Текст книги "Fear me"

Автор книги: B. B. Reid

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Текущая страница: 19 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-Four

The sound of children’s laughter and the smell of fried food greeted me as we entered the fair. It was a fairly warm, clear night. We ended up arriving over an hour late because Pepé decided to hide Willow’s keys to keep her from leaving. It took us a while to find them and in the end we brought him along with us even though I wasn’t too sure pets were allowed.

“First things first. I need a smoked turkey leg and funnel cake in that order and you bitches better get your own cause I’m not sharing.” Sheldon announced. The girl could really put it away.

We headed for the nearest food stand, weaving our way through the thick crowd. “So Lake, does your aunt know about Keiran?” Willow asked. I wasn’t expecting her to ask me that considering she shied away from questioning our “relationship”.

“Uh, somewhat. He came over once and met her but she doesn’t know anything. I feel guilty actually. She trusts me to keep my head but I’ve been keeping secrets.”

“Yeah and so has every other teenager to ever live. She knows what it was like to be eighteen.”

“Yeah, but –”

“Talk to her when she gets home. Lay it all out on the table. She still has no idea the house was broken into?” Sheldon asked.

“No. I didn’t want to ruin her tour by stressing her out. I’m worried she may not trust me again.”

“Disappointing parents is a part of the circle of life. You could have done much worse, if you ask me.”

“It’s just new territory. With sex in the equation, I’m no longer sure of the rules and boundaries. The law says I’m of legal age but the circumstances make everything skewed.”

“And isn’t it ironic that the very person who kept your love life non-existent now consumes it?” Willow let out a wry chuckle before purchasing a turkey leg and soda.

We grabbed our food and quickly found seats to eat. “Is Keenan talking to you yet?” I asked Sheldon.

“No. Strangely enough I haven’t heard from him this afternoon. I think he mentioned his dad coming home earlier this morning.”

“What does his dad do that keeps him away all the time?”

“He does construction work for his company and takes jobs all over the country for the right price, but I think it has more to do with him wanting to be away. I’ve been with Keenan for over two years and have only seen him a handful of times. He makes sure Keiran and Keenan are taken care of but mostly he stays away. I know it hurts Keenan but he ignores it. I actually heard that John used to be a very outgoing man long ago but after Keenan’s mother ran off, he shut down.”

“But there has to be more. Keiran doesn’t care for his uncle and I don’t think it is just because he is an absentee parent.”

“You may be right but neither of them are willing to talk. Keenan doesn’t seem to know much anyway.”

“But Keiran does. I know he does.”

“And his parents are dead, right?” She shrugged and bit into her turkey. “You don’t think so?”

“There was never any proof. They both just vanished.”

“Vanished?” Willow asked. I thought about the articles Jesse found a couple of days ago. He was still searching for any trace of his father with no luck so far.

“Yeah. Keenan once told me that Keiran’s father was disowned by their family and ran off years ago. He’s probably never even met Keiran if his mother was a one-night stand. He’s been with his uncle for years with no sign of his father.”

A disturbing thought popped into my head when she’d said that last part. “Wait, so he’d just moved here when I came to Six Forks?”

“Yeah, about three or four months before, I think.”

“Talk about Lifetime.”

“I wish I could get Keiran to tell me about his past. I feel like it has everything to do with why he is this way.”

“You ever think he might just have a really dominant personality?” Sheldon asked.

“You mean he’s an asshole?” Willow asked. “People’s parents split all the time. Your parents are gone and you’re just fine.”

I ignored the pain I felt at the reminder that my parents were gone and I had no idea why. Besides…was I really okay?

“Guys, he told me he was a bad person because he did bad things. That people made him do bad things. He never once mentioned his mother but he did tell me she was a prostitute and drug addict.

“So what are you thinking?” Willow asked.

“I don’t know for sure but what if – what if he wasn’t with his mother?”

“Where else would he have been?” Sheldon asked.

“Maybe her family took care of him until they couldn’t anymore? People are plural. Wherever he was for eight years his mother wasn’t the only person around him and whatever bad things they made him do followed him. It still follows him and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to help him.”

“You mean fix him?” Sheldon asked.

“I think what you are doing is what works. He seems a lot less…broody…these days. Maybe that’s enough.” Willow offered.

