Chapter Sixteen

“You’ve got to stop doing that,” Josh said as Trevor lined up his next shot.

The sounds of pool balls clacking echoed through Griff’s Billiards. It was early enough that the working crowd was still around. Trevor set a glass of bourbon on the edge of the table before he leaned over to take the shot.

“If you like her, just go for it,” Trevor said. “Stop being such a pussy.”

Josh glared at him. “She’s leaving. Probably tomorrow or Saturday. There’s nothing to go after.”

Trevor ran the cue through his fingers a few times before taking the shot, sinking his solid ball in the side pocket. “You never used to give up on things so easily.”

Josh’s hands tightened around his stick as Trevor moved around to find another shot. “I don’t give up.”

“Oh right. You can’t give up when you haven’t even tried.” He sank another solid into the corner pocket.

“What do you want me to do, huh? Ask her to give up her rig? Ask her to stay? We haven’t even gone on a date.”

Trevor walked over and grabbed his bourbon, downing it in one shot. He gestured to the waitress for another. Josh frowned.

“Then take her on one. Dave can stall on the parts.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Josh said.

“Of course not. You’re a bleeding heart,” Trevor said dryly.

“Because I respect women and don’t screw them as soon as I see them?”

The waitress gave both of them an awkward look as she handed Trevor his drink. He took it, and paid cash, waiting till she walked away before looking back at Josh. “No. You won’t let yourself heal from what Sonja did to you. You’re literally a bleeding heart. Wounded, broken, and terrified to move on.”

“I’m not terrified to move on,” Josh grumbled. Part of him knew Trevor was right, but that didn’t mean he had to admit it out loud.

“Yes, you are.” Trevor sipped the bourbon. “You are so terrified that someone else is going to rip you apart from the inside out that you won’t even attempt to be happy.”

“Who said I’m not happy?”

Trevor drooped his shoulders and walked over to him. “Yes, the kids make you happy. But you’re wanting for a good woman who can live life at your side.” He put his hand on Josh’s shoulder. “Stop being a pussy and ask her out. I haven’t seen you eye fuck someone in a long time.”

The anger washed through Josh again. “Stop talking about her like that.”

He grinned. “Yeah. You’re not hard up at all.”

“Are you gonna take your shot or not?”

Putting down the bourbon, Trevor took his shot, the ball banking off the side. “Damn!”

Walking over, Josh started debating which would give him the best chance. At least he tried. Reggie kept coming to mind. If she’d been here, there’s no way he would have been able to concentrate at all. When she was near, all he wanted was for her to consume him. He wanted to run his fingers through her wild curls, breathe in the scent of her, and nuzzle the hollow of her neck.

Trevor snapped his fingers in Josh’s face, destroying the fantasy.

“Dude, go.”

Josh glared at Trevor again and took his shot, sinking a stripe.

“Look,” Trevor said as Josh moved around the table. “I’m just saying if you don’t give it a shot, you’re going to regret it.”

Not admitting that Trevor was right, Josh took another shot. He sank his ball and scratched to boot. He rubbed his face in frustration. How could he ask Reggie on a date, knowing that she was going to leave? Somehow, she’d already managed to make him care about her so much. She didn’t have to try. The first time he saw her smile, Josh knew he was done for. He kept trying not to let that happen, to pull away, keep himself above water. In a few days, her truck would be fixed.

Reggie would be gone.

Josh would probably never see her again.

He felt sick just thinking about her being gone forever. Grabbing his beer, Josh took a long swallow. Trevor ordered another bourbon.

Damnit.

“What’s going on with you?” At least if Josh focused on his friend, he could push the thought of Reggie no longer staying in the bunkhouse out of his mind.

“What do you mean?” He retrieved the cue ball and set it up at the end of the table.

“You’re drinking like a fish,” Josh said. He set the beer down and leaned against the pool stick, both hands wrapped around it. “You’re starting to worry me, man.”

“Nothing to worry about,” Trevor said. “I’m not drinking as much as you think.”

Josh gave him a dubious look.

Trevor took his shot and straightened, giving a heavy sigh. “Look, I get you worry because of Sonja, but I’m not her, man. I don’t have a problem.”

“Every time I see you,” Josh argued. “You either have booze, want booze, or smell like booze.”

