mellough convince me to not pursue charges on purpose? Did he know it was you?”

“Later, he and I became friends once I came back to town. He was another that liked his pockets lined with green. I confessed what I’d done, but you know what he did? He laughed. He and I had something in common. We liked women…a lot. He confessed a lot of things to me too, which was an important strategy. I couldn’t have him growing a guilty conscious and turning me in. So, we both had dirt on each other—mutually assured destruction, and let me tell you, he was a wicked human being. He made me look like a saint.”

“What about Parker? Does she know anything?”

His evil laugh vibrated her ears. “Are you kidding? She’s clueless. Of course, I’ve been the best husband. Keeping her knocked up so much that she only has motherhood on the brain. Also, to keep things safe for me, I admitted that you and I slept together graduation night. That way if this plan wasn’t successful, I’d have her on my side letting everyone know that what happened between us was consensual. These cases are hard to prove. That’s why women don’t come forward.”

“You’re a sick bastard. You don’t deserve to call yourself a man. Parker will eventually catch on. Lies always unravel.”

“I don’t think so. I thought I’ve been clever. Unfortunately, I believed sending Rip to see you, to tell you the news about Tuck and deliver the letter would be a deciding factor in keeping you from Second Chance. I was wrong. I should have come myself. I would have done a better job, but when you showed up it was too late for me to find a reason for you to leave.” He tugged at his collar. “Anyway, I couldn’t risk you having a memory float back into your mind. I’ve read that sometimes a drugged woman can be triggered. I don’t get afraid too often and who’d believe you now? But a man can’t risk everything over some chick that was in his past. You only had to leave. As simple as that. Yet, you had to stay, and bring everyone’s attention to that little incident. I knew then that things were going to get fucked up and fast. Now let’s get this over with.” He hit the ‘unlock’ button on the panel.

“You’re right. They did. And you made one huge error.”

He looked over at her, his glare glistening in the dashboard lighting. “What’s that?”

“You didn’t realize a mother will do anything to stay alive for her child.” She picked up the hot coffee from the cupholder and splashed him in the face. He howled in pain.

Chapter 19

Rip almost felt sorry for Buddy, but not enough to back off. Rip would get the answers that he wanted. So far, Buddy didn’t seem to want to talk.

“Why did you attack Gavin?” Bend bit out. Apparently, he’d reached his limit too.

Buddy didn’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation. When he sat there staring at his hands that were unusually clean, like they’d been recently scrubbed, Rip took a step forward. “If you don’t start talking, you’re going to be charged with a list of crimes.”

“I wasn’t there,” he muttered.

Bend pulled over the swivel hair and sat down in front of Buddy. “Bullshit. We have you on camera in the vicinity. You arrived at the hotel moments before the victim returned. Tell us how you got into the room.”

“The door was left unlocked,” he blurted, instantly realizing what he let slip.

Bend eased back into the chair, the leather creaking under his weight. “Then you were there, and we want to know why you beat Gavin and left this?” Bend swiped the photo off the desk and held it inches in front of Buddy’s face. He didn’t look. “You can’t even look at her, can you? Are you ashamed over what you’ve done to her?”

This made his eyes widen slightly. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’d never hurt her.”

“I believe you, Buddy,” Rip said calmly. “Yet, your involvement in this situation is overwhelming. Tuck trusted you. How do you think he’d feel knowing you hurt his daughter?”

“Hemade Noelle upset. She shouldn’t be made to feel upset.” He huffed, puffing out his cheeks. “I didn’t mean to hurt him but he made me so angry. I saw how he made Noelle upset.” He clenched his hands into fists in his lap.

“So, then you were at Bluebird watching when Gavin showed up?” Bend asked.

“Yes. I wouldn’t hurt her though. She’s always been my friend.”

“We have a word for what you’ve been doing, Buddy. Stalking. I’m sure you’re familiar with the word.” Bend shook his head.

“I didn’t mean it to be. She’s pretty and nice. Her baby is cute. And I want to protect her. I keep my distance though.”

“Are you protecting her from someone outside of Gavin? Is that why you sent the photos and the warning note? Hoping she’d leave town?” Bend asked.

He rubbed the back of his hand across his lips. “I didn’t do that.” His cheeks turned red.

“You took the pictures, didn’t you? Who are you protecting because you aren’t protecting Noelle. She’s unsafe until we put all the puzzle pieces together and find who did this to her.” Bend stood and gave the chair a push. It rolled across the floor and struck the wall.

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