Page 49 of Evil Queen

“Yep. I figure now we’ll see if we get different guys or if they stay the same.”

“If my dad’s responsible for it, they’ll stay the same,” I said. “He’s an intimidator down to his core. He’s probably fucking giddy, thinking we’re bothered by them.” I slammed my hand on the table, rattling it. “Where’s Nikki now?”

“Nikita can take care of herself,” Jaxon responded.

“I know that,” I replied. “Where is she?”

There was a beat of tense silence between us, and then he shrugged. “I asked her to sit with Colette while I was here.”

“Good. Thank you.”

Though it was quiet and kind of uncomfortable, we received and ate our breakfast, and both Jaxon and I appreciated what Kyle was trying to do enough to humor him whenever he tried to start different topics of conversation. Jaxon and I ended on as good of terms as possible for the circumstances. After seeing Jaxon off, Kyle and I got back in his car to drive back to my place.

“I knew you’d be worried about her,” Kyle said once we were driving. “I figured the best way to assure you that she was doing okay, if hurt, was by inviting Jaxon so that you could talk about it.”

“I fucked up, Kyle,” I said. “I mean, I really fucked up.”

“We were all shocked when you picked Cherri,” he said. “Jaxon’s right. I get that you’re trying to make peace with Cherri, but she’s obviously not being very receptive to that right now, and in the meantime, you’re fucking things up with Nikita. I miss Cherri too, but we all need to stop trying to get through to her right now. We need to have each other’s backs right now. When Cherri’s ready, she’ll come back.”

“Yeah. I just feel like I deserve that. Every single day of the rest of my life should be an apology to her.”

“You can’t live like that,” Kyle said. “I get it. Trust me, I do. I consider Cherri to be a friend, and I was just as frustrated as everyone else was when I heard what you did, but I don’t think it’s just the end. There’s a difference between retribution and damnation.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. This shit is so hard to navigate. You know what you did was wrong, and it was borne of your own mental instability. You’re in therapy, you’re on meds, you’ve apologized, you’re never gonna do it again, and you know it was wrong. Pay your dues, then make peace. There’s a future for you. I refuse to believe there isn’t.”

“Thanks, man,” was all I could say. I wasn’t sure if I bought into that or not, but it sure sounded more promising than what I’d been living up to.

“Thank me by figuring it out,” he said. “Give Nikki some time to cool off. Then tell her how you feel. Put Cherri in your past where she belongs, and—”

He was cut off by the sound of my phone ringing in my pocket. I quickly fished it out, hoping it might be Nikita, but when I saw who it was, I was equally happy and frustrated. The call read as unknown, no numbers on the screen, and it rang no matter how long I stared at it. It was Deon, but I couldn’t answer it in front of Kyle. He thought Deon was dead, just like everyone else.

“What the heck?” Kyle said. “I’ve never heard a phone ring that long.”

In the few times I’d spoken with Deon during the past few months, the call never stopped ringing. Even if that was an option, I didn’t want to wait long enough to find out if it would stop. I needed to talk to Deon.

I tossed my options back and forth before finally grunting, “Fuck.” I hit the answer button and put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Hey.” An odd sensation of relief flooded through me as I heard Deon’s voice speak back to me. “Sorry that it’s been so long since I called. I think I’m being tailed.”

“Us too,” I replied.

Kyle tilted his head. “Who is that?”

“Uh,” I said and then let out a sigh. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong? You guys are being tailed too?” Deon asked.

“Hang on a sec,” I said, and then I looked over at Kyle. “You should pull over.”

Kyle recoiled a bit, but he didn’t question it as he switched lanes so that he could take the next exit.

“What’s going on?” Deon asked. “You’re with someone?”

“Yeah, Kyle,” I replied.

Kyle’s interest was piqued by the mention of his name, but he pulled off the highway without asking any additional questions until he turned into a gas station and parked his car. He looked over at me. “Who is that?”

“Okay,” I said back to him. “I’ll explain everything later. Also, I’m sorry.”

Kyle looked confused. “Okay?”

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