“I don’t know, Laik. His lawyer showed up. Jefferson couldn’t give me much,” Maddox says from the couch.
I’ve practically worn a hole in the floor of his kitchen. Ivy is perched on a bar stool, her face grim. Dakota is cracking open abeer, muttering profanities, while Cooper is on his phone across the room. I’m pacing because I don’t know what else to do. Parker has barely spoken and keeps going out on the back porch alone. Thank goodness for Ari’s sweet soul. She took Trace up to Ruthie and Emmett’s to make cookies while we stood around and panicked.
He’s out.
And it doesn’t help that my mom just got back and has not a single clue about what happened. I’m sure her phone will be blowing up before dinner. Luckily, she said she needed to sleep for at least twenty-four hours before she would be fully functioning again.
I reach up, pressing my fingers to my throbbing temples.
He came onto private property. Attacked me. And they let him go. I plant my hands on the island. “I want to go to the station.”
Maddox pauses. “Laiken.”
“I want to go.” I wasn’t sure I wanted to before. But I just now decided I was done playing his game. “I want to file a restraining order.”
“Baby.” Parker’s palm lands on the nape of my neck. “If you’re not ready…”
I face him. “I am.”
He stares at me for a second before he presses his lips to my forehead. “All right. I’ll take you.”
I nod, then exhale. This is it. No turning back now.
Chapter forty-six
Parker
When the door to my truck closes, I can visibly see the stress release from Laiken’s shoulders as we leave the station. I’m so proud of her for taking action. Starting up the truck, the radio comes on, a low melody about his woman being afirefly.It’s fitting for my girl. I reach across the console, offering my palm. She takes it, never pulling her eyes away from the windshield.
The drive back to the ranch is quiet but calm. She hasn’t said much. When we roll to a stop outside the barn, she clears her throat.
“Parker, there’s something that has been bothering me.”
I shift the truck into park. “Okay, let’s talk about it.”
I can tell she’s nervous, so I brush my thumb along the back of her hand.
“It’s something Rhodes said. The night he came to the house.”
There’s no telling what came out of his mouth at this point.
“He made a comment.” She turns to look at me. “He said that you and him have more in common than you think. That those secrets run deep.”
I frown. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I don’t know.” She looks down at her lap. “He…”
“Did he say anything else?”
“His exact words were,‘Take a good look next time he’s on top of you. Remind you of anyone?’” She keeps her eyes on her free hand, fingers plucking at a loose thread on her jeans.
What the fuck is he playing at?
Those secrets run deep?
Something doesn’t sit right, a swirl of unease working through my veins. There’s always been a reason he hated me. Just could never figure out why. It starts to make sense. Laiken. I had taken what he wanted all those years ago. But this is more. I can feel it. His resentment isn’t just competition over a woman. Or over an eight-second ride. My mind travels back to the night in Houston. To our conversation that was the beginning of the end. I sort through everything he said. Searching for anything that stands out.
You really think that sweet piece of ass is saving herself for you?
