I look between the two of them and see them both frowning.
“What do you mean?” my mom asks.
“I . . . umm, I-I don’t know how to put this without it upsetting anyone. Honestly, I don’t think I can say it right now,” I murmur.
“Well I won’t push you, sweetheart, but when you’re ready, I’d like to know what’s going on. I’d noticed you acting different, especially more recently, but I didn’t want to push.” That’s my mom for you. Never the one to push too hard.
“Does my brother know what’s going on?” Anabelle asks, quietly. Turning my full focus to her, I nod my head as she frowns even more. “Are you going to tell me why he knows, and I don’t?” I shake my head. I don’t want to tell her this because it will only hurt her more.
“I can’t. At least not right now,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes. Shame starts to seep in deep within me as the tears turn into full blown sobs.
“It’s okay, Kenzie. Don’t cry. You know I’ll end up crying and then we’ll both be a blubbering mess,” Anabelle murmurs as she moves to stretch out next to me and wrap her arm around my front.
Sucking in a breath, I try to regain control of my emotions. Anabelle’s right about one thing. If she starts crying, neither of us will be able to stop and then my best friend’s makeup will be all over her face.
What a way to spend our eighteenth birthday that is for sure. Sighing, I close my eyes as I lean my head against Anabelle, at the same time my mom wraps her arm around the both of us as she stretches out on my other side.
“My girls, what am I going to do with you?” she murmurs her question against the side of my head.
“Same as always, Momma Lisa,” Anabelle states, using the name she had dubbed my mom with when she first moved in with us. Since then that’s what she’s always said, along with Big D.
It’s not hard to understand where she’s coming from when she calls my dad, Big D. He is one large dude that does not take any shit from anyone. It’s probably why he looked so pissed earlier when he was in here. Seeing me, he would have felt like a failure for not protecting me.
“Yeah, sweetie pie, that’s for sure.” Releasing us my mom turns to look at me. “Now when can we take you home? I’m sure you’d be more comfortable in your own bed.”
“I don’t know, we’d have to ask Doctor Connors.” I say, my heart starts to beat faster within my chest, and I can feel a panic attack rising. Why does the mere mention of going home to my own bed scare me?
Because Justin knows where my house is. Right now, he doesn’t know where I am and can’t get to me. Here, I’m protected and safe. Shoot with my parents and Anabelle here he can’t get to any of us.
At home, I’m vulnerable to Justin’s reach. He could easily send one of his dick minions after me. It would not be the first time. Normally, if he can’t reach me on the phone, he sends Marco after me.
Which can be deemed as a form of punishment as Marco likes to leer and tell me all the filthy things he imagines doing to me while jerking his dick or shoving it down some whore’s throat.
A shiver runs through my body, my mom must have felt it since she immediately grabs the blanket covering my lower half and lifts it up to cover more of my body. Thankfully, while I was still passed out, Doctor Connors and Jordan had not only stripped me of the clothing I’d been wearing but put me in a black t-shirt with the Devil’s Riot logo on the front.
“Well, I’m going to go out there and see if I can find out. I think you will be better at home,” she says as she climbs off the bed.
I don’t respond to her with words since the ones I want to release are clogged in the back of my throat.
My eyes follow my mom until she leaves the room then I lean my head back against the pillow and look up at the ceiling. God, how do I tell my mom something that will hurt her without it destroying her as it has me.
“Mackenzie, now that Momma Lisa’s out of the room, why don’t you tell me what’s really going on? Does this have anything to do with why you get phone calls and disappear for hours at a time?” Anabelle inquires. Never say my best friend isn’t intuitive. Or blunt for that matter.
“I honestly don’t want to talk about it. But yes, it has to do with that reason. No, I’m not going to say anything further on the subject. Not right now,” I mutter.
“Okay, I’ll give you the day and tomorrow; however, come the day after I’m demanding to know what’s going on with you.” What are best friends for if not for making demands and being protective.
“We’ll see,” I huff.
“Damn straight we will. You can also add what’s going on between you and Lex to that list.”
Slanting my eyes at Anabelle, I find her grinning at me from ear to ear.
Great.
This is not something I’m wanting to talk about right now. Two years ago, I would be saying something completely different. However, not anymore. No matter what Lex says, I’m not good enough for him anymore.
And never will be.
Chapter Seven
Lex
“You need to explain to me what the fuck is going on,” Nick demands the moment we enter the main room of the clubhouse. All of the club members and my brothers are either standing or sitting around.
Before I can answer him though, the door slams open and my cousin storms into the room. “Lex, you had
