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Hunter eyed him for a second before glancing at Marco, having a silent conversation before he answered the question. “No. You’re going to fucking rehab.”
“It was one time! I won’t get like that again!”
I scowled, giving him a dirty look. “You don’t think Ander told me about you trying to score a shitload of LSD and Molly from him? It’s not just a bit of weed or a line of powder anymore. You’re popping pills like they’re your lifeline.”
He looked like he was about to argue, but Maddox stepped in, finally speaking up. “You were a mess last night, bro. You were having an entire conversation in the kitchen with yourself last night, thinking it was Lloyd. You need to get some help.”
“I’m fine,” he croaked, but Hunter snatched his chin firmly in his grip, peering into his eyes before scoffing.
“You’re high right now. It’s not even nine in the morning. Give me your keys.”
“No, you’re not taking my car,” Ryder threw back defensively, but Caden walked up to him and fished the keys from his pocket, holding them in front of Ryder’s face.
“If you want to keep your car safe, you’ll temporarily surrender it. If we catch you driving it while wasted, it’ll go up in smoke. Clear?”
Ryder looked ready to break, and the stupid part of my heart hurt for him. I knew something was going on with him, and I wished I’d seen it sooner, but he’d dug his own grave now as far as I was concerned.
He stared at me hopelessly, his voice soft. “Can you just tell her I’m sorry? I really didn’t mean to scare her.”
“Sure, but stay the fuck away from her,” I said flatly, turning and stalking up to my room, slamming the door behind me. I couldn’t go back to Luna until I’d calmed down but if I had to look at Ryder any longer, I was going to tear him apart.
* * *
Luna had apparently had an awesome morning with Cruz. He had, in fact, painted her nails, and I walked in the door to find them both sitting on the couch watching a romance movie. Cruz looked genuinely invested in it too.
Maddox had stayed with Beckett and Jett, but I knew they’d be home soon.
“Hey.” I chuckled as I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. “You ready to go?”
“It’s not finished,” Cruz whined, waving his hands at me dramatically. “Twenty more minutes.”
Black nail polish on his fingers caught my eye, and I snickered. “You let her paint your nails too?”
“Yep,” he said with a grin, holding them out to show me. “I think it looks badass.”
“It does,” Luna said as she reached her hand out to me, taking my wrist and tugging me down beside her. “How’s Ry?”
I scowled, giving her a flat look. “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t deserve your concern.”
She was quiet for a second before meeting my gaze, her voice so quiet that I hardly heard her. “It matters to me. He’s spiraling, and I know he’s just messed up from drugs and alcohol. He wouldn’t have touched me otherwise.”
I glanced at Cruz, and he took the hint, clearing his throat as he paused the movie and got to his feet. “I’m going for a cigarette. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Once he’d left us alone, I sighed, scrubbing my face with my hands. “He’s going to rehab.”
“When? For how long? I need to see him,” she blurted out, frustrating me. She was way too good for any of us. He’d abused her trust, yet she wanted to make him feel better.
“Lou, he assaulted you.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
“That’s what he did. It’s sexual assault,” I growled, hating that she wasn’t taking it seriously. “I don’t care if he’s my brother, I’ll call him out for his bullshit. He’s sorry for scaring you, but I’ve told him to stay away from you.”
“That’s not your call to make,” she argued, fire burning in her eyes. “When’s he leaving?”
“In a few days, I think. My parents were having a discussion about it earlier. Diesel and Marco are addicts from their younger years, so they’ve suggested a ninety-day program to see how he does. He won’t be allowed visitors for a few weeks, but if he shows improvement, that will change.”
“I want to see him and let him know I don’t hate him,” she said softly, her voice breaking. “I don’t want him thinking he’s a bad person.”
