“A place? Where? Here?” My mind reels.
“No, Conner. Not here.” He grimaces. “I don’t think that would be the best idea for the two of you, would it?”
“I wouldn’t have an issue.”
“I know, but this isn’t just about you.”
I sigh, sitting back against the headboard and resting my arms over my bent knees.
“I’ll offer Kennedy everything I can because I know it’s what you want, but she’s going to need to be willing to accept the help. Which also means you need to be ready to accept whatever decision she comes to. Even if she decides to go back.”
"Never."
"Conner." He releases a long breath. "I know you want to protect her, but you can't. This is her life. You need to let her make her own decisions."
"This is bullshit." I jump from the bed, ready to go and lock her in my fucking bedroom if I have to.
"Conner," he repeats, "stop trying to fix everything. You can't. Not this time."
"Fuck that. I can fix this, I can go and find—"
"Don't even think about it. You turning up to fight for her honor isn't the way to deal with this."
"How the fuck would you know?" I bark, frustrated with being told what to do. "You’ve never even lived in the Heights. You have no idea how shit works there. If we don't deal with him, it'll just keep happening.” And I refuse to let that happen. “He'll come for her, wherever it is she might go. And if by some luck he doesn't, then he'll just start on some other innocent girl. I'm not fucking having it."
"You need to keep your head, Son. She needs you here protecting her, not out there trying to fight her battles for her."
"She doesn't want me here. She's made that more than clear. But I need to do something... I have to."
I pull on last night's clothes, not missing the scent of alcohol that wafts from them as if I’d poured as much over myself as I did down my throat.
"Do not go to the Heights, Conner. He'll be waiting for you."
"I don't give a shit. I can't just sit here, waiting for her to go back to him."
"Conner," he calls as I fly out of the bedroom and down the stairs. I glance at my closed bedroom door, my body aching to walk inside and see her, but I don't. I'm not sure even she could talk me down from this right now.
It's so late that the sun is already starting to set when I rev the engine and wheelspin out of the driveway. I don't look back, but something tells me that I'm being watched by more than just my father. That suspicion is confirmed only two seconds later when Hadley's name appears on the screen on my dash.
I reject the call and turn the music up as I make the journey back to the Heights, ready to do what I should have done two nights ago when I first saw Kenny with a bruise on her cheek.
I'm at the trailer park in record time. I bring the car to a stop in front of Warren's trailer and jump out.
I don’t bother knocking, if the motherfucker's in here, then he'll have already heard my arrival. I yank open the front door. The stench of stale sweat, dampness, and weed hits me, and I have to fight not to heave as I step inside.
Warren's dad is passed out on the couch with a cigarette still hanging from his lips and an empty bottle clutched to his chest.
Still a worthless piece of shit then.
I consider taking the lit cigarette from him to stop him setting the place alight, but seeing as it would probably do everyone a favor if he did burn it to the ground, I leave it where it is and turn toward Warren's bedroom instead.
Pushing open the door, already knowing that he's not inside, I take a look around. It isn’t exactly what I was expecting. It's tidy. The bed’s made as if it hasn’t been slept in for days. My eyes narrow as I search for something, anything that might help me. Warren was always a messy shit, worse than the three of us put together, so the clear units and lack of clothing littering the floor have suspicion racing through me.
Not finding anything that might lead me to him, I turn to leave, pulling my cell from my pocket as I go.
I hit call on Jay's number, hoping that he'll be able to help me. He answers the call after only two rings, but I can barely hear him through the chaos in the background.
"Where the hell are you?" I shout down the phone.
"Fight night," he bellows back.
Something, excitement maybe, trickles through my veins.
"Where?"
He rattles off an address, and, before he's even finished, I'm back in my car and heading his way.
The thought of a Heights fight night has my fists clenching with my need to hurt someone. The image of Kennedy's swollen and bruised face pops into my head and my taste for blood only gets stronger.
As I pull up to the warehouse where tonight's fight is, I find it deserted. If I didn't know better I'd think Jay had given me the wrong address.
I park a little down the street before taking off on foot and head around the back of the building.
Just like I expected, I find a couple of guys standing guard at the door.
"Well, fuck me sideways. If it isn't Conner Jagger. To what do we owe this pleasure?” Jake announces as I approach.
I fist bump both of them before cutting short their attempt at small talk and inviting myself inside.
The roar of the crowd fills my ears and the scent of sweat, blood and victory fills my nose.
I glance around at the crowds of people before I find Jay and Levi over in the corner, talking to a few guys I don't know.
"Jagger, my man. How's it going?" Jay asks, clearly already a few drinks gone.
"You know where I might find Warren?" I ask, cutting straight to the point. "Tell me he's here," I demand, cracking my knuckles.
"Nah, man. Not seen him since New Year's Eve."
"You here to get in the ring?" Levi asks, cutting off any more questions I might have for Jay.
"Nah, I'm not here for that."
"You sure? There's a lot of money in here tonight."
"You've seen where I live now. I don't need to fight these motherfuckers for money."
It's a low blow, but it's true. There may have been times in the past where I didn't know any other way to get some extra cash that we desperately needed. But now, all I want is vengeance for my girl.
"Fair play."
"Where's Nate?" I ask, looking around for their captain.
"Didn't you hear?" Levi asks. "He got arrested on New Year's for possession. He's got a one-way ticket straight to juvie."
"What?"
"I know. Some fucker squealed on him. Hence the cops. He's fucking livid. I'd hate to be whoever was on the end of that phone call when he's back, because he'll cut off their balls and—"
"Okay, Levi. We all have imaginations," Jay says, turning me away from him.
"Why are you here, Conner? You don't belong here anymore."
I look around, and I can't help feeling like what he's saying is true.
"I need to find him, Jay. You fucking saw the state of her. He's not going to get away with that."
He blows out a breath. "How is she?"