Hunted: Book 2 of the Watched Trilogy Read online

  “What the fuck were you supposed to tell me?” Ryder snaps at Mason.

  “What do you remember about the night you proposed?”

  “She was running late because of some test or something. I was nervous and had a couple of beers. When she got home, I got on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said no and left. And never came back.”

  “Yeah, that’s not what happened.”

  Ryder looks at the door as the three of them stand up and leave. Parker seems less affectionate with Jacob than he does with her, and he’s not sure if it’s because of where they are, or if there is something amiss with the relationship. He hopes for the latter. “What do you mean?”

  “You didn’t have a couple of beers. You had a twelve-pack.”

  “Okay, so I had more than a couple.”

  “When she got home, you woke up from the couch and went to stand. You tripped and fell at her feet. You were slurring something about selling your truck and you hope she’s happy.”

  “That’s not what happened. And even if it was, that’s not a good enough reason for her to leave without so much as a note.”

  Mason sighs. “That’s what you told me happened, Ryder. She helped you to bed, and she cried as she left. I was in town hiding out for the weekend, and she called me because she was worried. She said she couldn’t stick around and watch you do this to yourself again. Seeing you this way hurt her, and you didn’t seem to care.”

  “I didn’t know it hurt her.”

  “Well, when you’re drunk more than you’re sober around her, you’re bound to forget something she tells you over and over again.”

  “She left because she felt I chose alcohol over her.”

  “Oh, dude, we haven’t even gotten to the worst part yet.”

  “What could be worse than this?”

  Mason grimaces. “When I got to your place, you didn’t like that I agreed with her, and you kicked me out. And locked the door. I called her, and she turned back around. We were worried you’d drink yourself to death that night.”

  “I wouldn’t have done that.”

  “With the way you were acting, it was a rational fear. And that was a risk neither of us was willing to take.”

  “She came back?”

  “It was dark, and I didn’t see, but you must’ve had Vanessa come through the back sliding door. I’m not sure if she brought you the booze, or if you had it already, but you were obliterated. By the time we got inside, we honestly thought we were going to have to call an ambulance to pump your stomach. I have never seen you so bad.”

  “I don’t remember that.”

  “Wonder why.”

  “What did I do?” Ryder can feel his stomach start to churn with dread.

  “I don’t know for sure, but when we found you, you were naked. In bed. With Vanessa. There was a condom wrapper on the floor.”

  “No,” Ryder shakes his head. “I wouldn’t do that to her. No matter how drunk I was, I wouldn’t cheat.”

  “I don’t know man, but it certainly looked that way. But we’re not quite done yet.”

  “How could it get any worse?” Ryder groans.

  “Vanessa was wearing the ring. The same one you threw at Parker earlier.”

  Vomit rises in his throat as Vanessa slinks up and warps her arms around his waist. “Hey baby,” she purrs.

  “Not today, V.” Ryder unclasps her hands from around his waist.

  “What’s wrong?” Vanessa tries to look into his eyes. “Oh, I see. She comes back to town, and now I’m not good enough? Is that it?”

  “No, it’s because of me.” He stands up. Placing a twenty-dollar bill on the bar, he turns to the door. “Leave her alone.”

  Chapter 5

  It’s been a few weeks since Ryder took his last drink. Not only has he finally started going to the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings required for work, he’s been reaching out to his mom. She’s helped him more than he ever thought possible with his addiction. Without planning on it, he’s started building a relationship with her.

  His relationship with Vanessa has become nonexistent, and if he’s truly honest with himself, he didn’t miss her. He felt like scum, but she was only a distraction from the empty feeling he’d had since Parker left, and she deserved better than that. He had to let her go for the both of them.

  It was hard not going to the bar, and it was even harder watching Mason throw every bottle of beer and liquor he had down the drain. But he was determined to get his life back, and this was the first step he needed to take. He was working out again, and he even started spending time with the guys from the station. Mack was slowly coming around, but the cold shoulder still made an appearance.