“Besides, he may not like the idea of you trying to fix him. He could take it the wrong way.”

“Guys, he told me I made him have nightmares! What am I supposed to do?” Sheldon coughed and spit out soda at my outburst.

“Wow,” she stated still coughing.

“That’s romantic,” Willow finished sarcastically.

“Nightmares of what?” Sheldon asked once her coughing fit was over. I ran down everything he told me last night and when I finished they looked more than a little disturbed and it wasn’t even a complete story.

“Do you think Dash and Keenan know?”

“Dash, maybe. Keenan, no.” Sheldon answered.

“Why Dash and not Keenan?”

“Because he has Dash’s back but he protects Keenan. Keenan looks up to him. He cares more than he lets on so he won’t want to taint that. ”

“I know what you are thinking Lake, but Dash won’t say a word. He’s loyal to a fault.” Willow stated.

“I think someone else cares more than they let on too. You should give my brother a chance then.” Sheldon smirked at Willow who scoffed and looked away.

“Look, I came for rides and prizes. Let’s go Pepé. We got shit to do.” She grabbed Pepé and stomped off with him.

“Why did you have to say that?” I fussed at Sheldon.

“What? You know it’s true. They are dying for each other and I’m sick of his ass walking around the house with pissy panties stuck up his ass.”

“Let them figure it out.”

“It isn’t me you need to tell that to. I’m telling you, Dash won’t wait forever.”

“So he will move on.”

“No, he’ll force her hand. The men in my family don’t play fair. Consider that a warning. Now let’s go get her. I can’t have my future sister-in-law mad at me.”

* * *

“I can’t eat anymore cotton candy. I’ll puke,” Sheldon whined. We were on the Ferris wheel after inhaling ample amounts of cotton candy. Sheldon of course, wanted to outdo us all and turned it into a competition.

“Eww. Puke that way,” Willow fussed, her voice filled with disgust.

“Stop pushing me.”

“Get away yuck mouth.”

“Ugh, tell her to stop pushing me, Lake.”

“Settle down children…Hey, slide over will you? I’m being crushed.”

“I’m going to murder you,” Willow threatened to Sheldon, ignoring me.

“Not if I puke on you first.”

“What are you, three?”

“You’re hurting my feelings.”

“Toss the candy, already.”

“We are on top of the wheel!”

“Maybe a kid will catch it.”

“Mmm,” Sheldon moaned as she took another bite. “Good cotton candy….Oh god,” she slapped a hand over her mouth. “No more.”

“Sheldon!” Willow shrieked.

I tried not to listen to my two friends bicker and even harder tried not to think about pushing them both off. That was bad right?

“Quit licking me!” Willow screamed.

“There was cotton candy on your face!”

Maybe not.

The ride started again and once it stopped for us to get off I was tempted to fall to my knees and kiss the ground. Willow had to hide Pepé her bag so he could get on the ride with us and she quickly took him out. He rolled his eyes at her before settling on her shoulders and looking around.

“Hey, look. Eleven o’clock.”

I looked over by the stage of acrobats and saw Trevor…with Anya. Kissing. Seeing the two of them together without a care in the world mad me sick and suddenly I wanted Keiran here with fierceness. “We need to move. I don’t want him to see me.”

“Too late. He’s already looking at you.”

Sure enough Trevor and Anya were both regarding us with hateful looks on their faces. I sincerely hoped Trevor wasn’t stupid enough to try anything. I took Sheldon and Willow’s hands and hurried away in the opposite direction.

“Hey, Lake!” I heard my name called out in a gruff voice.

“Well no one ever accused him of being smart.” Willow’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Keep walking,” I urged, rushing for the exit.

“He’s mighty ballsy,” Sheldon stated. She let go of my hand but kept up as I made my way to the car. A moment later she was on the phone telling someone that he was here. I had a good idea who.

We’d just cleared the gates when Trevor grabbed my arm, yanking me away from Willow and Sheldon. “Not so fast, sweetheart. Didn’t you miss me?”

“Take your hands off of me.”

“Why?” Anya snarled. “You think because you have Keiran that no one else is good enough for you? You couldn’t even get a boyfriend before.”

“Anya please get over yourself. Keiran never wanted you. You threw yourself at him.”

