Page 35 of Hate So Deep (Hate #4)

NOW

Lauren

The last place I want to go is inside the house full of party goers but when I protest, Dirk says, “Sh. Cory will get ‘em out.”

He bypasses the front door and rounds the house to the backyard before barging into the shed beyond.

Memories of the first kiss we shared against that shed dance over my vision and I welcome the distraction when Dirk barks, “Find my brother.”

His brother? I didn’t know he had a brother.

How did I not know this?

Oh right, because all we’ve ever done is fight or fuck and at the thought, tears fill my eyes.

I know nothing about this man and, damn it all, I like him. Really like him.

How’s that for a kick to the face?

Ugh. Bad choice of words.

After setting me on a torn-up couch in the corner, Dirk switches on the light above my head. Meanwhile I can’t contain my sobs, and he hovers over me, his hands in the air as he grunts, “Fuck, Lauren. What hurts, baby?”

“My heart,” I wail, and he backs up a step, his brows scrunching.

“Huh?”

“You have a brother?”

While he looks on with his jaw at his knees, I punch him in the arm and immediately regret it because my ribs protest, sending a fiery trail across my abdomen.

“Fuck,” I mumble, and he grabs my cheeks, wiping the tears from my eyes before he says, “I have a sister too.”

“Great,” I mumble, and his sigh caresses my cheek.

“What happened, Lauren?”

“I–”

“What’s up, bro? Oh shit. You okay, Lala?” Cory says.

Cory is Dirk’s brother? Are you fucking kidding me?

“Is this your house?” I gasp when Dirk spins to Cory.

Slowly he turns back and raises a brow before saying to his brother, “Parties over. I want everyone out.”

“Sure, bro,” Cory says before looking at me. “You okay, Lala?”

Nodding, I bow my head and once he’s gone, Dirk tips my chin back and says, “What happened?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to lash out because my chest burns, but I will that shit back and recount what happened, instead. I can freak out about our nonexistent relationship later.

All the while, he stares at me, the tic in his jaw bulging further with every word spoken and when I’m finished, he says, “You might have fractured ribs. We should get you to the hospital.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head.

“Yes.”

“Nope.”

“Lauren,” he groans, standing and pacing away. “You’re hurt. I can’t fix this.”

“You don’t have to,” I say, my chest clenching at the desperate light behind his eyes when he drops to his knees before me.

“I’m not asking. We go.”

“Dirk,” I say, brushing my fingers over his bottom lip. He has amazing, soft, and plush lips. “I’m not going.”

“ Why ?”

“Because I can’t make this worse. They’ll ask questions I can’t answer.”

Averting his gaze, he glares at the wall. “If this is about those fuckers, don’t worry. They’ll never touch you again.”

“This isn’t about them,” I say, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at me. “This is about my mother. Besides, you’re not going to do shit. Aren’t you supposed to be at boot camp?”

“No, it was extended,” he says, his eyes flickering to the bruise on my cheek.

“You won’t do anything. Right? Promise me?” I beg and he shakes his head.

“You can’t ask me to do that.”

“Why not? You demand shit all the time,” I grunt, waving my hand again. “Let this go. Don’t ruin your future for me.”

His eyes drop to mine before he shakes his head and growls, “You expect me to let those fuckers go after what they did to you?”

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I mumble, “Dirk, this isn’t your problem.”

After creating a brand-new hole in the wall of the shed, we hustled out to his truck where Dirk refused to look at me while we made our way across town.

He did finally concede when I told home I would not be going to the hospital, but I never got a satisfactory answer about his plans to hunt down my attackers.

I wish I hadn’t mentioned names but maybe deep down I wanted him to show he cares by going psycho on their asses. He grew up in this neighborhood and I’m very aware of how these people act when it comes to protecting themselves.

That’s how fucked up this is. The only way to find meaning in a relationship that never got off the ground is to send my lover on a quest for revenge on my behalf.

No biggie. Ha!

“Where are we going?” I ask and he glances at me sideways, his lips tightening when he spies my grimace.

I’d like some painkillers and a soft bed, and the truck isn’t exactly helping every time we go through a dip or encounter a bump.

“Hayden’s,” he says. “Ramie can do…something.”

About what?

Thankfully, he pulls into a cute little house set back from the road. As soon as the vehicle is in park, Hayden emerges with Ramie behind him, holding a little boy who’s snuggled into her chest.

When Dirk jumps out of the truck, I suck in a breath in anticipation of him slamming the door, but his eyes meet mine at the last second and he pushes it gently closed.

They exchange words while I sit here and after a few minutes when it looks like they’re going to talk about me while I’m not around to comment, I finally open the door.

Dirk’s head whips around when I do and he’s beside me before I can contemplate getting to the ground.

“Hold still,” he says, and I bite back the cry on my lips when he picks me up and carries me inside.

Ramie is already gone but Hayden follows while Dirk sets me carefully on the couch before brushing the hair back from my face.

“You, okay?” he rasps, and I nod through my tears.

I’m not okay but seeing the concern blazing from his eyes is the balm I didn’t know I needed.

“Ramie’s gonna fix you up,” he says as she rounds the couch.

“He’s down, I think but can you check on him?” Ramie says to Hayden, and he disappears down the hall with Dirk right behind him.

Watching him go with a frown, I mumble, “He’s going to do something stupid.”

“Probably,” she says with a small smile. “They’re always looking for the chance to fuck something up.”

My chuckle turns to a groan and for the next few minutes, Ramie assesses my injuries before binding my ribs and getting me situated more comfortably on the couch.

Once she’s offered me a glass of water and painkillers, she sits down beside me and I ask, “Are you a nurse or something?”

Snorting, she shakes her head and says, “No, I just got real good at hiding shit, I didn’t want others to see.”

“Oh,” I mumble, looking away.

What does that mean? Did someone beat her up?

I don’t know what to say, which is just as well because Hayden says, “We’ll be back in a while.”

Ramie’s head pops up and she frowns as she looks between them before saying, “Don’t do anything that will put your ass in jail.”

Chuckling, he presses a kiss to her temple and says, “Don’t worry, sugar. I plan to be in your bed tonight.”

Her cheeks heat as a beautiful grin lights up her features while I stare because I can’t fucking turn to say, “You promised.”

“I didn’t promise anything, baby girl,” Dirk says.

The growly rasp pulls at my stomach but I ignore the heat pooling in my belly and mutter, “Please. Let it go.”

He doesn’t respond and I cover my mouth when he steps to the door and says, “This is who I am, Lauren. I won’t change for any-fucking-body.”