And it wasn’t my father’s handwriting either.

  I had an idea of whose handwriting it was, but just for good measure there was a name signed at the end of it. As though this person wanted to be known. To be caught.

  Or maybe West had decided to leave me with a little bit of a parting gift. Something to take with me. Or maybe he wanted me to go over the edge for good.

  I dropped the note into the bag and zipped it back up.

  I left the bag on the porch and went to my ride.

  It was almost time to end the fight… to end it for good…

  * * *

  I raced up the deck steps and grabbed Aira.

  When I lifted her off her feet she let out a playful yell. But then she looked into my eyes and knew something was happening.

  She grabbed my shoulders as I put her down.

  “Wes?”

  “He’s gone,” I said.

  “Who’s gone?” she asked.

  “What’s happening?” Leo asked.

  Everyone was together on the deck.

  I wasn’t a fan of hanging around Julia’s house, especially with Aira’s mother lingering around still. But both Julia’s piece of shit car and Stella’s fancy car were gone.

  “West took off again,” I said.

  “Your father’s gone?” Aira asked.

  “Shit,” Flynn said. “Goodbye, West.”

  “Was wondering why the shop was quiet today,” Ryker said.

  He sat on the top of the railing and Kailey was nestled between his legs.

  “I’m sorry, bro,” Walker said.

  “Sorry for what?” I snapped.

  “It’s your father,” Walker said.

  I pushed Aira away and went after Walker.

  My cousin was tough but sometimes stupid.

  He quickly put up his fists.

  He nodded.

  It’s okay, Wes.

  I threw a punch.

  “Wes!” Aira yelled.

  Walker was quick to defend himself though. He got me good in the jaw. It was nothing compared to the blood running from his nose.

  I jumped at him to throw him over the side of the deck.

  Leo and Flynn were there, heads down, driving their shoulders into me, pushing me back. I jumped up, reaching for Walker.

  “What the hell is your problem?” Aira yelled at me.

  Leo and Flynn put me down and I swung at them to get them away from me.

  “He left me a bag of stolen parts,” I said. I laughed. “Just to throw it in my face. He was the one doing that shit. And he wasn’t alone either.”

  “Call Dusty,” Flynn said. “Let Dusty go after his ass right now.”

  I shook my head. “He’s gone. He got some cash and left.”

  Aira was at my side again. She punched me in the arm. “Asshole.” Then she grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry he left.”

  “I’m not,” I said.

  “He was a creep,” Charlotte said. “I don’t care. I’ll say it. He was always a creep.”

  “I agree,” Nova said. “I caught him watching me surf a few times.”

  “He made comments to me before,” Emma said.

  “Yeah, well, just because he’s gone doesn’t mean this is done,” I said.

  “Wes, come on,” Leo said. “Let’s go for a walk and talk.”

  “Want to fucking hold hands too?” I asked.

  Aira grabbed the front of my shirt. “Stop it. Stop attacking everyone.”

  I touched Aira’s cheek. I leaned down and kissed her. “I’m going to go then. Go for a ride. Clear my head.”

  “I’m coming too,” Leo said.

  “And me,” Flynn said. He kissed Charlotte’s cheek.

  “Me too,” Walker said. He wiped blood from his nose.

  “I’ll be there,” Ryker said.

  He slid down and grabbed Kailey’s hand. He squeezed it and let her go.

  “You all stay here,” I said.

  “Is everything okay, Wes?” Aira asked.

  “Is it ever in this town?” I threw back at her.

  When we walked around to the front of the house to our rides, I felt everyone staring at me. Their eyes burning to know what the hell was actually going on.

  I climbed on my ride and looked at them all. “It’s what I always thought.”

  “What does that mean?” Leo asked.

  “West was trying to set up Pop. He was trying to get the shop hit. And he wasn’t alone in doing it. There’s only one other rich family who wanted the land as bad as West did.”

  “Damn,” Walker said.

  “Damn,” I said. “And it also doesn’t hurt matters that their son hates my guts and wants my girl.”

  “What do we do?” Flynn asked.

  I didn’t answer the question.

  I was still deciding what to do about Ryland for good.

  Chapter 14

  Aira

  “Oh, good, Aira, you’re home.”

  The words were like ice poured down the back of my shirt. I cringed. I gritted my teeth.

  I looked at Nova and felt like I was two inches tall.

  “Oh, how fun,” Mom said. “Friends are here.”

  “Please. Don’t.” I looked back at Mom. “Please. Go. Inside.”

  “Someone is here to talk to you,” she said. “It’s important. It’s about your father.”

  My heart started to race.

  “We can leave,” Kailey said. “Give you privacy.”

  I looked at them and nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “Just stay here,” Nova said as she got close to me. “Like Wes said to do.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “I’ll text you later.”

  Nova nodded and hugged me from the side.

  Everyone scattered off the deck, leaving me alone with Mom.

  The day was coming to an end and while the burning sunset made the sky look pretty, I hated that Wes was out there. Riding the streets. Trying to hide his pain that his father was gone again. My heart broke for him. And how fitting that both of us lost our fathers in such different ways. His was fleeing life, avoiding jail. Mine was facing life, living in jail.