I almost had my arm out of his grip when he tightened it and began walking off with me in tow. “You’re coming with me. There is someone who wants to meet you.”

Before I could respond or scream for help I fell to the ground. Willow had jumped on Trevor’s back and began hurling insults and pulling his hair while Sheldon hit and kicked him from every angle. Luckily with Trevor’s arm broken he couldn’t get the upper hand, or so I thought.

“Get off me you crazy bitches!” he roared just before Willow went airborne and Sheldon hit the ground.

I saw red at seeing him manhandle my friends and before I could rethink it I delivered a two-piece to his face and swift kick to his groin bringing him to his knees.

I turned to help Sheldon and Willow who wasn’t moving from the ground. Pepé was sniffing at Willow’s face and making small sounds for his mother.

“Lake, watch out!”

I turned in time to see Trevor lunge for me with a murderous expression but before he could grab me he was thrown a few feet away by Dash and grabbed up by Keenan who delivered powerful blows to his face. They proceeded to tag team and beat the shit out of him. I winced at the beating he was taking. What surprised me most though was the absence of Keiran and how they’d gotten here so fast.

Sheldon was screaming for them to stop and as much as I hated Trevor I had to agree. They were quickly moving from assault to attempted murder if they carried on.

After a few more blows, Keenan grabbed Trevor by the arms and dragged him to Dash’s waiting car and threw him inside while Dash hurried over to Willow. He gathered her up into his arms and scooped up a scared Pepé.

“Where is her car?” His voice was rough and harsh and his face was a mask of unconfined fury. His whole body was shaking with barely controlled rage.

“Over – over there.” I pointed to her purple eclipse a few aisles over with a shaking hand. Willow seemed a little dazed from the fall but she was conscious and didn’t appear to have any injuries. He placed her in the passenger seat along with Pepé and turned to me.

“Go to her house and stay there. Keiran will come for you.” He jogged back over to his car. He and Keenan hopped in, and drove off… with an unconscious Trevor.

I looked around the empty parking lot and sighed in relief that no one was there to see Trevor assaulted and basically kidnapped. Then again, that could have been a bad thing. If Sheldon had never called her brother, who knows what Trevor would have done or where he would have taken me? What did he mean someone wanted to meet me?

I looked around again and noticed Anya was gone as well. “Where did Anya go? Did she run off?”

“Unfortunately, no. Keenan grabbed her too.”

“What!”

“Yup.”

“Why?”

“I don’t think I want to know.”

“We can’t just ignore the fact that happened Sheldon.”

“Do you really want to go against all three of them?”

“But Keiran wasn’t here.”

She looked at me as if I was dense. “Where do you think they are taking them? Look, let’s get Willow home and worry about that later.”

I reluctantly got into the car and dropped Sheldon off before driving us over to Willow’s house. Willow was silent the entire ride home and I kept checking to make sure she was still conscious. It didn’t look as if she hit her head from the fall.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she croaked.

“It doesn’t sound like it.”

“I’m fine.”

“What did Dash say to you?”

“What makes you think he said something?” she asked.

I shot her an impatient look but didn’t say anything more. I knew Willow sometimes better than I knew myself and vice versa.

She released an aggravated breath before stating, “He said he would be over to deal with my stupidity later.”

“He’s not making this easy for you is he?”

She snorted. “Nothing about Dash is easy. He’s always so determined to have his way. He doesn’t even really want me. He just thinks the world is supposed to change to fit him.”

Willow sounded so sad and heartbroken and I cursed my inexperience with boys because I had absolutely no idea what to tell her.

“So what are you going to do?”

“Wait for college to start and run away?”

“Aren’t you and Dash interested in the same school?”

“No. He only went to piss his father off. He will end up at some Ivy League school. If luck is on my side it will be on the other side of the country.”

“I don’t know Willow…”

“What don’t you know?”

“I don’t know if it will be enough.”

“It has to be.”

“I don’t know him very well but I know a man slut when I see one. He seems different with you. He looks at you differently.”

“Because I have meat on my skin?”

I laughed at her comment. Willow had curves but fat she was not. “No simpleton. Because you’re beautiful in a way he has never known and will never know again. Guys like him only have this opportunity once and he is smart enough to seize it.”

“Can I ask you something?” She asked.