“Jesus, Josh.” He shook his head. “Fine, if you’re that worried, this will be my last drink tonight, all right?”

“That’s a start,” Josh agreed. “But it doesn’t fix the problem.”

Trevor paid the waitress and took the bourbon, setting it on the table. “You’re paranoid because of Sonja. Stop laying it on me.”

Yeah, Sonja had Josh on edge, but this thing with Trevor had started before she showed back up. It was just coming to a head now. Closing his eyes, Josh took several deep breaths. This wasn’t the place to get into an argument with his friend, not about drinking. It’d cause a scene and Josh didn’t want that.

“All right.” He opened his eyes. “I’ll take your word for it.”

Trevor nodded. “Thank you!”

He took another shot, and Josh really hoped he’d been misreading the situation.

Pepper wound up working a double so she could get the day off tomorrow. Reggie wouldn’t be able to stay out late. She still had another day of work with Josh, but she did need to talk to Dave. He hadn’t mentioned if the truck would be done by the weekend. He’d said a week. That was tomorrow. Not wanting to seem too pushy, Reggie hadn’t asked over and over again. Dave just assured her it was coming along.

Wrapping up in the kitchen, Pepper walked out, folding her apron as Reggie sipped her coffee. Pepper’s small braids had been woven into a larger one that hung over her shoulder. She smiled as she sat across from Reggie in the booth.

“Told you that you coulda come later,” Pepper said. “No reason to have been sitting here.”

Except Reggie didn’t want to be at the bunkhouse. She kept seeing Sophie’s name etched into the wall, kept tracing it, wondering who the woman had been—who her daughter would have been if she’d had a chance to be born.

Between that and the constant thoughts of Josh, Reggie needed to get out of there. The atmosphere was smothering her.

She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s fine. I didn’t have a lot else to do, anyway.”

Pepper grinned. “Well then, let’s change that, shall we?”

“What’d you have in mind?”

“Let’s head on out to the bar.”

“Don’t you guys have anything else to do in this town other than drink?” Reggie asked.

Pepper laughed. “It’s a western bar. I’m going to teach you how to line dance.”

Reggie’s eyes widened. “Say what now?”

Taking Reggie’s coffee, Pepper got up and put it on the other side of the counter. “Trust me. It’ll get your mind off things.”

“Well yeah,” Reggie said. “Making an ass out of myself tends to do that.”

Pepper came over and took her hand. “Stop being so uptight. You need a little bit of fun.”

Groaning, Reggie let Pepper pull her out of the booth. “This is going to be a bad idea. People are going to leave with broken toes. I can’t dance. Not even a little.”

“No time like the present to learn.”

“See you tomorrow, Joe.” Pepper waved at the guy back in the kitchen. He smiled and waved back.

Reggie didn’t know him, but she gave him a nod anyway and walked out.

“I’m leaving my car here,” Pepper said. “In case I get too tipsy to drive. Bar’s not far from here, anyway.”

Reggie didn’t mind the dancing, but she didn’t drink heavily when she wasn’t in a secure location—so anywhere outside of a motel. She learned the hard way just how dangerous people could be. Worst-case scenario, she’d pour Pepper into a cab and walk back to the bunkhouse.

Pepper looped her arm through Reggie’s. “So, where’s tall, dark, and handsome tonight?”

“Out with Trevor.” Reggie didn’t even pretend not to know who Pepper was talking about. All week, the vivacious little waitress had been trying to get Reggie to make another move on Josh. “Your dad say when my rig would be ready?”

She shook her head. “Nope. I didn’t ask either. Don’t hate me, but I’m sorta hoping the part takes longer than expected.”

“Oh?” Reggie raised a brow at her.

Sighing, Pepper pulled away and slid the hair tie from her braids. She shook them out, the long strands framing her beautiful face. “It’s been fun hanging out with you. You’re a good person, and I admit, I don’t want to see you go so soon.”

“It’s how I make money.”

“You got a job with Josh. The park isn’t going to be done by tomorrow.”

No. It was going to take him at least another two weeks to get it ready and that would cut the deadline close. “He’s expecting more help next week,” Reggie reminded her. “The normal crew that comes through this time of year.”

“That’s true,” Pepper said. “But I don’t imagine he much wants to see you leave either.”

