“I’m not angry, Nettie. Not even remotely. I understand what you’ve done and why you did it. I’d do the same for my brother, or anyone I consider family,” I answer, sitting beside her on her bed. She begins crying again and I pull her into me. “Shhh, it’s okay.” I comfort her, pushing her hair out of her face. “We’re all going up to Ryder’s suite to talk, okay?”
I walk her to the shower, turning the faucet on before getting a towel out of the cupboard and handing it to her. “Have a shower and freshen up a bit, I just need to make a phone call. Can I use your phone, mine got stood on.”
She nods her head and smiles a small smile. “I’m so sorry, Phoebe. My phone is in my bag.” I kiss her on the forehead and shoo her into the bathroom.
God, I could kill Rellik for putting her through all this shit.
I still might, I haven’t decided yet.
Walking to my bed, I pull Nettie’s phone out of her bag, sliding it unlocked and dial Blake.
“Who’s this?” he answers.
“Blake, it’s me.”
“Phoebe, Are you okay? The concert is all over the news, did you get hurt? Why haven’t you answered your phone?”
“It shattered, and then I lost it during the madness. I’m okay.” I continue, “It wasn’t a huge earthquake, I think everyone just panicked because all the alarms and sprinklers went off. I’ll talk to you when I get home.”
“All right then, how’s my little traveler?” His tone changing.
“Good, really good. I’m having so much fun,” I lie. If there’s something I’m absolutely sure of, it’s that Blake can never find out what else happened last night.
“Can you do me a favor?” I ask calmly and casually.
“Yeah…”
“Can I get Drago’s number?” Drago is our computer nerd. He went to school with Blake and the boys, and they stopped him from getting picked on a lot as a kid before taking him under their wing. Now he’s a huge asset to us.
“Why?”
Shit.
“Because I want to see if he can find the number of the woman who abandoned Shooter.”
Nice save Phoebe.
“You still not letting that go?”
“No, I will never. Useless piece of shit dog owner.”
I found Shooter when he was a puppy in a dumpster. Suffice to say, I want words with her, but that’s not why I’m calling.
“Got a pen?”
After I jotted down the contact details for Drago, I call him straight away and give him the details of Rellik. He said it would take a couple hours for him to bring anything up, maybe longer if it’s buried deep enough.
“Ready?” I ask Nettie as she comes out of the bathroom fully dressed and showered.
“Yes. Is Rellik going to be there?” she asks.
“Yes, he is. I’m sorry, Nettie.”
She shakes her head, her eyes turning cold. “Don’t be. He has to wear this, no one else. “
We make our way into the elevator, pushing for the penthouse. The only sound I can hear is coming from the slow melody pouring out of the speakers.
“I’m sorry you’ve been put through all this, Nettie.”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry you have, too.”
The elevator doors ping open and we step out, her elbow hooked in mine. Once we reach his door, I look to her. “You ready for this?” I ask.
“No, but come on.”
I open the door, which I’ve opened many times. “Ryder?” I yell out, dropping my keys on the table beside the door.
Ryker answers, “In here, Phoebs.”
I turn to close the door and Nettie glances around the room. “Jesus.”
“I know,” I mutter my response, directing her to the living room where we find Ryder, Ryker, Rellik, Tommy, and Leo sitting on the sofa.
“So the whole family is here, huh?”
I look to Ryder, who hasn’t so much as looked at me, just keeping his eyes locked ahead of him. My eyebrows cross as I swallow past the lump that’s formed in my throat.
What the fuck is wrong with him?
One minute it was all, oh let’s write a song and basically declare my feelings for you at the biggest concert of the year, maybe even years, now, let’s pretend that I don’t even know you exist.
I look to Ryker, his eyes are shining with pain. He smiles a small smile, patting the spot next to him. “Come here, little T.”
“Don’t fucking call her that,” Ryder growls, still keeping his eyes locked on the wall ahead of him.
I shake my head, pulling Nettie with me to take a seat by Ryker. “What’s going on? Rellik? Did you tell them about your past?”