“Sure.”

“How could you forgive Keiran so easily?”

“You think I forgave him?” She shrugged and I sighed.

“I don’t know what I’m doing with him. I’ve been hurt by him, Willow. I was hurt too many times and still I feel something for him and it confuses me.”

“You’re still afraid of him,” she stated.

I nodded and felt a pang of guilt admitting it. In truth, I was his proverbial punching bag. He took the frustration of his past out on me and I was afraid that any moment he could slip back because no one knew just how buried his past really was but him. I knew I couldn’t survive that again after knowing him so intimately. There was more between us than attraction but I wasn’t brave enough to say it out loud.

“You’re right, Lake. Something is haunting him. It’s there in his eyes. Guilt. Shame. Anger. It’s all there. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I don’t know what else to do, Willow.”

“You survive, Lake. That’s all you can do. If he loves you, he will do what it takes to make sure you do.”

* * *

Ifhe loves you…She’d said love. I was sure she did. I was numbed into silence and haven’t spoken a word since Willow’s last statement. She took my silence as an opportunity to retreat back into her own thoughts.

Keiran and I had never discussed love. I was still coming to terms with the fact that we even had sex with each other.  There wasn’t any space for love was there? Our relationship was on shaky ground already without adding love into the equation. I couldn’t help but think of what it could be like to have someone as sinful and dangerous as Keiran to love you. The powerful feeling that swept through my body made me shiver with delight.

Oh God.

I shook off the feeling and checked the time. It was after ten and getting later. Willow’s parents had taken a trip for their honeymoon. Willow said it took them forever to save for. I knew they wouldn’t mind me being here so late as I have slept over many times. Buddy was nowhere to be found as usual on a Friday night so we were here alone. I was beyond tired but I knew what I was waiting for. Dash had told me Keiran would come for me. Two hours passed but he still wasn’t here.

I briefly wondered what they did with Trevor and Anya. Trevor was dangerous but Anya was little more than a simple bitch. She didn’t have the mental capacity to be anything more. Maybe that was a little harsh.

I got comfortable on the couch, prepared to fall asleep. Willow had long turned on a movie but her attention was currently directed at the ceiling as she glared at the smooth cream surface above. I really wished I could help her overcome this love triangle between her, dash, and her mom’s past. I checked my cell phone once more before giving in to sleep and dozing off.

The doorbell awoke me some time later and a quick check of the time told me it was just after midnight. I had a good idea of who might be on the other side of the door. Willow began stirring from her place on the couch with a grumble. I hated being around Willow when she first awakens. That girl was a straight up grouch when sleepy.

“Who is it?” she asked with her eyes still closed.

“I don’t know. It’s your door.” The doorbell rang again at the same time Willow’s cell began ringing. She picked it up and answered without looking. “Hell – What are you doing here? I am not answering the door. I don’t care. No!  Do you know how late it is? Go away!”

Willow was fully awake now and pacing the living room floor as she argued with the person on the other end of the line. I got up to peek out the window and saw Dash and Keiran standing on the porch.

Keiran was leaning against the pillar, dressed in a black, long-sleeve Henley and black jeans that hung low on his hips. His arms were bulging as they rested against his chest, crossed. His stance was casual but his face was hard.

His head slowly turned to the window and his eyes connected with mine, holding my gaze. “Open the door,” he mouthed.

I bit my lip and moved away from the window, not knowing what to do. I knew Keiran would be mad about what happened at the fair but that didn’t make the reality any less intimidating.

“Willow we have to open the door.” I whispered to her across the room.

“No, we don’t. They will go away.”

“And when they catch us later?”

We had a stare down and Dash proceeded to pound on the door. Any minute now the neighbors would wake up and maybe call the police. The last thing I needed was for Keiran to think I called the police on him…again.

“Fuck! Fine.”

She moved to unlock the door and as soon as the lock was switched the door flew open letting in an enraged Dash. Willow backed away before turning to flee up the stairs with Dash hot on her heels. I heard a door slam, then a squeal, and a second door slam. I instantly regretted making Willow open the door and moved to help her.

“I wouldn’t worry about what he is going to do to her. I would worry about what I am going to do to you.”

I stood with my back facing him, listening to the furious pounding of my heart. He was so still and quiet behind me and it made my nervousness increase.

