Hunted: Book 2 of the Watched Trilogy Read online

  Parker opens the driver side door and pulls the necklace box out of her pocket. She sets it on the driver’s seat and shuts the door. Pain courses through her shoulder, and she leans against the pickup to catch her breath.

  The sound of a motorcycle catches her attention, and Ryder pulls into the driveway. “Parker! What’s wrong?” He’s jumped off his bike and rushing towards her.

  “I’m fine,” she waves. “I just over exerted myself.”

  “Do you need to sit down? Let’s go to the front step.” He guides her to his front porch. The crime scene tape has been removed, and they both try and ignore the last time they were both standing there with Vanessa’s dead body on display.

  She sits and holds her arm. “Thanks. I just need a minute and I’ll be on my way.”

  “Stay as long as you need. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” He sighs before sitting on the step next to her. He nods towards the truck. “What’s this?”

  “A pony.”

  “Is this my truck?”

  “Yep.”

  “Where did you get it?”

  “The guy you sold it to.”

  “How?”

  “I had a lot of time lying in a hospital bed to research.”

  “Why?”

  “Got shot.”

  “No,” he shakes his head. “Why did you find my truck?”

  “Because you gave away the only things that ever mattered to you. Tara’s necklace is on the driver’s seat. You have them both back now.”

  “I was drunk when I said all that, Parker,” he says rubbing his face with his hands.

  “Yeah, you were drunk a lot.”

  “I know.”

  “We’re even. No more loose ends. Everything has been tied in a neat bow.”

  “What?”

  “There’s nothing left to hold over each other’s heads anymore. It’s clear where we stand, and now we can make a clean break.”

  “You’re done?”

  “We’re done, Ryder. All we do is hurt each other. I thought there was hope. I thought we could have the future I always thought we would. I was wrong.” She’s looking at the ground.

  “You left me, remember?”

  “Ryder.”

  “Twice. The last time you left before I was even awake. After you told me you loved me. And for what? To go back to your fiancé? Was it all just to get back at me?”

  “You never said it back.”

  “What?”

  “I told you I still loved you, and you never said it back.”

  “You’re telling me that’s an excuse to leave me alone? Again?”

  She sighs and struggles to stand up. Ryder holds himself back from helping her. “I give up.”

  “He hasn’t even shown his face to check on you.” His anger is getting the better of him.

  “Neither did you,” she says flatly.

  Ryder doesn’t know what to make of her tone. She’s not angry. Maybe a little sad, but mostly she just sounds defeated. She’s really given up. “This is my fault?”

  Parker shrugs trying to wrap her head around his logic, and pain radiates down her shoulder. She doubles over in pain breathing deep to get it to subside.

  “Parker?” His voice carries worry now instead of anger.

  “I’m fine,” she says breathing deep and straightening up. “What time is it?”

  “Five-thirty.”

  “I missed a pain med, that’s all.”

  “Do you need a ride?”

  “To Paige’s house three doors down? No, I think I’ll be fine.”

  “You hate me that much? You can’t even let me help you?”

  “I don’t hate you. It’d be much easier if I did, but I don’t. And if you really think I do, you don’t know me at all.”

  “What am I supposed to do, Parker?” He’s pleading with her now. She’s scaring him.

  “Whatever you want, Ryder. This isn’t your fault, and I don’t hate you. I’ve made my decisions, and you’ve made yours. We keep hurting each other. We both deserve better than this.”

  “You deserve better than this.”

  “That’s part of our problem, Ryder. You don’t feel you deserve anything good either. You sabotage things. And then you get angry with yourself. It’s a perpetual cycle, and I’m done helping to feed it.”

  “I’m just supposed to move on?”

  “I want you to be happy, Ryder. That’s all I want for you. I somehow keep making you miserable. I’m not the person for you, Not anymore.”

  “Don’t you get it? I’m miserable without you. You’re one of the only people who gets me. You make me happy.”

  Tears stream down her face. “But you don’t get me. Not anymore. And you aren’t happy around me. I wish I could remember the last time you were truly happy, but it isn’t with me. I give up, Ryder. I can’t give anymore. I can’t hurt anymore. And I can’t hurt you anymore.”

  “Parker, wait,” Ryder says as she starts walking down the street to Paige’s house. She doesn’t turn back.

  Chapter 12

  You okay?” Paige asks Parker the next morning as they both sit at the kitchen table. Aaron is already sitting, and Connor is out back playing in the yard.

  “Yeah, my shoulder isn’t as bad today. Who knew skipping the pain meds they tell you to take every four hours really hurts?”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Why hasn’t Jacob shown up?” Aaron asks.

  “Because I doubt he cares if I live or die right now. He probably hopes I die.”

  “Because?”

  “He was just a bit angry when I left.”

  “That’s why you’re not wearing your ring,” Paige says taking a bit of her waffle.

  “I gave it back. I cheated. I know it was wrong, but I still made the choice to do it. And I knew I was never really going to marry Jacob. He was good on paper, but it just was never right.”