  Such a joke.

  “Why don’t you come inside?” Mom asked.

  “I’m fine out here.”

  “Someone is here to talk to you.”

  “You literally just said that a few minutes ago.”

  “Please, Aira,” Mom said. “This is important. For everyone.”

  “Everyone? Who is everyone?”

  Mom shook her head.

  Fine, I was being a bitch to my mother. Whether that was okay or not I didn’t really know. And honestly, I didn’t really care.

  I waited on the deck with my arms crossed and a defiant bitch look on my face just to hammer my point home.

  When Mom returned, she wasn’t alone.

  She was with a woman. Younger than her. Short like me. Bright blonde hair and bright blue eyes with a leather bag hanging from her shoulder. She had a notebook and a pencil in her hand.

  “Hey, Aira,” she said. “I’m Kate.”

  “Kate is here to tell our story,” Mom said.

  “Excuse me?” I asked.

  “There were others who wanted to do this,” Mom said. “But something about Kate… I think you’ll get along with her.”

  “Get along with her? What does that mean?”

  “I will do everything I can to make this your story,” Kate said. “And anything you want to say… I’d like to write it down. I know, our age wants to use technology, right? But I feel the story should be authentic between us.”

  “Between us?” I asked.

  “Aira, stop asking questions,” Mom snapped. She quickly smiled. “What I meant… we’ll let Kate ask the questions. Are you okay out here?”

  “I’m perfect out here,” Kate said.

  “I’m not,” I said. “You want me to talk about my father? And what he did?”

  “Aira, this is our chance to tell the story,” Mom said. “He can’t say a word where he is. And that’s good. Because you know damn well when he gets out he’ll have something to say.”

  “Wait,” I said. I forgot all about Kate. “Dad is getting out of jail?”

  “Not anytime soon,” Mom said. “But I promise you he’s on the phone with lawyers. He’s calling in favors. He’s doing everything he can to get out of this. We have to stop that.”

  I shook my head. “No. This is too much.”

  “Aira, can we just talk alone for a minute?” Kate offered. “I’ll leave my bag and notebook right here. Let’s get to know each other.”

  “Yeah? That sound good?” I asked in a cocky voice.

  “Yeah,” Kate said.

  “Okay.”

  I approached Kate.

  She hurried to drop her bag and notebook.

  “Look,” she said. “No phone either.”

  She dropped her phone.

  “Give me one second,” I said.

  “Of course,” she said.

  As I opened the door, I heard Mom whisper, “This is going to be perfect… I knew she would trust you…”

  I found a cigarette and lit it before walking back outside.

  “Aira?” Mom asked.

  I took a deep drag and blew the smoke at her.

  Her face turned bright red.

  “I don’t mind,” Kate said. “I’ll even join you.”

  “Here, it’s yours,” I said. I handed her the cigarette. “Oh, and something else for you…”

  I reached into my already empty pocket.

  I pulled my hand out and lifted my middle finger and put it right to Kate’s pretty (but fake) nose.

  She jumped back and let out a yell.

  “Aira!” Mom yelled.

  I turned, showing Mom the same finger.

  She covered her mouth.

  “Leave me the fuck alone,” I said.

  I walked off the deck and walked to the water.

  Mom could sell whatever story she wanted. So could Dad. It was their life. It was their business. Anything he was doing that made him set that fire was his problem. His guilt. His time to serve. And Mom…

  I wiggled my toes in the water as the last little bit of daylight fought to stay alive.

  I wished I didn’t give Kate that cigarette.

  * * *

  The good news was that Mom didn’t try to follow me. That meant I stood there with my feet in the ocean until it was completely dark out. She knew I would never go along with her plan. She could hire any writer or get anyone to write a story and there wasn’t a thing I’d say. I knew nothing of what my father had even done and I didn’t want to know.

  I finally turned my back to the ocean and I only did so to get my phone. I left it on the deck with the rest of my stuff. The plan had been much different for tonight. It was going to be a beach, fire and drinks kind of night. Or maybe find a party to crash somewhere in town. Or just sit around Jett’s pool with the lights changing color, waiting for someone to throw someone in and let the madness begin.

  That’s what I wanted.

  When I got close to the deck I saw the lights weren’t on in the house.

  Hopefully that meant Mom told Kate to go home. And maybe she would stay home.

  I paused and looked up at the railing and smiled.

  I reached, wanting to grab the bottom and try to pull myself up. Like Wes would do to sneak onto the deck. When he would flirt with me. And kiss me. And push me to my limits.

  I couldn’t reach from where I was standing so I had to walk toward the steps.

  It was kind of sad how far I had to walk to reach.

  I was so damn short.

  My fingertips barely grazed the wood when hands touched my sides.

  I let out a yell.

  “Here, I’ll help you up.”

  My arms locked and froze.

  I looked down.

  It wasn’t Wes touching me.

  It was Ryland.

  And his hands were…

  I quickly turned and pushed at his chest. “Get the hell away from me.”

  He showed his hands as he stepped back, laughing.

