He’s strong and has about three inches on me.
“Let me go,” I growl.
“Not till you calm the fuck down and stop destroying everything,” he bites out.
“I should have been there,” I rasp out. “I should have been here with her. I should have protected her.”
My body sags, the weight of the truth slamming into me so hard Ryder falls backward, landing us both on our asses.
I drop to my back, staring up at the ceiling as Ryder mutters curses next to me.
Cooper’s face enters my line of sight. “It’s fucked, Parker. I know. But she needs you right now. She needs you not to lose it because when the reality of it hits her, it’s you she’ll run to.”
I swallow hard, then meet his eyes. “I need to tell you what happened.” I glance over at Ryder. “Call Maddox. He needs to hear this too.”
We’re all four sitting on the floor of the loft.
“Fuck,” Cooper mutters.
“Yeah.” I sniff, swiping a hand over my scruff. “Now you understand the level of loathing I have for that son of a bitch,” I grit out.
“Why does he have a hard-on for you?”
Cooper asks. “Because you stole his girl?”
“Fuck if I know.” I shrug.
“How are we going to handle this?” Maddox asks, his eyes a level of serious that even has me hesitant.
“However she wants to.” I reach for the beer that sits next to me. “This is her call. I’ll do whatever she wants.”
“I can make a visit,” Ryder offers. “I’m pretty good with discretion.”
“No shit. We barely see your ass,” Cooper says before he tosses a bottle top at him.
“She said he’s in King Valley?” Ryder asks.
“Yeah. Allegedly. You know you can’t trust anything he says,” I scoff.
Ryder dips his chin. “I’ll call Memphis. At least get his address and anything he’s been charged with in the last five years. We all know that fucker can’t stay out of jail.”
“Thanks, man.” I sigh. “How is Memphis, by the way?”
Ryder shrugs. “We’re not teenage girls. We talk when we need to.”
“And how long has that been?” Cooper probes.
“I don’t know. Six months.” Ryder slides his hat back on. “But he’ll do whatever I ask.”
Memphis Cameron is good people. He grew up with Ryder before his prick of a father moved them to King Valley. I would say besides us, he’s the only friend Ryder tolerates. That and he’s the sheriff over there now, so I’m sure that comes in handy.
“I appreciate it.” I push to my feet.
“You ready to tear more shit up?” Cooper asks.
“Nah.” I shake my head. “I need to take care of my girl.”
“Is that what she is now? Officially your girl?” Maddox lifts a brow.