He shakes his head. “Some, not all.” A small smile pulls on his mouth. It was a smile of pity. He looks to Nettie, his whole demeanor changing. “Nettie? Can I talk to you? There’re some things I need to tell you.”
Nettie looks to me, I squeeze her hand and nod. “I’m right here. Go on.” Nettie’s world is about to crumble, and I’m one hundred percent capable of being there to pick up her pieces when she finds out about her brother. I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to Blake. The thought alone tears my heart into two. Nettie nods and stands off the sofa, where she follows Rellik out onto the porch that sits outside the living room and overlooks the city.
“So, now what?” I say to all of them.
“Get out! All of you except Phoebe.”
I look to Ryker nervously as they all get up and pat my shoulder. Ryker pulls my head in, kissing me long and hard on my head. Once they leave, Ryder finally drags his eyes away from the wall he’s been fixated on, bringing his attention to me.
“Ryder? What’s wrong?”
He shakes his head. “I can’t do this. I’m done. Not right now, I can’t fucking risk it.” His eyes as cold as ice. His hair messy, his eyes red from their earlier brawl, and his lip cut. It all adds to the intensity of him.
“What do you mean ‘done’?” I ask, looking at him.
“Done,” he responds, raising his eyebrows like he doesn’t give a fuck.
I stand off the sofa, my throat clenching. “Why!”
“If anything ever fucking happened to you because of me, I wouldn’t be able to fucking live with myself. You need to go the fuck back to Westbeach where you’re safe.”
“Fuck you, Ryder! You promised you wouldn’t leave me!”
“That was before I found out I had a crazy fucking brother who kidnapped you. Goddamit, Phoebe!”
He stands off the sofa, walking toward me, his eyes emotionless where a heartless smirk appears on his face.
I will not cry.
I will not cry.
The truth is, I want to break down, but I will not give him the satisfaction.
He walks up to my face and leans down to my ear. “I. Don’t. Want. You. Anymore.”
Those five words cut me deep. I look at him, tears surfacing in my eyes, pushing him away from me, then he laughs a sick sadistic laugh that pulls my stomach out of me. I was just about to say something when Nettie slides open the door, flying out of the porch with tears streaming down her face. She looks like heartbreak. Storming to the door, she pulls it open, moves out quickly and slams it shut. Rellik walks out to chase her, but I stop him before he reaches the door.
“Don’t, Rellik. I got it.” Keeping my eyes locked on Ryder.
He looks to Ryder then looks to me. “You need to look after yourself, Phoebe.”
I laugh. “Oh, right? Is that what all this was for?” I say to both of them. “You had a big plan to leave me?” Ryder’s jaw clenches and his eyes narrow.
“Leave, Phoebe. Don’t come back this time.”
A tear drops from my eye, and for the first time since everything blew up, Ryder flinches, his eyes fill with the loving and playful man I’ve known, but only for a split second. Because they have now been replaced with the cold, heartless, emotionless man, I hate.
“Fuck you, Ryder. Go to hell.”
&nbs
p; Tears are falling from my eyes when I turn and grasp on the door handle, swinging the door open and slamming it shut.
He broke up with me.
The pain I feel in my chest can only be described as a dagger being lodged so deep and then twisting in circles. He’s done it again, he’s hurt me. I can’t believe this has happened again. After everything we’ve been through, he decides to leave me.
Once I shut his room door, I break into a run, needing to get out of here because I’m suffocating. I push on the elevator buttons, but like always it’s taking too fucking long. So I run to the stairwell door, opening it wide and running down the stairs until I get to my floor, double stepping all the way with my chest contracting and tears streaming down my face.
Once I hit my floor, I pull open the door and bolt to our room, passing people in the hallway whispering, “Isn’t that Phoebe Rendon? Ryder Oakley’s girl?”
I want to tell them to fuck off. Just hearing his name is like rubbing salt on an opened wound.
Swinging open our door, I see Nettie in there packing her clothes. She pauses and looks to me, my eyes matching hers. “I’m sorry, Nettie.” She nods her head, her eyes puffy and swollen.