  Lacing up his running shoes, he took off down the street for his evening run. He ran two loops around the town and came back down his street, seeing Parker’s car outside Paige’s house again. He stops suddenly as the butterflies go crazy in his stomach, and he needs to catch his breath. Could he really win her back?

  The next morning, he places a box on Paige’s porch after Parker left for her morning run. Some habits never change. Even with a psycho brother who’s out for blood. Rushing back home, he waits for her to return and find it. Sure enough, she picks it up, reads the note, and heads inside.

  Twenty minutes later, she knocks on the front door of the house he used to believe would be theirs one day. Her hair is still damp from her shower, and memories flood back to him of all of the things they’d do in the shower after her morning runs.

  “Hey.”

  “Do you mean it?”

  “What?”

  “The letter.”

  “Yes. Park, I’m so sorry. For everything. For so many things I can’t even put them all into words. I don’t think there are words for it. And for what it’s worth, I doubt anything happened between V and I that night.”

  “We can talk about that another time.” She looks away and takes a deep breath. Ryder knows the memory hurts her still.

  “As happy as I am to see you in town, I feel like your brother is the reason.”

  “Yeah, I gave the newest letter to Sam last night.”

  “Let’s go,” Ryder says. “Do you want to drive or should we take the bike?”

  “The bike. Believe it or not, I actually miss it.”

  “Anything you want, kid,” he smiles using her old nickname again. “And I’m one-hundred percent sober. Going on twenty-five days today.”

  “I’m happy for you.”

  They walk to the bike, and Parker stands next to him as he starts it and hands her the helmet he bought her shortly after her parent’s funeral. “You kept it?”

  “I always hoped you’d come back and use it again,” he says before putting his own on.

  Parker hops on the back and wraps her arms around his waist. He can feel his cock twitch, and he tries to think about anything else besides her body pressed against his back and her hands just inches from his stiffening erection.

  As they walk in, everyone turns to look at them. “Come back to be a cop again, finally?” Mack’s anger has a tendency to come and go. Today it’s decided to come.

  “Soon,” Sam says. “He’s putting in the work.”

  “Great.” Mack rolls his eyes.

  “Still pissed at you?” Parker whispers.

  “Varies day by day. Today, yes.”

  “I take it you want to see the letter?” Sam asks.

  “Yeah, if it’s alright.”

  “Here.” Sam holds out the letter.

  Hey sis,

  Grace didn’t have the desired effect I had hoped for. I guess Ryder just doesn’t care about anyone anymore. Guess I understand how that feels. I’m here, in a place that should be familiar, and yet, it feels foreign to me. Although, the more time I spend here, the more I feel comfortable. More comfortable than my prior digs, however. That place would never feel like the second home it should.

  But I digress. I’ll have a new victim. Someone else who’s close to Ryder. I
t shouldn’t shock anyone, but he doesn’t have the largest pool for me to pick from. Kudos to him for that. He actually made my task slightly more difficult. It does force me to be creative, though. It took a little while, but I found her. Someone who’ll cut him deep. Not quite as deep as you, but still. Beggars can’t be choosers.

  See you very soon baby sister,

  K

  “Who the fuck is he targeting now?” Scott asks.

  “I feel like the person is right in front of us,” Parker says. “I can feel it.”

  “Let’s get a list together. Although, it sounds like it’ll be short,” Ryder jokes.

  “Who are you close to?” Mack asks. “I doubt he’d come after any of us. Not that we’re exactly on good terms, anyway.”

  “Mason?” Sam offers.

  “I don’t think so,” Parker says. “He’s always targeted women. Mason would be able to overpower him, especially with the way he likes to kill. He’d get no satisfaction from how he’d have to take out Mase.”

  “I don’t think this is allowed to be said,” Travis says, “but really, the only person I can think of that he could off and truly affect Ryder is you, Park. No offense.”

