“Did you have a hangover?” Dakota asks as she scoots to the end of the sofa. “The next day? How did you feel?”
I think back. Physically, I felt fine. My pride? My self-respect? Trashed.
“I was fine,” I whisper. “Just confused.”
Flashes of that night play across my brain. Music. Food. Drinks. Rhodes vaguely talking to me at the bar.
“Laik.” Dakota reaches over to place her hand on my forearm. “Is it possible that you didn’t leave with him out of free will?”
My body jolts, panic seizing my limbs. “What?”
Dakota peers at Ivy, who nods, tears forming in her eyes. “Laiken. You weren’t drunk. He drugged you.”
I feel like the floor falls from beneath me. My vision blurs and my heart pounds. But it makes sense. The memory loss. The fact I could never rememberwhyI left with him.
Because I didn’t. Not by choice.
“Oh my God,” I mumble. “He drugged me. Rhodes…he…” The words lodge in my throat.
I clutch my chest as Ivy’s eyes widen along with Dakota’s. They’re fixated on something over my shoulder.
I turn, my gut telling me what I already know.
Parker stands in the frame, next to my brother.
Parker’s eyes take on a darkness I’ve never seen when he says, “That motherfucker is dead.”
Chapter thirty-five
Parker
“Parker…” Laiken whispers.
“I need a minute,” I rasp before barging out the screen door.
My boots hit the dirt, my neck hot as I head straight for the loft. I need a second to rage. To process the words that just fell from her mouth.
The conversation that played out in front of me nearly brought me to my knees. She didn’tchooseto leave with him. He forced her. That bastard stole a piece of her and played her like she was the problem.
I hit the stairs, taking them two at a time before I bust through the door.
Fire lights up my skin, the need to get my hands on something like a carnal rush. He did this because ofme.Hurt her to get at me. And now he’s coming after Trace, with Jet’s help, because ofme.
The first thing I flip is the couch. Then I pick up a half-full soda can and hurl it across the kitchen. It crashes against the fridge, spewing brown liquid all over the floor. My hands grip at my hair. That unavoidable instinct to track him down and give him another beating is so potent I can taste it.
“Park.”
I spin to see Cooper and Ryder, both wide-eyed, standing in the open doorway.
“Calm down, man.” Cooper holds up a hand.
“Calm down?” I roar. “He…” I can barely say the words. “He fucking drugged her.” I whirl around, planting my fist in the sheetrock closest to me.
“Because of me!” I pound a fist against my chest. “Because I made one wrong choice. One wrong move and look what it cost her!”
I’m about to throw another fist when arms loop over my shoulders.
“You gotta settle.” Ryder’s voice is calm but firm.
