He laughs, manic and rough. “What are you going to do, huh?” He reaches out quickly, snatching me by the bicep. “You know, you’re more work than you’re worth.”
My eyes widen as he jerks me toward him.
“But you want to know how fucking good it felt to take something of his?”
“What?” I gasp.
“Took some extra work on my part. You weren’t very cooperative. I just gave you a little something to relax you.” He brings his free hand up to grip my other arm. “Don’t act like you didn’t love it.”
“Fuck you.” The words I spit are laced with raw anger. “You drugged me. You—”
“Please,” he scoffs. “You wanted it.” He jerks me again. “And who would believe a whore like you anyway?” A wave of courage washes over me, and I jam my knee forward, connecting it with his balls.
“Bitch!” he roars as he stumbles on his feet.
I dart up the steps, my fingers reaching for the door when a hand threads through my hair from behind me.
“Funny that he thinks he’s the golden boy,” Rhodes sneers against my ear. “But he has no idea how much we have in common.” He twists my hair tighter. “Those secrets run deep.”
Nausea hits. “What are you talking about?” I croak out.
His murky breath fans across my skin. I barely conceal the urge to gag.
“Take a good look at him the next time he’s on top of you.” He yanks my head back, my neck craning as he hovers over my shoulder. “Remind you of anyone?”
My fingers reach back to grip his wrist. “What are you saying?”
He staggers again, almost dropping us to the floor. I use the momentum to jam my elbow into the side of his ribs. Rhodes yells something incoherent, but I can’t make out the words. Onesecond he’s behind me, then the next, he’s gone. When I regain my footing and turn to the yard, Rhodes is still there, but he’s on the ground. And Parker is on top of him.
Chapter forty-two
Parker
“I’m done.” I toss my cards down. “You got my money.”
Maddox snickers, his hands dropping to the middle of the table to collect his earnings. “It was a pleasure kicking your ass.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I push to my feet. “I’m headed out.”
“Already? It’s not even dark,” Cooper scoffs.
He’s right. It’s early. But I miss my girl. And Trace.
“Sorry, Coop. Looks like they’ll be taking your money now.”
After I say my goodbyes, I jog down to my truck, then hit the road. I know Laiken and Trace are cleaning Millie’s house, so I thought I could at least drop by with some ice cream. I won’tfully crash their prep party. Just get my fix, then leave them to their night. Even though it physically pains me to be away from her.
I take a brief detour to stop for Laiken’s favorite Cookie Two-Step, then proceed to the house that’s currently holding my entire world. I’m only a couple of minutes out when my phone rings. Laiken’s name flashes, so I swipe the screen.
“Miss me already?”
“Parker?”
The fear in Trace’s voice has my back stiffening.
“Trace? Everything okay?”
“I don’t know. He’s here again. I don’t like when he yells at Mama.”
