I lean forward. “Figure this out.” I spit at him and it hits him square in the face.
His pulls back slightly, closing his eyes as if he’s gathering his patience. I watch him wipe the spit away with his hand slowly. So slow, in fact, that I jump forward, taking advantage of the moment and the element of surprise to run towards the door. And I almost make it; I’m nearly there when I feel his arms snake their way around my body. I’m airborne as he wrestles me, kicking and screaming, back to my corner, like a child in trouble. He tosses me down on the hard surface, knocking the air from my lungs on impact.
“If you want them to stay safe, you will behave. And I don’t just mean your mother. I mean them all,” he says breathlessly before backing away from me and exiting the room with a slam of the door and the click of a lock. I wince, knowing that lock is the only thing keeping me from running out of here.
His words begin to replay through my mind, and I freeze. He said them. He wouldn’t go after Cason and Jade too, would he? They aren’t a part of this.
What are you saying Fallon? He killed your child. Burned your house down with your mother inside. Of course he would. He would do anything to get his way.
Cason drove us. It took everything I had to relinquish being in command behind the wheel. Fallon missing has my control slipping. I can’t say it out loud, but I think Cason knows it. He can see it even if the others don’t.
I can’t be honest. If I falter . . . if I lose control, I don’t know if I could ever get it back.
I shake my head trying to rid myself of the thought.
No one can see me slipping. You can’t slip.
I gave Cason this one without a fight. Normally, driving calms me. The feel of the wheel under my fingers, the motion of making the car turn the way I direct it to, the speed . . .I’m in control of my destination, and with that the impossible can happen.. But without knowing where Fallon is, my control has begun to waver, and today I just need to focus on her.
I know that right now even driving wouldn’t calm me. I’ve had my eyes on Jordan for a while. His loyalties have been . . . questionable. In other words, he’s been toeing the line, and I’ve been waiting for him to cross it. Looks like he finally did, right under my fucking nose, and I was too fucking blind to see it. It’s just another way I’ve failed Fallon. If I’d have dealt him before now he would be one less person between me and her. But now it’s time to handle him. So yes, Cason can drive so I can hop out of this car the moment I see the prick’s face and bash it in. And that moment can’t come fast enough.
Cason pulls onto the road that leads up to the Depot, and I look over to him with a raised brow. “You think I’d meet this asshole on his turf? No fucking way,” Cason answers my unspoken question without taking his eyes off the road. When he glances at me, I see the fire licking its way in his eyes, and I know without a doubt that he isn’t letting go of Fallon either. If this goes south, it’ll go south on our terms, in our house.
“It would be dumb if it wasn’t on your turf. He’d just call the cops—not that you don’t already own them too,” Narni pipes up from the backseat. I’d forgotten she was back there until now. She seems to be the observative type, watching in plain sight. Something about her doesn’t sit well with me.
Goose’s truck comes into view as we pull onto the track. Jordan is leaning against the side of the truck watching the road while Goose and Crank hang out on the tailgate, each with a beer in their hand.
I don’t wait for Cason put the car in park before I throw the door open. I vaguely hear him hiss as I practically jump out of the car, my fists ready to meet Jordan’s face.
Jordan straightens as I approach but I don’t stop until my hands are securely attached around the collar of the asshole’s shirt. I lift him up with ease. This lanky motherfucker . . .
“Where is she?” I shout as I slam him into the side of Goose’s truck. I’d worry about damaging the truck if I wasn’t about ready to drive Jordan’s head through it.
“What the fuck, man?” He grabs at my hands with wide eyes. He wasn’t expecting me to grab onto his shit. He doesn’t have a chance against me. Just the fact he wasn’t expecting this to happen is enough to put him at a serious disadvantage. He’s weak, and I’m here to show him just how weak he is.
“You gonna play it like that? Like you don’t know why the fuck I’m in your face?” My heart pounds in my chest as the rage starts to consume me. I’m seeing red, more so than ever before because it’s about Fallon. “You helped me search for her at that party, and you never said one damn word about being the last person to talk to her. I think it’s time you start fucking talking, or you won’t be so pretty when I’m done with you.”
Jordan looks to his buddies on the tailgate. They are watching but haven’t moved as they continue to sip on their beer. They won’t interfere; they are more loyal to me than this shitty punk who’s about to have his face pummeled in.
“What are you doing, man?” Cason asks Jordan from over my shoulder. “This isn’t a path you want to go down. You won’t win. Talking is the only way out.”
Jordan’s eyes narrow at Cason, and I can see the jealousy in them. Jealousy can make a man do stupid things, and Jordan obviously isn’t immune to it. Keeping his mouth shut and his lips pressed into a thin line is about as fucking stupid as he can get.
“Let’s try this again. Where. The. Fuck. Is. She.” With each word I slam him into the truck even harder. Tick, tick, tick. My control is almost gone.
“Fuck! Alright. Alright!” he hisses as he swallows down the pain he’s trying to hide from all the prying eyes. He isn’t hiding it well.
“I thought I saw Jade getting sick on the side of the barn that night. I told Fallon. I think she went to check on her.”
“Are you sure about that?” I say.
I grab his collar a little tighter so it squeezes his throat and makes it harder for him to breath, but not enough to keep him from being able to talk—yet. “I swear man, that’s all. After that I walked off with my girl. Then the next thing I knew, you were searching for her.”
“If that’s it, why didn’t you speak up that night?” I growl tightening his collar a little bit more.
“I didn’t think about it. Jade seemed fine, so I didn’t think it was a big deal.” His voice comes out scratchy and hoarse.
I slam into the truck once more, with even more force than before. “You didn’t think that I would need to know that you sent my girl outside? Are you fucking stupid?”
“I swear, man!” he manages to croak out.
“What about Marcus? Do you know where he is?” I ask.
“Marcus?” Jordan asks as he attempts to pull my hands away from his neck.
“Marcus Hennings. He’s been rolling with Jax,” I say with a tug on his collar.
“I don’t know a Marcus.” I squeeze even tighter. “I swear! I don’t fucking know him!”