"Fine. How much longer is this meeting?"
"We're almost done. I'll meet you at Miner Park. Just go." She gives me a shove toward my car.
Taking steps backward until my back hits the car, I watch her stand there, waiting for me to leave. How could a girl like her fall for a guy like me? She's so angelic and sweet. I’m nothing but a fuck-up. Yet, for years she watched me and waited for me until I came for her, and when I did, I stole her innocence and ran like hell. I guess that's what the devil does after all—preys on the weak and pure.
Spinning around, I walk to the car. When I look up, she’s gone. Just like that night. I drove her to her house and told her I’d call her later while I bragged to the guys in a group text about accomplishing my mission. The door slammed shut and by time I realized she was out the car, her porch light was off and she was behind the closed door.
Shifting in drive, I take off. The small space in the car begins to feel suffocating. I tug at the collar of my shirt then roll the window down, letting in some fresh air. Tapping the call button on the dash, I speak out loud, “Call Tommy.”
It rings twice before he picks up. “It’s about damn time. Where the hell have you been?”
“Something came up that I had to deal with.”
“What could be more important than making sure we don’t spend the rest of our damn lives in prison?”
I could tell him that I’m already in my own personal prison, but I need to have that conversation with Willa first. “Just some shit. Don’t worry about it. Where do we stand? What’s going on?”
“You need to call him.”
Flicking the blinker up, I look both ways at the four-way stop before taking a left to Miner Park. “Who? Anderson?”
“No. Zed. He won’t talk to Talon for obvious reasons. He’s ignoring my calls. You two have always been the closest. We think he’ll reason with you.”
I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Zed. Reason with someone? Not a chance.”
“Fine, then I guess we just wait until this all blows up in our faces.”
He’s got a point. Zed and I have always been pretty close. That was before he turned on me and used my sexual relationship with Madison against me. Right before Halloween, Zed got shitfaced and decided to crawl through my window like he always does. I should have known better than to leave it unlocked. He dropped on the floor the same time my boxers did while I was standing in front of Madison with my dick in her face.
At that time, I was more pissed that he cock-blocked me. He swore that he’d never say a word. Until he threatened to do just that if I didn’t bring Marni to him. So I got a gun and pointed it at her while I drove her three hours to Briarwood. It was one of my bigger fuckups, but it won’t be my worst—I’m sure of that.
I can already feel the heat of the flame and the last thing we need is for this shit to blow up any more than it already has. “I’ll call him.” I’ve got a few minutes before Willa will be here. We need to try anything at this point. “Hey, I have to finish dealing with….something, but when I’m done, I’m heading back to Talon’s. We need to have a meeting. It’s my round and I’m ready for the games to begin.” I hit the end call button on the dash and shift the car into park in front of the gazebo at Miner Park.
My finger hovers over the call button, then back to my lap. I press it before I can talk myself out of it. “Call Zed.”
“Where are you?” he says after the first ring.
I’m a little stunned that he even answered. Now that he has, I’m not sure if I should be angry or express a need to reason with him. “I’ve been around. Where the hell are you?”
“You wanna talk then meet me somewhere. I’m not doing this shit over the phone.”
“Name the place. I’m there.”
“Lake Ruin behind Miner Point. Thirty minutes.”
I look at the clock on the dash. It would take me at least ten minutes to get there and Willa still isn’t here. This could be our only shot to talk to Zed, so I have to do it. “I’ll be there.” The call drops abruptly.
Where the hell are you, Willa? My eyes dance around the empty park. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I slam my other hand on the steering wheel. She should have been here by now. Fuck it. I shift into reverse then pull away.
6
My eyes dance from the clock on the dash to the road. I’ve got twenty-five minutes to meet Zed. Once again, I find myself in front of the church. Only this time, her car is gone. I didn’t pass any cars on the way here, so she can’t be headed to the park.
Pulling out my phone, I shoot her a quick text then start driving again. When she doesn’t respond, I end up in front of her house. Sure enough, she’s here. She fucking stood me up. The audacity.
Pastor Jeffries already hates me. What have I got to lose? Leaving the car running, I get out and shut the door. All the lights are on inside and I can hear someone talking as I walk up the stone path to her small house.
Willa doesn’t have the luxuries that some of us do. Her parents are successful, but not in the way that most people view