  “Considering my psycho secret brother killed women who looked like me as a sign of affection before trying to kill me because he felt like I betrayed him, I don’t think offense can be taken.”

  “Do you think you’re in danger?” Ryder’s look of concern almost knocks the wind of her. How can he still have this affect on her?

  “I don’t think so. He was very specific saying I’d be after you. Or maybe I’ll be the last target? Who knows?”

  “Do we believe him?” Scott asks.

  “He doesn’t lie. Besides, I think the underlying reason he’s going after Ryder’s friends is twofold. It’ll hurt him, which will in turn hurt me to see him that way. I think it’s safe to say I’m actually safe for the time being.”

  “Me being hurt would hurt you?” Ryder looks right into her eyes.

  “You being hurt in anyway is still my biggest fear,” Parker whispers.

  “Parker, you’re the Kane expert. Mason? Yay or nay?”

  “Nay. Someone once told me to follow my gut, and my gut says it’s not Mason.”

  “Who else am I close to?”

  Parker takes a minute to think and gasps. “Vanessa!”

  Chapter 6

  Ryder and Parker rush out of the station and over to Vanessa’s house in record time. Hopping off the bike, they rush to the door and start pounding on it. She answers, appearing fine but annoyed.

  “Why the hell would you bring her here?” she sneers.

  “Are you okay? Have you noticed anything suspicious?” Ryder is looking her up and down as though she might burst out bleeding any second.

  “Besides you coming by out of concern for me after weeks of icing me out, and bringing her? No, nothing else out of the ordinary is going on.”

  “Calm your tits. We’re just making sure you don’t die,” Parker snaps, shocking them all. Just because she doesn’t want her dead doesn’t mean she wouldn’t mind inflicting some bodily harm herself.

  “Screw you, you stupid bitch,” Vanessa screams as she lunges forward and grabbing Parker’s hair.

  “Let go!” Parker cries, rolling Vanessa on the ground in front of her front step. Vanessa makes a sound as she comes into contact with the ground underneath Parker, but she refuses to let go. Shifting her weight, she’s able to roll them over to take the upper hand.

  Ryder reaches down and grabs Vanessa by the wrists to force her to release Parker’s hair. “Let her go.”

  Vanessa pushes herself out of Ryder’s hold and turns to face him as she adjusts her shirt. “Why would you bring her here? Are you really that spiteful?”

  “Because we’re worried about you.”

  “Oh, yeah? Now you’re worried about me? That’s rich, Ryder,” she spits at him before pushing her hands against his chest to move him a step back. “You’re worried about me after weeks of ignoring me and pretending I no longer exist? You stopped spending any of your time with me once she came back to town, but now you’re worried about me?”

  “It’s not her fault, Vanessa. It really doesn’t have anything to do with her.”

  Parker stands off to the side as she brushes dirt off of her pants. Vanessa looks over at her with disgust. “Doesn’t it?”

  “Leave me out of your relationship drama, okay? I didn’t come here for this. I came here to make sure my brother didn’t kill you.”

  Vanessa ignores her and glares at Ryder. “I could never convince you to commit. I could never compare to your precious Parker, even though I came first. I gave you so much more than she ever could. I was there when everyone else abandoned you. I was there when she abandoned you! And yet, you throw me aside like a piece of trash.”

  Parker lunges at Vanessa before Ryder has a chance to react. She tackles her to the ground and throws a punch before Ryder rips her off of Vanessa. “You home wrecking whore! You didn’t think I saw you? You were always around, watching and waiting. You were biding your time until there was even the smallest crack for you to step in and make everything crumble! You’re the reason I abandoned him. Don’t even pretend like you are just some Good Samaritan stepping in to help him heal.”

  “Stop it! Both of you!”

  Parker moves to grab Vanessa again, but Ryder has a strong grip around her waist. She continues to struggle, and he lifts her and throws her over his shoulder. “Put me down!”