  When he did, his shirt lifted up.

  Not that I was looking at him like that, but what caught my attention was the knife.

  “What are you doing with a knife, Ryland?” I asked. “And what are you doing here?”

  “Just needed to see you, Aira,” he said. “This waiting game is over. We have to stop this.”

  “Stop what? I think you have yourself confused.”

  “I’m not confused,” he said. “I already told you… from day one…”

  He pointed to himself and then to me.

  I laughed. “You can’t just let that go, can you?”

  “I can never let you go. Look at all I’ve done for you.”

  “Done for me?”

  “I took you in,” Ryland said.

  I crossed my arms and shook my head. “No. You’re wrong.”

  “No I’m not. I was the one who helped you. At least, I tried. Tell me what I did that was so wrong.”

  Anger flared up inside me.

  The better side of me begged not to do this with Ryland.

  But then again… why not?

  It was just me and him.

  He was high, drunk or a little of both.

  He was carrying a knife.

  He was scared.

  It was my turn to finally own him. To bring him to his knees and leave him feeling like hell. To kick him down into hell. To leave him to fucking rot. With Mika. Even if her secret was pretty rough.

  My silence wasn’t enough for Ryland.

  He inched closer.

  “When was the last time you cut yourself?” he whispered.

  “What?” I asked, my heart racing once more.

  “I got you to stop,” he said. “I only did what I did to help you. And I wanted to expose Wes. To have him show his true colors to you. You can’t imagine how many girls he’s fucked. So many you hang out with. Your friends… think about that. His entire family are all the same. They’ll convince you to get close, just to keep you there.”

  “Secrets, right?” I asked. “The town of Hidden. Hidden Creek High. It’s all about secrets. And that’s what you give a shit about, Ryland. Yet you hide your own. Look at you right now. What have you gotten yourself into?”

  “Hopefully you,” he said.

  He got closer and I shoved him away.

  I watched his right hand move toward the knife.

  I swung my right foot, smashing him in the balls.

  Just like that I had Ryland on his knees.

  Staring up at me, red faced.

  “I warned you,” I said.

  I hovered over him.

  “I would never hurt you,” he said. “But you can take my knife. You can cut yourself again. Remind yourself of what once was for you. I could have told you your father did that to your house. I would have too. I would have given you everything.”

  I swung my hand and slapped him across the face.

  He laughed.

  The guy was fucking crazy.

  I turned my head and judged how quick I could run.

  Ryland grabbed my waist.

  I lifted my knee.

  “He was tied into filthy money, Aira. And there are things you’ll never know.”

  I lowered my leg. “Tell me what you know.”

  “He did things my parents wouldn’t,” Ryland said. “They were all close together. It was all a big plan, Aira. My parents knew Jesse’s parents. And so did your parents. Why do you think you ended up with Jesse when you moved?”

  I swallowed hard. “No…”

  “My parents wanted the Jackson land. So did your father. They tried to set it up so many times and it kept falling through. Until your father found a certain group that could really take them all down. But in return…” Ryland slowly pulled himself to his feet. Towering over me again. “Your father had to do things for them. And what looked legit never was. And there was no touching the Jackson land. My parents moved on. But I couldn’t. Not after knowing what I did about you. You and Wes as kids? Knowing you and Jesse were…” Ryland put his head back and sighed. “So many times he’d tell me how you’d never put out. You would never fuck him. Because you were saving yourself for me.”

  I laughed. “How’d that work out? Here’s the ending you didn’t see, Ryland. Wes fucked me first.”

  “First isn’t last,” he said.

  “Actually, it is,” I said. “And whatever my father did, he deserves his punishment.”

  “I was supposed to be at that party, Aira," Ryland said. “The one where you caught Jesse…”

  “What?”

  “I got tangled up with Wes here though. I set it all up. Knowing Jesse wouldn’t be able to control himself. You’d find him fucking some girl and then I could sweep in. Steal your broken heart.”

  “Again… how did that work out?”

  “Perfect,” Ryland said. His eyes were wider than ever. “Now I have you.”

  “You have nothing. Goodnight.”

  I turned and made it one step before Ryland grabbed me.

  He pulled me back and his hands touched my face.

  I smacked his left hand away and that’s when his lips touched mine.

  There was a fraction of a second when the entire world stopped. And all I saw was everything Wes was going to do because of this moment.

  I pulled away and Ryland moved in again.

  His lips barely grazed mine.

  I lowered my head and threw it forward, hitting his nose.

  Not hard, but enough to jolt him back.

  I swung my right hand and landed a punch.

  I wondered how many asshole boys I’d have to punch before making my point very clear.

  Except this was a big problem.

  A very big problem.

  I ran from Ryland and got to the steps and paused.

  “You’re fucked,” I said. “You don’t know what you just did.”

  “Oh, yes I do,” he said. “The greatest goodbye kiss possible.”

  I half expected him to follow me but he didn’t.

  I ran into the house and locked the door.

  Mom was passed out on the couch, snoring from her daily ten glasses of wine.

  Julia came from her bedroom. “Everything okay? I heard the door slam…”

 

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