“Did he break up with you?” she asks.
Wiping my tears, I scrub my face with my hands. My skin feels raw, as though sandpaper has just been rubbed all over. “He did.”
She looks to her bag. “I’m sorry, Phoebe.”
Walking to her, I pull her little frame into my arms. “Don’t be sorry. Fuck Ryder Oakley and fuck Rellik …what’s his last name?”
“He doesn’t have one.”
“Well…good.”
Fresh tears fill my eyes, I let go of Nettie and drop to my bed. “I thought I meant something to him. I thought…” I look up at her and she smiles a small smile.
“Sorry,” she says.
“I’m sorry to hear about your brother, Nettie. He sounded like an amazing guy.”
She nods her head. “He was, he was the best,” she answers, tears now falling.
I begin packing up all my stuff. “I’ll book us some tickets for tonight. There’s no way we’re going back with them.”
She nods her head eagerly. “I agree. Phoebe?” she whispers.
“Yeah?”
“Can I come with you for a little while? I can’t face my parents yet.”
I drop my arms. “Of course. You can stay with me for as long as you need.”
“Thank you, Phoebe. I’ve never had a friend like you before.”
“I will be all the friend you will need.”
An hour later, we are all packed and our tickets are booked. The flight from New York to Westbeach is only four hours and because it’s domestic, we don’t need to be there until an hour before our flight.
We walk out of our hotel room, dragging our suitcases behind us.
“Phoebe?” A low voice mumbles from behind me.
I turn around to see Ryker. “I can’t do this Ryker. You look exactly like him.”
The pain in his eyes breaks my heart.
He smirks through his red eyes. “Now, now…I’m much better looking.”
That makes me smile a little. “I’m going to miss you,” I whisper from where I stand.
“I’ll miss you too,” he replies hoarsely.
“Don’t come closer, Ryker, I’ll lose it and cry all over your shoulder.”
He brings his fist to his mouth, biting down in frustration.
“Did he ever care, Ryker? Or was it all a part of some sick plan?”
His eyebrows cross. “There was no plan, Phoebe.”
“Right. But, he…Actually, don’t worry. Bye Ryker. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Phoebe.”
Turning on my heels, I take hold of Nettie’s hand as we lead each other through our pain.
When we step outside, there are hundreds of paparazzi and fans.
Do they not have a damn life?
The tears still streaming down my face, I freeze in place. The cameras start flashing and I begin to panic, squeezing onto Nettie’s hand. I turn back to the hotel, ready to run back inside when Rufus comes walking out. “Phoebe.”
Wiping the tears off my cheek, I smile at him. “Thank you, Rufus.”
“No problem.”
I block out everything that’s being screamed at me. I don’t have the energy to care right now, and I know that a lot of what’s being said will be hurtful.
He leads us to an SUV. “I can take you where you need to go,” he says, opening the back door.
“Thank you.” We both slide in and he takes our suitcase to the car trunk.
Once we arrive at the airport, we quickly pull our bags out before the paparazzi get here. I ignore all the looks I’m getting from people walking out of the airport. After giving a quick thank you to Rufus, we head in to board our plane.
Rubbing my hands over my hair, the front door slams shut with an angry looking Ryker walking in.
He points to me. “You didn’t have to do that, Ryder. That was a fucking dick move!”
Rellik takes a seat on the sofa opposite me, watching Ryker closely. Ryker swings his attention to him, his eyes narrowing. “This is your fucking fault. And how do we know that you’re even our fucking brother? Do you know how many thirsty fucking people hit up our mailbox with ‘I’m pregnant with your son’ or ‘I’m your brother’ bullshit? So you know some stuff about our past, that don’t prove shit!” Ryker seethes, slumping his weight down next to me. He has a point, I look toward Rellik waiting for him to retaliate.
“I have proof, you don’t think I thought of that? Do you know how long I’ve been planning this? I don’t think you do,” he answers, standing and making his way to his jacket that’s hanging behind the door. Walking back toward me, he hands me an envelope. “Here, take it. Research its authenticity too if you want, it’s legit. All of it. They have a record of it at the lab, too.”