“Come here.”

“Keiran,” I cried still facing away from him.

“Don’t!” he yelled. “Don’t fucking do that. Come here,” he ordered slowly. “Don’t make me come get you.”

I slowly turned, my mind racing for a way to placate him. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of Keiran without a door separating us.

“Why are you here?” I asked, stalling for time.

“Time’s up,” he stated, moving for me.

Before I could react he hoisted me over his shoulder and carted me out the door. I watched his ass flex the entire way to Dash’s car, which, unfortunately was a short distance away. He drove off and we were parked in my driveway minutes later.

He came around to open my door and held out his hand to me. The gesture said more than what the eye could see. He could have easily lifted me out of the car without me being able to do anything to stop him but instead he was asking for my consent. To accept what was about the happen.

I did what any girl would do when faced with a seriously hot male that wanted you. I took his hand. He led me to the door, took my keys, unlocking it.

Here goes everything.

“Tell me what happened before Dash and Keenan got there.”

We were sitting in the kitchen while he checked over my body. I wasn’t expecting this once we once walked through the door. I was able to relax but not much.

“Not much. We spotted Trevor and Anya inside together.” I paused and looked for a reaction but there wasn’t even a flicker so I continued on. “He spotted us and I left the area and even the fairgrounds but he followed us out to the parking lot and grabbed me.”

There it was. He reacted to my last statement. Anger flashed in his eyes and his fists balled. I pretended I didn’t see and told him the rest of what happened. His expression was murderous by the time I finished.

“What do you think he meant by someone wanted to meet me?” I still couldn’t believe Trevor had stooped to kidnapping.

“Doesn’t matter. It will never happen.”

Wait. What? “You know who he was talking about? Who could Trevor and I have in common?”

“It’s not someone you have in common. It’s someone I have in common.”

“I don’t understand…”

“You don’t need to. I’ll handle it.”

“The hell I don’t. He was going to kidnap me, Keiran or don’t you get that?” My voice level rose with my frustration.

“Leave it alone.”

“No.” I stated, crossing my arms.

“No?” His eyes were nearly black now and that rebellious vein near his temple was throbbing.

“I’m going to find out what you are hiding Keiran. I deserve to know. Your past is the reason why you screwed up mine and I want to know why. I want to know all of it. Not the half-truths you gave me.”

“Do I ask you about your parents, Lake?” he yelled. The vibration of his voice shook me as it thundered through the kitchen.

“It’s your parents?” I asked, surprised. I could see the moment realization dawned on him. He cursed and stormed out of the kitchen. His footsteps pounding the floor until the front door slammed.

I hopped off the counter top and raced to the door. I didn’t know if I wanted to stop him or make sure he was gone. I opened the door just as Dash’s car raced down the street, recklessly. I stared at the receding taillights until they disappeared around the corner.

Way to go, Lake. You pissed him off and still don’t have any answers.

Once his car disappeared, I noticed a dark car with the headlights turned off sitting across the street.  It pulled off in the direction Keiran just went and I frowned. I closed the door against the cold air and made sure to lock it before rushing for my cell phone in jacket. I tried Keiran’s phone multiple times before giving up and heading for my own car.

I didn’t have a clue as to where he might go besides home so I headed over there. I continued to call him and cursed when I realized I didn’t have Keenan’s number so I tried Sheldon’s.

“Hello,” she mumbled sleepy on the third ring.

“Hey, is Keenan with you? It’s important.”

“Sure. Hold on.” I heard shifting and muffled voices before Keenan’s voice came over the line.

“Great. Now she knows about our secret love affair, Lake. Way to go.” I heard a slap ring through the line.

“Keiran took off after we had an argument. I’m heading over to your house. If he isn’t there I need to know where he would go.”

Silence filled the line and I could sense his hesitance. Chances were that Keiran would be home and chances were that he could be in danger.

“Keenan, please.”

He released a loud breath into the phone before answering. “The court. He would go there,” he stated before hanging up.

I came to a stop at one of the town’s forks. The left led to Keiran’s house while the right would take me to the playground. I haven’t stepped foot on that playground in ten years. I’ve seen it riding past and it hasn’t changed much but the memories all began there.

I made my decision and sped the rest of the way there.