Chapter Twenty-Eight
Roman
Roman: I know you’re pissed but please can we just talk about this.
Roman: Mase. I know you’re reading these.
Roman: I’m sorry I punched you.
Roman: Okay I’m not that sorry, you did sort of deserve it.
- Messages to Mase, unanswered
My knuckles turnwhite against the steering wheel as Rob Carson and his buddies spill out of the bar for another smoke. I should be in bed with Lola, but it’s been two days since she saw him in town, and I can’t stop thinking about it. So, I’m parked up in Mount Bush watching Rob drag on a vape like a fucking idiot.
Shit.I shouldn’t be here. I grab my phone from the center console and call the one person I’ve always been able to call except the dialing tone rings, unanswered. I guess that’s what happens when you sleep with your best friend’s sister and fail totell him. The voicemail message sounds, and I rest my forehead against the steering wheel.
“Mase. Fuck man, I don’t know what to say except I’m sitting across the road from Rob Carson and I need you to stop me from doing something stupid. I know you’re mad at me. I know stuff is fucked up right now. But before all this shit with the drinking, you were the levelheaded one and I needthatMase right now.
“And fuck, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Lola, but I love her man. I love her so much I’m one bad decision away from committing murder.” I sigh, my breath condensing against the wheel. “I’m meeting my dad for dinner in the city tomorrow but come by the stables any time before six. If I haven’t been arrested, we can talk then.”
I hang up and turn the ignition. I know full well I should drive away but I just can’t bring myself to do it. Maybe Mase not answering was a sign.
Rob throws his head back, laughing.
Fists pummel my chest. I grind my teeth to dust as I hold myself back from striding across the street and decking him. I need to at least wait till he’s alone. Then I can scare the motherfucking daylight out of him and make sure he never dares set foot in Pine Rock again.
The prick should still be in prison for dealing, but he’s out early on good behavior because he was never convicted for what he did to Lola. The system is fucked up. Which is why I’m here, stalking Carson like a fucking psychopath.
I tried to let it go, I really did, but all I can see is Lola lying on the burned floor of the old barn, her skirt shoved up to her waist and blood between her thighs. I don’t want the fucker living in the same world as her, let along setting foot in the same fucking town.
Across the street, Carson’s mates playfully shove each other around before heading back into the bar. Carson waves them off,leaning against the brick wall under the glow of the streetlight as he puffs smoke into the air.
No one else is around. I turn the engine off again. My hand reaches for the door but a tap on the passenger window has me drawing up short. I spin around to find Jarred staring at me through the glass.
I curse and unlock the door, letting him climb inside.
“What are you doing here?”
He shrugs in his white linen shirt. His eyes are blood shot, booze on his breath. “Seemed like a good night for a drive.”
“Funny,” I drawl, not taking my eyes off Carson, “that’s what I thought too.”
“You can get up to ten years for assault. Life, if we’re talking first degree murder.”
“I wasn’t going to?—”
Jarred cuts me a sharp look, shutting me up.
I sigh. “How d’you find me?”
“I got a message from Mase. Lucky for you I was already here.”
I grunt. Not sure whether I’m happy he’s here to stop me or not.
“You’ve got a girl at home, Roman. You can’t protect her if you’re behind bars. Just ask my brother.”
My eyes shutter and I let my head fall back against the seat. “Fuck.” Jarred’s reminder of what happened to Felix hits far too close to the bone. He’d been protecting his girl too.
