Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I should’ve told her to go to her bathroom and run the water. We were on speaker. If he came upstairs… Fuck!
“I had to talk him out of coming over here and blowing your fucking brains out. Told him you’re a good man and like a son to me. He finally calmed his ass down. But he said the only way you’ll be able to keep breathing is if you stay the fuck away from her. Otherwise, he’s going to put a bullet in your head.”
Ouch, fuck, my chest hurts. It’s like a knife slicing into my heart. I can’t fucking breathe. Can’t fucking think.
“He’s going to be hiring bodyguards to watch her. If he or anyone sees you within a ten-mile radius of her, they’ve been instructed to shoot. He also warned that if I can’t keep my men under control, then we’ll all go down. I know you fucking love the girl, Bones, but it’s not only your life on the line now.”
Fuck. I didn’t mean to fuck up his relationship with Pritchard. I’ve brought shit down on the club too. These men have had my back more times than I can count, and what did I do? I put everyone at risk. I’m such a selfish asshole. There’s only one thing for me to do.
“I’ll end things, Prez. I won’t let this touch you or anyone else. It’s over.”
He drops his head, sighing sharply. “It’s already over. Zoey has been told that if she ever makes contact with you again, you’re dead.”
So, that’s it? I don’t even get to say goodbye to her.
“I’m sorry that it worked out this way, son. If I could see reason in the man, I would, but he doesn’t want to hear it. Honestly, you’re one of the best men I know. I know you’d take good care of that girl. But it’s his little princess. He’s never going to let her be with a Savage Knight. It’s a fact I can’t change his mind on.”
I fucking know that. I knew it all along. It’s why I fought so hard to keep things a secret. But I fucked up. I started getting too comfortable, and I slipped. I should’ve parked my ride down someone else’s street. I should’ve left before the sun started to rise. Now… Now… I can barely breathe. It feels like I’m drowning. The panic is taking me under. It’s so fucking tight in my chest.
I don’t even get to say goodbye. How the hell am I supposed to go on?
22
Zoey
“Rotus and Grok will be with you at all times. They’re going to take you to school, and as soon as you step foot outside those doors, they’re going to bring you home. Don’t try anything, daughter, because I swear to all that is holy you will live to regret it.”
I can’t even look at him. I know hate is such a strong word, but that’s the way I feel. He wouldn’t even let me say goodbye. I’m a prisoner now. No phone, no car, and no more freedom.
“Rotus, Grok. I want one of you staked at each entrance of the school just to make sure she doesn’t try to run to him. The campus security has also been notified of what that Savage bastard looks like. If they see him on campus, he will be arrested.”
Arrested? But he can’t do that. Bones is not some evil criminal. He’s loving and kind and makes me feel safe. These men give me the creeps.
“We will ensure she’s safe, sir,” one of the two giant robocops states. Both of the creepy men simultaneously look in my direction, and a chill of unease settles over me. I don’t know these men, but I already don’t like them. They give me a weird vibe. If anyone might defile me, it’s one of them.
“Are you ready to go, Miss Pritchard?”
Their politeness is almost too perfect. It feels forced. Everything about them feels fake. Off. I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t have a choice. If I put up a fight, my dad is liable to have one of them go and put a bullet in Bones’s head.
“I’m ready.”
I grab my schoolbag and head to the door, going straight to the big black SUV that’s parked in my drive. One of the two creepy giants comes up and opens the door for me, and as I climb in, I can feel his eyes staring at my backside. My dad thinks Bones is a bad man, but the one he personally hired is probably mentally fucking me right now.
As soon as I’m closed in the back, they climb into the front seats and pull out of my driveway, turning in the direction of my school. The three of us thankfully drive in silence as the map tells them which direction to take. But I can’t help but notice the driver looking in the rearview mirror every couple of seconds. Checking me out. I’m just relieved that we’re almost to my school. I’ll be safely tucked inside my building…until this afternoon. I wish the big guy with the gnarly scar across his face was still watching me. I felt safe with him. He never once looked at me. These two won’t stop.
But again, if I complain to my dad, he’ll just say I’m making shit up. He’s lost all trust in me. And I don’t have much in him anymore either. He won’t even listen to me. He keeps acting like I’m some defiant child. He won’t even let me see my best friend. I only get to talk to Teagan when I’m at school.
We take the last right, turning onto my school drive, only one block left. But the driver doesn’t make the turn. I don’t know how he could’ve missed it. The school buses should’ve been a big indicator. Let alone the giant sign, and the gps telling him to make the turn.
“You just missed the entrance.”
Maybe they think that entrance was only for buses.
They don’t even bother acknowledging me. The driver keeps going. Not bothering to make a u-turn. Not turning to circle around and go back. He just keeps driving.
“My school is back there. I don’t know if my dad gave you the wrong address or not, but you passed it.”
Are they even looking at the navigation screen, or are they too busy checking me out?
