“For you, they are now. Do you want them?” Rook asked.
I bit at my lip, knowing that anything he told me couldn’t be good, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to deal with more heartbreak today.
“Yes, but can it wait?”
“Yes,” he said. “Go finish what you need to. I’ll be out front in a minute.”
I hung up and took a deep breath. I could face my dad and Elliot one more time today, because Rook was right. I would always be a better choice than Elliot.
I kept my shoulders back and my head up as I stepped up to the table. All eyes turned to me, Elliot’s and my dad’s already looking annoyed.
“Do you know who my boyfriend is?” I asked.
They looked at each other and then back at me. “No. Do you need to tell us?”
“No. And do you know that Elliot is horribly addicted to gambling?”
Elliot only shook his head, denying it immediatly.
“He is, so be careful on how he manages your finances. I would like to be left alone, so I would prefer you not call orbother me at home until I’m ready to talk,” I said, the words sounding diplomatic enough, but I just wanted to scream.
“Fine, Regan. That won’t be an issue, as we will be gone for two days. We can talk when we get back.”
“We can talk when I am ready. You’ve betrayed me when I was doing nothing but be ready to help you. You’re the one who asked me to stay home, you’re the one who said I wasn’t ready, and you’re the one who told me to come back after college so I could continue the family legacy. I didn’t do any of that. I stayed ready to help, and you didn’t let me.”
I heard Rook’s bike rumble out front and I winced when it caught my dad’s attention. I glanced behind us as Rook swung off the bike and walked towards the front door.
“I need to go. We will talk later.”
I ran out before he could respond, reaching the door as Rook started inside. His helmet was still on, but I could already imagine the scowl that was plastered underneath.
“Come on. I’m done.”
“Fine. I changed my mind. I want to talk to Elliot and your dad,” he said, pushing around me. I grabbed his arm, pulling hard.
“No. You are not. Get me out of here,” I said. He stopped, seemingly stuck on what he was going to do. “Now, Rook. I want to leave.”
Another second passed before he wrapped an arm around me, heading back to the bike.
“Give me your keys. Mason will be here soon to pick it up.”
I handed them over and grabbed my helmet strapped to the back before getting on behind him.
I didn’t know what I would do next or about my dad, but I knew that right now, I wanted to go home and hide away until I figured it out. I held on tighter to Rook as he took off, finding some comfort in the fact that he came for me.
Thirty-Four
Rook
There were only so many times you could drive up to your home, or anywhere that feels like home, and see it up in flames before you break. My limit was once, but as I pulled up in front of Maverick Moto after spending the night with Regan, I realized someone came to push my limits.
The entire front of the building was engulfed in flames. Firefighters were already there, making progress on putting it out, but I could see there wasn’t much to save.
Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky, the flames burning hot as it took over.
I kicked my stand down, jumping off my bike and running up next to Aiden as he watched the building burn.
“Nobody’s inside?” I asked. The panic of history repeating itself made me nauseous.