Snatching it out of his hands, I peel it open and read everything—showing he is, in fact, our brother.
“Whose DNA did you snatch?” I ask, peering up at him.
“Does it matter?” he answers, sitting back into his spot on the sofa.
Throwing the paper onto the coffee table, I stretch my arms wide over the top of the sofa. “So now what? We play happy families? You’ve been plotting this revenge. You kidnap my girl, then you expect us to welcome you into the family with happy fucking arms? You’re sorely mistaken, brother. That’s not how this is going to go. First of all…” I begin, leaning forward and picking up the glass of bourbon I’d poured earlier from the coffee table, swinging the liquid around before going back to my position, “…you kidnapped Phoebe fucking Rendon. As in...the Sinful Souls little MC princess. Her brother is not impressed by the way. Second of all, I don’t trust you and that is all I need.” I shrug, taking a swig of the brown liquid, its fire igniting on the back of my throat. I broke her tonight, I fucking snapped any progress I’d made with her in half. The memory of her eyes breaking in front of me as her first tear dropped will haunt me forever. This girl…fuck…this girl? She runs my fucking world and there’s no denying that.
Ryker laughs an evil chuckle from beside me. “I would say you’re both pretty fucked, Ryder. He may have kidnapped her, but you broke her heart,” he answers, keeping his eyes locked on the ceiling, his Adams apple bobbing when he swallows, and a serious expression pulling over his face. “She was broken, Ryder. Un-fixable. The girl who loves too much got shit on by the one person she wanted to love her back. I officially hate your fucking guts.” He stands from the sofa and pours himself a bourbon.
“I didn’t want this,” Rellik whispers from his spot, causing both Ryker and I to bring our attention to him. “I mean,” he stands from his spot and begins walking back and forth in front of us. “I wanted it, yes. But I’m tired. I’ve spent years and years brewing about you both. But when I began watching you personally, following you and studying you, I realized I didn’t want to hurt
you, if I ever really even did. And then I met Nettie. Well, I manipulated Nettie, and she made me see things from a different light too. I know that what I’m asking of you is impossible. And I know that you’ll never trust me completely, but all I’m asking for is a chance. I’ve never had a family, that’s why I never recognized the feelings that churned away inside me. But I want to be a part of this, and I will prove to you how serious I am. I don’t need your money, it’s never been about that and I think you both know that. I have my own. What I want, is family.” His walking stops, he stares between Ryker and me, the uneasiness in his eyes making me shift uncomfortably. I’m livid, that’s a given, but I know the importance of family, and that speech was pretty touching.
Ryker stands from his spot. “Well, you didn’t need to jabber on about all that touchy-feely shit. We would’ve taken you anyway, not by choice, but by the fact that if our aunt ever found out we denied you, we’d be denied at least four Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas’ and even birthdays. I’m not guaranteeing that we won’t make you sweat a little, and Ryder is right about Phoebe’s family, they’re not going to be cool with what went down. I’m too sober for this shit, I’m out.” He begins walking toward the door.
I stand from the sofa. “Hey!” He doesn’t stop, so I call again. “Ryker!” He stills, turning in his step slowly.
“I don’t want to talk to you right now, Ryder. I wasn’t joking when I said that I hate your fucking guts right now.” He continues his walk, opening the door and slamming it behind him.
Running my hand over my face in frustration, I sink back into my chair. Rellik sits beside me. “It’s not too late with her, you fucked up, so fix it. She’s pretty fucking incredible.”
I laugh a spiteful laugh. “You don’t know Phoebe the way I do. Trust me, there’s no going back from this. Not only is she strong, but she’s stubborn. I fucked up.” Closing my eyes, I whisper out again. “I fucked up.”
“So…” I say to Nettie as we pull up to my house in the taxi, “…this is home.”
“It’s a beautiful home,” Nettie states while getting out of the taxi.
I need alcohol to numb the pain. If I thought it was hurtful last time he did this to me, it’s even worse now.