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Spinning back kick.
Uppercut.
I give that bag everything until I turn into a sweating, panting mess.
“Dude, you got some steam to burn off today or what?” Hank laughs at me as he walks past the bag I’m hugging.
“Yeah.” I somehow manage a raspy laugh, leaning my head against the bag and seeing Rachel’s pretty face morph with fear and pain as Theo shoves her back into their bedroom and locks the door.
CHAPTER 9
RACHEL
Mick got home from school and her gym workout by five. It was actually a relief to see her. I’d been stuck in Hockey House all day, going slightly insane. I could have used my car, I guess, but the snow picked up after breakfast, and I’m not used to driving in it. I didn’t trust myself not to skid out on ice or something. My little Honda Civic is hardly designed for Colorado winters. But then I never expected to be leaving Southern California and driving all the way out here.
To be honest, it was nice to have the place to myself, although Asher popped home during the middle of the day, and then Baxter arrived around three.
I kept to myself, started watching a romance movie, then quickly gave up and switched to an action, which made me shudder, so I ended up watching a law drama… which wasn’t too bad. Although every courtroom scene made me think of Theo’s uncle—the high-flying defense attorney—and my insides shriveled up all over again.
I couldn’t stop glancing at my bag on the floor, my stomach clenching every time I thought about escaping Theo and how I snuck out of the house… with all his poker winnings.
Shit!
Covering my eyes with my hand, I forget that Mick is standing in Liam’s doorway watching me.
“Hey.” She grabs my attention. “We need to get you out of this house. You’ve been moping all day, and it’s time to go eat fatty, greasy food and make ourselves feel better.”
“Fatty, greasy food is going to make us feel better?” I give her a skeptical frown.
She laughs, yanking me off the bed. “No, a little QT with your bestie is going to make you feel better.”
“Well, that’s true,” I murmur, following her down the stairs with a grin.
But then my fingers start shaking as I pull on my jacket. Oh man, I hope she doesn’t ask me about the Theo breakup. I’m so not up for that. Telling Liam this morning was frickin’ hard… harrowing. I can’t relive it again today.
Liam reacted pretty well. Sure, he looked mad, but he never raised his voice or shouted. He was sweet and comforting, reassuring me that the fault wasn’t mine, that Theo tricked me and didn’t let his true colors show until I was in too deep. How many women does that happen to?
I hate that I’m one of them.
I hate that I threw caution to the wind just because a guy I liked finally paid some attention to me.
Look where it got me.
I can’t imagine Mick taking the news with the same calm as Liam. She’d freak out, get pissed, and it’d take everything in me to convince her not to fly to Fontana and scratch Theo’s eyes out.
As satisfying as that would be… I don’t want her going anywhere near Theo.
Or Matt.
My spine twitches as I imagine his reaction to the stolen money. He’d have my head. Theo’s been his best friend since kindergarten, and they’re freakishly loyal to each other.
I guess like Mikayla and me, although I doubt she’d just sit by if I tried to pound Ethan’s flesh.
Not that I could. The guy’s made of titanium.
And honor. And respect.
Just like Liam.
