Page 84

Story: Shattered

My eyes narrow at him, and I flip him off. I’msonot in the mood for his assholeness right now.
“What we need to figure out is, if he is still alive, then what is her mom doing married to my father?” Xayden whispers.
“Maybe they don’t know. Maybe he faked his own death.” I shrug. “That shit happens all the time.” Sounds like some reality TV shit, but it happens.
“And she has always been torn up about it,” Dekker adds.
“She could be a good actress.” Xayden frowns. “And maybe they are after my dad’s money.”
“Dude, her dad was loaded. There’s no way.” I smack him on the arm. “Money is not the reason her mom is with your dad.”
He huffs, “Well, we need to figure out what the fuck is going on, and fast. Because if her dad is alive, and this is all a ruse, I need to protect my father.” Xayden shakes his head and storms out of his room.
Dekker and I watch as he leaves, and I turn to Dekker who just shrugs and looks back at Rory. He bites his lip as he studies her.
She is still curled into herself. How she carries herself, how she acts, that’s not how someone would if they knew their father was alive. She truly believes he’s dead.
So, what, or who, did she hear?
Dekker lets out a grunt and then leaves the room. Addy looks up and meets my eyes. She glances over at Rory, who has fallen asleep before she carefully peels herself away from her and slides off the bed.
She tiptoes over to me and sighs. “What is going on?”
“I have no idea,” I tell her honestly. Not a fucking clue.
“How are we going to find out who did this? I mean, is she even safe? Will they come after her again?” Her voice starts to rise up with each word.
I place a hand on her shoulder to try and calm her down.
“I wish I had answers for you, but right now I just don’t. But what I can tell you is we will make sure she is safe.” And I have no idea how we are even going to do that.
“Well, she was with you three last night and this happened!” Addy fires at me. “How in the world do you plan on making sure it’s different this time?”
“We will. I promise. I have some things to work out, but she will be protected,” I try to assure Addy, but I can see in her eyes she’s not buying what I’m selling.
And I don’t blame her. After being as mean as we have been to Rory, having Monica and the others bully her, I can see why she is looking at me that way. I have not been the best to Rory since she stepped foot in Texas.
She crosses her arms. “Look, if I leave, can you watch her? I need to at least go turn in my one project and then I can be back.”
“Addy, go to class. I will take care of her. Promise,” I assure her.
“Okay, just… if she needs me, please call me. I will come straight back.” Addy bites her lip and looks over at Rory. I know she is debating on whether she should actually leave or not, even though I already told her to go.
“Swear to God, I’ll call you the minute she says she needs you,” I promise her.
Addy nods and turns slowly, walking toward the door. Peeking back over at Rory, I watch as her chest rises and falls. She looks almost relaxed, except for the slight frown on her lips.
Those fucking lips.
My dick felt those lips.
And now is not the time for a hard-on.
Rubbing my eyes, I let out a sigh. Walking to the other side of the bed, I pull back the covers and slide in next to her, careful not to wake her.
Honestly, I’m exhausted.
The events of last night and today have fully sent me into a wall of exhaustion.