Page 76 of Nothing To Lose

I don't think it's Tyler. I've never heard him scream like that. My brain comes online with a new directive, and I run to the last door in the direction the scream came from.

My boot flies out in front of me, smashing the door open. I burst through, ready to wreck whoever’s inside

I freeze.

Tyler’s there. Disheveled. Eyes glassy. Hands shaking. But he’s upright. He’s okay.

I reach out without thinking, needing to hold him, to say a thousand words I can’t form right now. I want to apologize, not just for the things I said, but for everything he's gone through. Seeing the after effects was bad enough, but watching it happen makes me feel sick.

Movement registers in the corner of my eye, just over Tyler's shoulder.

I seehim.

Guy.

He's scowling, bent half over, bitching about something I don't register because nothing he could say matters.

Everything in me snaps.

"You son of a bitch," I growl.

Then I surge forward and punch him straight in the face.

His nose shatters under my fist. Blood sprays.

"I’ll fucking kill you."

If he planned to fight back, he doesn’t get the chance. I punch him again. And again.

I finally understand what it means to see red. Nothing other than images of Tyler break through, but they just fuel my fist, coming down like a jackhammer on that fucker's face.

My Tyler, unconscious on the dirty ground. Bruised and battered. Helpless and broken. Afraid.

It takes four guys to pull me off.

Hands grab me. Drag me. I hear shouting. Sirens. I barely register Tyler’s voice.

His crying face is the last thing I see before the cruiser door slams shut.

25

TYLER

It’s been sixty-three hours and eighteen minutes since Isaac was arrested.

He used his one phone call to call me. Just to tell me he loves me.

I think I might be dying.

I haven’t slept. Not really. Not since I watched them pull Isaac off an unconscious Guy, cuff him, and drag him out of the building into a waiting police vehicle. Not since I saw the blood on his knuckles and the fire in his eyes and knew he’d done it for me. He'd figured out the truth that I've been hiding from him for weeks.

In a way, this is my fault. Because I lied to him. I lied to everyone and continued to let Guy victimize me.

I called his mom and sister. Chelsey drove them straight here after working a double shift. I can't imagine where she found the strength, but they made it here in time for the arraignment. Genie was so strong, standing tall even though I could see the pain in her every movement. A long car ride is rough for her, but she wouldn't allow any breaks.

Chelsey held my hand. I don’t think she even realized it. It was the first time I'd laid eyes on him since the police vehicle drove away. He held eye contact with me every chance he could, the pleading evident in his eyes. Doesn't he know I'll never give up on him?

Bail was denied. The public defender was useless. Didn’t even argue. Just nodded along like a goddamn bobble head while the judge let Senator Montague’s legal team spin whatever narrative they wanted. A legal team that includes my father.