The lights began to fade from main street as they made their way toward the downtown area.

She rolled her eyes. “He’s not hard up on me. He made that clear.”

“Oh, come on,” Pepper said, nudging Reggie with her shoulder. “You give up on everything that easy?”

Once upon a time, Reggie fought for everything she wanted. It felt like she was invincible, like nothing could stop her. Then—in one night, everything changed, and she learned to pick her fights. She had enough scars, and she learned the hard way, that sometimes, no matter how much you fought, you couldn’t escape the past.

“Josh has a lot going on,” Reggie told her. “I don’t need to get in the way. Add another complication to his life.”

“You wouldn’t be a complication.” Pepper pulled away and twirled, arms out. “You’d make him smile.”

“That is such a lame line.”

“Whatever.” Pepper flicked her nose. “Don’t be jealous of my verbal skills.”

Laughing, Reggie rubbed the tip of her nose and shook her head. “You’re insane.”

“Oh, girl, you have no idea!” She twirled again and someone stepped out of the darkness, one hand snaking around Pepper’s belly jerking her into an alley.

“Pepper!” Reggie rushed after her, but something slammed into the back of her head and the world went dark.

A blast of pain rocked through Reggie’s head, bringing reality back. She groaned, prying her eyes open. The asphalt from the alley irritated her cheek where it pressed against the ground. A throbbing sensation localized on the back of her head and she tried to block it out, reaching for her gun, only to find the hollow of her back void of the firearm.

“Looking for this?”

Swallowing back nausea, Reggie lifted her head, finding herself face to face with none other than Daddy Douchewad—the same guy she knocked on his ass at the last game. Crouching, he held her gun in his hand, the barrel facing the sky. Reggie’s heart pounded. She narrowed her gaze, but out of her peripheral she noticed the two other men, just as big and probably dumb. One held Pepper, her arms twisted behind her back, fear pulsating in her dark eyes.

Anger bubbled deep inside Reggie and she let out a slow breath, trying to contain herself before she let her emotions get the best of her. She let out a laugh and shook her head, instantly regretting it as pain sliced through her brain. Reggie was good at playing this game. If there was one thing her mother taught her, it was how to keep her emotions hidden, keep her face stoic.

“Are you serious right now?”

Daddy Douchewad grabbed her chin, his fingers digging into the skin and muscle until she felt his grip on her jawbone. “You think you can make a fool of me?” he asked. “In front of my boy? No. Now you get to pay.”

Reggie spit in his face. He jerked away and backhanded her. Fresh pain exploded across her cheek. The coppery tang of blood coated her tongue.

“You want me,” she said, moving to all fours. “That’s fine. Let the girl go.”

“So she can go to the cops?” Daddy Douchewad asked. “I don’t think so.”

Reggie gave a slow grin. She could feel the blood coating her lips. “That’s too bad. I thought we could end this in a civil manner.”

Before he could say anything, Reggie twisted around, knocking his feet out from his crouched position. Before he could regain his footing, she lunged at the one holding Pepper, grabbing his arm, twisting it behind his back. Pepper stumbled away from him.

Reggie looked at her, eyes wide. “Run!”

“Reggie!”

“Run, Pepper!”

Not needing to be told a third time, Pepper turned and took off out of the alley. The third man came at Reggie, grabbing her by the hair, jerking her off of his friend. Daddy Douchewad walked over to her.

“That was a stupid move.”

Reggie laughed. “You have no idea what you just got yourself into.”

He opened his mouth, and Reggie threw her leg up, kicking him in the jaw. They went at her, and Reggie didn’t hold back, throwing punches, kicks, using every move she’d ever learned, but there were three of them and one of her. Reggie didn’t know who, but one of them caught her with a right hook to the cheek that sent her sprawling on the ground.

Josh and Trevor walked out of the pool hall, laughing and practically falling over each other. Josh stopped drinking along with Trevor. He didn’t think it was fair to flaunt booze when he asked his friend to stop. As Trevor sweat out the booze, Josh saw a light in his eyes, one that hadn’t been there for a long time. They played pool, laughed about old times, and before Josh knew it, he’d forgotten about Sonja, and even about Reggie. It was Josh and Trevor. Just like the old days.

“I still fully expect that fifty bucks,” Josh said.

