Burning Truths (Consume Me #2)

26. Ryker

Chapter Twenty-Six

RYKER

“I told you he was Kenna's to do with as she pleases.” I snap at Oakley.

Taking her time wiping the drying blood from her hands, she looks over at me with a dark smile, sucking the air from the room. Sinister ass women.

“He’ll still be in one piece when she decides to make her move.” Shrugging her shoulders she drops the towel on the table and walks out of the room.

Thing one and two follow her out like little puppies that can’t be away from their master. West slides past them on his way into the living room with Haven following close behind.

“Where are they headed?” He asks, hooking his thumb over his shoulder.

Cole speaks from the couch, “Do you really want to know?”

His voice is still damaged and the doctor doesn’t think he’ll ever sound the same. The rope caused major damage to his esophagus altering his voice completely. It’s one of the reasons he’s been quiet lately. Sitting on the arm of a chair across from him I look at my brothers. We’re alive. We have our own reasons to keep him out of sight and one of those reasons will be walking in soon. Gio shifts his legs looking restless leaning against the wall keeping his eyes on the outside of the property.

“Has anyone seen her?” I ask.

Cole gave her the damn idea to run and she took it like a fucking lifejacket stranded in the middle of the Atlantic. Is she a prisoner? No, but to have her out of my sight after everything? My palms tingle with the need to punish her.

She was kidnapped, dick.

The reminder jars me from the dark thoughts I was having about laying her across my knees. Shit . Shaking my head to rattle out the bullshit thoughts I tune in to what G is saying.

“She was spotted on campus leaving her dorm hall.” G confirms.

Turning to face us I can see how torn he is on what he needs to do next. We have to go against everything we believe in and spill blood on one of our own. It’s not something we want to do no matter how necessary it may be. Cracking his knuckles I can see the moment he drifts to some other place.

“What is it?” I question. Rubbing my knee, I wait for him to look at me, a shrouded look crosses his face.

West and Cole both turn to give G their full attention. Light from the window shines into the expansive space reflecting off the glass tables and steel accents. Being back in this house after so long feels like returning to a war I can’t win. The dark memories cover all the good until there is nothing left but resentment.

Rubbing the stubble that’s started to take over his face he finally speaks. “I had a little run in with the Jackson’s.” His jaw clenches at the name. “Let’s just say they think they’ll have a chance to slip into power with everything falling apart for the Stone name.”

West and Cole look at me and from the corner of my eyes I can see the questions in theirs. Keeping my gaze trained on the one person I’d ever trust with our legacy, “G.” I call.

Obsidian eyes peer into mine already knowing what only I’d ask of him.

“I’m handling it.” Is all he says.

Clapping my hands, “Well, I guess that takes care of that issue.”

Cole and West look from me to G but decide to drop the topic when Gio’s phone rings. He steps away from the wall and begins pacing, speaking softly into the phone. Ignoring his conversation I lean back against the chair.

“Where is Ally?” I look at Cole.

He tried to hide the way his lip curls at her name but I see the slight lift of his mouth. A low laugh leaves West and Cole swings his arm out connecting with West’s stomach.

“Fuck, man.” He coughs. “Lighten up.”

“The way you lighten up around a certain hacker? Or would you rather I talk about how she shot you down like a little bitch on the playground?” Cole rasps.

West snaps his mouth shut with a sour expression crossing his face. G slides his phone in his back pocket and storms towards the door. Calling out to him he pauses for a second in the entrance dropping his mask letting his worry be known.

“She called you.” It’s not a question but a realization that she needs someone who isn’t us.

G drops his head back looking up at the ceiling. “She needs to do something before she can face you, Rye. She needs to burn away the images that she thinks betray her.” With those words he rolls his head to face me. The way his stare peers into mine I can see the underlying message he wants me to grasp without saying it.

“She made you promise?” The words leave my mouth in a rushed breath.

He doesn’t answer, instead he walks out, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket on the way outside. Hank did a number on her, fuck he collared her pretty little neck, filling her head with lies.

“Does she know?” I spin to Cole who looks lost.

Shaking his head, “No. Hank told her we sold her to him. Her wires are crossed and tangled leaving her confused on who she can trust. It’s the reason I let her leave. If she can’t trust us she won’t understand why we haven’t slit the throat of who is responsible.”

West punches his thigh in frustration, “Are you sure you’re right?”

His question is directed to Cole, the man who hung himself to cover the truth, a reason we didn’t understand until the day he woke up.

Cole’s nostrils flare, “Why don’t we ask her ourselves?” He remarks.

The sound of heels clacking against tile comes closer.

“Speaking of the devil, here comes one now.” I spit.

We all look to the door when the footsteps come to a stop at the opening.

“Mother.” We all say in unison.

Her short caramel colored hair bounces with her movements. She’s dressed in a long sleeve grey pinstripe dress with black heels. She could be on vacation and she’d still dress like she’s made of money. Fuck, we all are.

Her heels click across the floor as she passes us for the bar at the back of the room that hasn’t been used in years. The maids keep it stocked but there’s no need. Who wants to be in an empty home where their dead father used to live? Opening the top cabinet she grabs a bottle of amber liquid along with a crystal glass. Setting the bottle on the granite counter she curls her finger calling us forward. One by one we stand not giving her a reason to suspect anything going on. Even for a mother her intuition sucks. Leaning down she opens the small freezer and scoops up some ice and sets the glass next to the bottle.

“You missed the meeting.” She mentions it like she’s talking about a football game on T.V.

Without missing a beat West props his elbows on the counter and flashes a wide grin. “We had a little party of our own to attend. I’m sure we didn’t miss anything important that we can be caught up on.”

Tossing back the drink she swallows it down before slamming the glass into the sink shattering it. Lashing out she pinches West’s cheeks in between her polished fingers. “That playboy act doesn’t work on me, boy. Make our family look like fools again and I’ll do more than make a mess of this house.”

Shoving his face away she storms to the door with the Whiskey bottle in her grasp. Hesitating at the exit, her short hair sways when she turns to look at me. “I saw a little mouse today making her way into the school. Looked like she was ready to set it on fire. I wonder if she’ll find herself trapped in the middle of her own mess.'“

The threat hangs in the air long after she’s gone.