“I want my records. I know you have them,” Pacey says.
“I don’t, but maybe I can help you find them if you get these people out of my house.” He looks between me and Travis, trying and failing to hide his nervousness. I didn’t bring my guys here to jump him. Nah, I’m going to fuck him up on my own.
“Yeah, right.” Pacey huffs.
“Last chance, Pacey, get them out or I’ll call the cops.” He glances at me again, but I simply blink at him. Does he think the cops scare me? I’ll have plenty of time to beat his ass before they get here.
“How about you give her what’s hers and I don’t beat the fuck out of you,” I say, my fists flexing at my sides.
He scoffs but takes a step back.
“Let’s just go.” Pacey tugs at my arm. I feel someone on the other side of me, so I turn and see that Olivia and Ellie are still here. What the hell?
“Get in the truck,” I demand. “All of you.” I glance at Travis.
He gets my silent message, going for the girls.
Olivia reaches for me. “Penn, come on.”
“I’ll be there soon, Barbie.”
In the quick second that I’m distracted by Olivia, Ryan makes a move, snatching Pacey’s arm before she gets out the door. “Pacey, wait, talk to me.”
I swing around and when I see the fear in my sister’s eyes, I lunge, shoving him so hard he goes flying across the room and crashes into his kitchen table. Sending bottles shattering to the ground.
One or all of the girls scream, but all I see is red.
I rush forward, but Pacey throws herself in front of me. “Penn, don’t! He’s not worth it.”
No, but she is. Doesn’t she know that?
I attempt to drag her to Travis, but she refuses to budge. “Go, Pacey.”
“Penn!” Olivia shrieks, panic in her tone.
I stop, my chest heaving as I stare at Ryan. His eyes are wide and bloodshot as he looks around nervously.
“Penn, please let’s go.” Olivia grabs my shirt and tries to tug me, but she’s so damn unsteady that she trips. I latch onto her before she tumbles to the floor.
From the corner of my eye, I notice Ryan taking out his phone. I grab my sister, handing her and Olivia to Travis as he ushers Ellie out the door.
“No, Penn!” Both Olivia and Pacey cry, trying to fight Travis as he forces them outside.
I stalk toward Ryan, who is fumbling with his phone. He puts it to his ear quickly when he sees me approaching.
I reach out, knock it down, and grab a fistful of his shirt, getting in his face. “If you ever put your hands on my sister again, I will kill you. You feel me?”
His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t bother responding.
“Now tell me where her shit is and I might let you keep all your teeth.”
“I don’t fucking have it,” he bites out, attempting to shove me off.
I press my forearm into his throat. “Let’s try that again. Where the fuck are the records?”
He struggles to answer me because I’m pressing on his windpipe, cutting off his oxygen. It takes almost no effort to. His stalky body is weak and pathetic, like him. He looks like he’s aged twenty years since I saw him last. He’s probably too high to comprehend what’s going on.
His face turns red, then purple. He wiggles, trying to escape, but he can’t. Eventually, he gives up and starts to go lax in my arms.