Trevor snorted a laugh. “Yeah right. You cheated. I’m not sure how you cheated yet, but you cheated.”

Josh shoved his shoulder as they walked, making their way to the car. “You wish. Pay up. You’re a fancy attorney. You make enough to spare fifty bucks.”

“Well, if you’re that broke,” Trevor said. “All you have to do is ask for a loan.”

Josh opened his mouth to answer, but a scream made him turn his head toward the street.

“Help!”

“What the hell—“ He stepped forward and recognized the woman stumbling toward them. “Pepper?”

Her eyes shined with recognition. “Josh you gotta help her!”

“Holy shit,” Trevor said as they both ran over to her.

“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she assured them. “You gotta help her!”

“Wait, Pepper.” Josh held up his hands as if trying to soothe her, even as a sinking feeling swirled in his gut. Reggie was supposed to be with Pepper. “What’s going on? Where is Reggie?”

Pepper shook her head, even as Trevor pulled her close. “They attacked us on the way to the bar. Reggie distracted them so I could get away, but I must have lost my cell phone in the scuffle.”

Josh’s heart slammed into the ground. “Where are they?”

“By the antique shop on Orange street.”

He took off running.

“Josh!” Trevor called.

“Call the cops and keep her safe!” He called back, not slowing his pace.

Everything in the world faded, becoming white noise in the background. His lungs burned, expelling the smoke from the pool hall. His thighs protested the sudden exercise, but Josh didn’t let up, especially not when he heard Reggie’s scream echo through the empty street.

He rounded the corner near the antique shop.

Reggie grunted in pain, her body prone on the ground as a foot connected with her ribs. The force drove her up, turning her on her side.

Stark fear and anger mixed in Josh, making a volatile cocktail that he hadn’t felt since he found Emma with a crack pipe in her hand. He recognized the one kicking Reggie as the father from the baseball game. The other two, he didn’t know, but the shortest of them held a gun in his hand, pointed at Reggie on the ground. That would be the only reason she didn’t fight back. Josh had seen her take down the father with ease before.

Josh ran down the alley and tackled the one with the gun. The concrete slammed into Josh’s shoulder. He barely registered the pain as he wrestled the gun from the man’s hand and hit him against the temple with it. He blacked out and Josh scrambled back before the second man could run at him. He pointed the gun at him.

“Stop!”

The other man, a redhead Josh could see now that he was up close, skidded to a stop. His lip curled in a snarl.

“Well, what have we here?” The father grabbed Reggie by the hair and jerked her up. She clasped her hands over his, scrambling to her feet.

Josh’s jaw clenched. Her face was bruised, swollen, and blood trickled from a gash on her forehead. He wanted to inflict ten times the amount of pain on them that they’d given to Reggie. His grip tightened on the gun, finger edging toward the trigger. He hoped he didn’t have to shoot anyone, but he wasn’t going to let them hurt her anymore. Honestly, if he could get away with killing them, he would, but he had two kids at home. That kept him grounded, if only slightly.

“Let her go.”

“Or what?” the dad asked. He jerked Reggie’s head back. She gave a small cry, her eyes going skyward.

“Cops are on their way,” Josh said. “So you can either stay here and get arrested, or get lost before your son winds up without a father.”

Daddy Douche tightened his grip in Reggie’s hair. Her scalp was on fire from the force. That was the least of the pain she felt. She had a bruised rib or two, but right now, she pushed it all away. She’d been through worse. Trying to keep the past separated from the current moment wasn’t easy. Flashbacks of a dark parking garage coincided with the shadowed alley. When she woke, she’d promised never to let herself be a victim like that again.

And she wasn’t.

Josh had her gun. Reggie laughed.

Daddy Douche jerked her hair again. “Shut up, bitch!”

“Fuck you.” She thrust her elbow into his gut. His grip on her hair released and Reggie twisted, kicking him in his chest.

“Hey!” The redheaded guy charged her and Reggie narrowed her gaze.

She didn’t run or move away. As soon as he was in range, she dropped him with a right hook. Her chest heaved with emotion. Out of breath and angry, Reggie balled her hands into fists. The darkness of the alley pulled her into a memory of lying on her side, a foot slamming into her belly just like Daddy Douche had done. Only then her belly had been swollen with life, so near the brink of giving birth. She’d tried so hard, screamed, begged, pleaded.