  “She started it,” Vanessa says.

  “What are you? Five?” Parker continues to struggle against Ryder.

  “Says the girl thrown over the shoulder of a grown man because she can’t control her temper.”

  “And you’re still a jealous bitch. You were always jealous. You stole him away, and you caused the biggest betrayal I can never get over!”

  Ryder goes still as her words sink in. The biggest betrayal she can never get over. His reaction gives Parker the perfect opportunity to get free. He turns to her and looks in her eyes. “Give me a minute to talk to her, okay? I need to talk to her alone, or we’re never going to get anywhere.”

  “Seriously?” She steps back as though he had just reached out and smacked her.

  “Looks like I win again,” Vanessa goads.

  “Congratulations. You win at a game I don’t want a play, and you get a prize I only thought I wanted. Turns out, I was wrong. On so many levels. I made the mistake thinking he has changed.”

  “Parker-“

  “No, you wanted a minute. You get an endless amount of them.” Turning around, she starts to walk away.

  Ryder watches until she’s out of sight and turns back to Vanessa. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, so I’m going to tell you to be extra vigilant. You’re on the short list of people we think Kane may come after. Don’t do anything stupid. Don’t open the door after dark, and don’t leave alone. If you hear a noise that sounds suspicious, call 9-1-1. If you think something weird is going on, call 9-1-1. Got it?”

  “Stranger danger is real,” she mocks.

  “I’m going to have Sam assign a twenty-four-seven detail to your place just in case.”

  “No.”

  “Vanessa.”

  “No, I’m not going to be watched like a hawk. I can take care of myself.”

  “I’m worried he’ll hurt you. I have a bad feeling.”

  “Wanna come inside? I can make you feel better.”

  “And now we’re done, V. This thing with us is over. It’s not because of Parker; it’s because of me. You don’t deserve to come in second best, and be a warm body while I hold out for something else. You deserve someone who will love you for you. This is for you just as much as it is for me. But if you ever touch her again, I will make your life miserable. I won’t hit a woman, but I can make things very complicated for you from now on. Got it?”

  “Got it,” she says icily before heading inside and slammi
ng the door.

  After jogging for an hour, Parker realizes the sun is beginning to set. She’s still fuming from the confrontation at Vanessa’s house, and she can’t help but want to rush into his house. The image of the two of them naked in the bed the once shared still haunts her, and she knows she needs to let it go. She’s engaged to another man who is waiting for her back in their apartment, but she can’t. And running hasn’t done anything to calm her.

  She starts up the stairs and Paige cuts her off. “You need to go to Ryder’s.”

  “No, I really don’t.”

  “He came looking for you. Three times. He’s going to keep coming over here. Just talk to him.”

  “Why?” Parker sighs. “What good can talking do us?”

  “Because something is happening, and you are only going to make yourself angrier and crazier if you can’t go over there and yell at him. I know you. You’ll build it up so much more in your head, and then you’ll explode. Probably at the wrong person.”

  “I don’t want to see him. The thought of him makes me sick.”

  “You’re going to have to eventually. Don’t run away from this. Not this time,” Paige says.

  Fine,” she says and turns back down the stairs. Without knocking, she walks right into the house she used to think of as her own.

  “I know, Ma. I will.” Ryder turns around in shock to see Parker standing there. “I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”

  As he hangs up, Parker completely forgets her anger. “Your mom?”

  “Yeah, I’ve been talking to her,” he says running a hand through his long hair. “She’s been helping me with my sobriety. I guess you could call her my sponsor.”

  “You’re building a relationship with her.”

  “I guess so,” he shrugs.

  “Now I feel like an ass barging in.”

  “Still mad?”

  “I don’t know,” she sighs.

  “You caught me by surprise at V’s house.”

  “Me too,” she laughs without humor. “I didn’t realize I still held all that resentment.”

  “Did you mean what you said?”

  “Probably. Which part?”