Then she’d been so scared. Now Reggie didn’t have time to be scared. Anger bubbled up, and she knew Josh had the gun. Knew the redhead was on the ground at her feet. Knew the other man was on the ground, out cold.

Daddy Douche grumbled. Reggie could have looked at Josh. She knew that he’d ground her. Ever since she came to town, something about him struck a chord with her, but right now, she didn’t want to be grounded. She didn’t care about being sane or what the consequences of her actions would be.

If someone didn’t teach Daddy Douche a lesson now, there would be another woman, or maybe he’d teach his son. That sweet boy didn’t deserve a piece of shit father like this guy.

Reggie walked over and kicked him in the face, giving a cry of frustrated rage. He grunted, his head flipping back as blood spurted. “Not so tough without your friends, are you?” She kicked his ribs, the same way that had been done to her. “You think this is okay? That you can just hit women? Treat them like shit?” She kicked him again, changing the angle when he curled in on himself to protect his body from her blows.

“Reggie!” Arms wrapped around her. She screamed, arching her back.

“No! No! No!”

“Reggie!” Josh’s voice took her away from the dark. His breath washed over her ear. His arms captured her hands, pressing them to her belly. “Reggie, stop! It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re safe!”

Something snapped at his voice, at the feel of his arms wrapped around her. Heavy breaths escaped her and her knees went weak. She sagged and Josh held her to him, sinking to the ground with her and pulling her in his lap. Reggie closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Shh, hey you’re okay, you’re okay.” Josh held her close and rocked her.

Sirens echoed through the air, the shrill sound slicing through her heart. Reggie didn’t know what she would have done if Josh hadn’t stopped her. She knew if she’d perceived Josh as a threat, Reggie would have hurt him, but she hadn’t. Instead, she let herself be consumed by his embrace.

His arms enveloped her, warm, strong—like a wall that could shield her from everything bad. Everything twisted and spun. She rested her head on Josh’s shoulder and closed her eyes.

“I got you.” He rocked her back and forth, stroking her back and resting his chin on her head.

“Josh?”

“You’re okay, Reggie.”

“No hospitals.”

He pulled back and looked down at her, indecision and questions filling his hazel eyes. Reggie wished she could answer his questions. Tell him the truth about her past, but she couldn’t. Hopefully tomorrow her truck would be fixed and she could leave.

“What?”

“No hospitals,” she said. “Please.”

He pulled a strand of hair out of her face. “All right.”

“Thank you.” She let her cheek fall against his shoulder. She knew it was wrong. Asking this of him, especially with his sister being a cop, but if Reggie went to the hospital, it would be all too easy for someone to figure out who she was. There’d be records people could tap into. Sure, it wasn’t easy to breathe right now, but it was manageable.

“Reggie?” Pepper ran down the alley and knelt next to them. “What did that bastard do to you?”

“I’m okay.” Reggie took Pepper’s hand and smiled.

“You’re not okay,” Trevor said, walking up behind her. “I’ll go back to wave down the ambulance.” He jogged to the end of the alley.

Reggie tensed, and Josh’s arms tightened around her.

“You can sign a waiver,” he whispered in her ear. “But I wish you would go.”

“No.” It came out clipped.

As comforting as Josh’s arms were, Reggie couldn’t stay in them. She knew better. Knew she had to stand on her own two feet. As if thinking it gave her strength, Reggie pulled away from Josh and Pepper, forcing herself to stand on shaking legs. Every fiber in her body was sore, aching and Reggie was so tired.

“Reggie, stop!” Pepper stood and grabbed her arm.

“Don’t!” Reggie jerked away. The world spun, and she stumbled against the wall. Hands reaching for her, hitting her, punching her—Reggie felt the phantom blows over and over again.

“Reggie!” Josh rushed over to her.

She pulled back. “Please...” Her breath came in short bursts. Holding out a hand, Reggie squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t do this.”

He frowned. “Hey, we’re your friends. We’re not going to hurt you.”

Reggie looked at Josh, his gaze boring into her, holding her still. She wanted to let him hold her until all the ghosts of the past disappeared. It would be easy too, easy to be lost in him, to let him consume her.

Police cars pulled up, drawing her attention, and breaking any hope she had of letting herself go.