  “And now you and Ryder are through?” Aaron asks.

  “It was good while it lasted,” Parker says taking a bite of her eggs.

  “How good was it?” Paige asks wriggling her eyebrows.

  “Amazing,” she sighs and gives up on eating. “But we are constantly playing this game of trying to one-up each other to see who an hurt the other the most. One of us had to put an end to it, and we both know it wasn’t going to be him.”

  “You took a bullet for him, and you’re done?” Aaron asks. “Seriously? That’s savage.”

  “I’d do it again. He’s been through so much, and I do love him. I always will. But things just aren’t right, and they haven’t been in a long time. I thought the night we spent together felt right. More right than I’ve felt in years.”

  “He panicked when he realized you were hit,” Paige says. “He nearly fell to his knees like that Tim McGraw song.”

  “And then he never visited me in the hospital. He runs from anything too deep,” Parker pushes her plate away. “I’m not hungry. I’m going to go and take a nap. I think these pain meds are making me drowsy.”

  “Or depression,” Paige says nonchalantly.

  Parker ignores her and heads up the stairs.

  Ryder is sitting on his couch. The one Parker fell asleep on the first night she stayed over, and he’s staring at Tara’s necklace in his hand. She didn’t yell at him or tell him he was wrong. She just gave up, and the sickening feeling in his gut told him it was really over. No matter how much he tried to tell himself otherwise, the feeling wouldn’t leave.

  When she walked out three years ago, he knew in his bones it wasn’t truly over. He let his pride get in the way, but he knew she’d come back some day. That he’d be able to bring her back eventually. This time, though, was different.

  Mason and Paige walk through the front door without knocking. Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact a dead body was lying on those exact steps just weeks before.

  “What if I had been naked?”

  “I wouldn’t mind. I’ve heard stories,” Paige laughs.

  “Nothing I haven’t seen before, brother,” Mason says. “Now get up. We gotta go get your girl back.”

  “Didn’t you hear? She cut me loose. I’m completely free, and she’s done.”

  “And you’re just going to let it happen? You should’ve gone after her three years ago, and you need to go after her now,” Paige says.

  “You guys weren’t here last night. You didn’t hear her. She was defeated. She was done. I think it’s safe to say she’s finally given up on my stupid ass.”

  “She took a bullet for you, moron,” Mason says. “Who takes a bullet for someone, especially after the terrible things you said to her, and then is done with the relationship?”

  “She bought back my truck and gave me Tara’s necklace.” His voice is quiet, and he can’t take his eyes off of the jewelry in his hand.

  “And why do you think she bought back your truck?” Paige asks.

  “Because she said our loose ends are now tied up in a bow. There’s nothing left for me to hang over her head. I tried to tell her how much her leaving before I woke up hurt, but she just stopped the conversation. She’s thrown in the towel, guys. I fucked up past the point of forgiveness this time.”

  “And how do you think you made her feel when you refused to sober up for her? Or how you threw an engagement ring at her and told her you hope she’s happy now? Better yet, how about when she walked in on you with Vanessa that same night, both naked in bed together? And to top that off, Vanessa was wearing the engagement ring.”

  “Nothing happened that night!”

  “You tried to tell her she that ring was an honor and a privilege, yet you let a skank who was lying in wait to steal her man wear it.”

  “I never woul
d have done that to her, and you know it.”

  “And then, you blamed her for any and every bad thing in your life. You blamed her for your mother’s death. You cut her deep when you told her that her mom’s death was her own fault. Her parents’ deaths almost killed her, and you rubbed salt in a wound that hasn’t yet healed. But it was even better when you made her think you wished she’d died back then. How many times do you have to cut her deeper and deeper before you realize she fucking loves you?” Paige screams at him. Taking a few deep breaths she calms herself down.

  “Dude, she’s still here,” Mason says and puts a hand of Paige’s shoulder.

  “She’s legitimately living with me mothering her, Connor annoying her, and Aaron being, well, Aaron. She hasn’t left, and I think you’re part of the reason.”

  “Yeah, why hasn’t she left? And why hasn’t Jacob shown his punk ass around since she got shot? Doesn’t he give a shit?”

  “Because she literally has no where else to go.”

  “What does that mean?” Mason asks.

  “The reason she left you that morning? You were right. She went back to her apartment to find Jacob. But the reason she went back was to end things. He’s super pissed, and she lost a lot of stuff in that apartment because of it, but she did it because she knew she wanted to be with you.”

  “What are you talking about, Paige?” Ryder sighs. He’s tired of this riddle she’s weaving.

  “She’s not wearing her engagement ring anymore because she’s no longer engaged. She knew she wasn’t going to marry Jacob long before she came back here, but she honestly felt like that night you spent together changed things. And then it didn’t.”

  Ryder’s mouth falls open.

  Paige sighs and continues, shaking her head. “Up until she ended up in the hospital, she hadn’t taken Tara’s necklace off. She doesn’t know I saw, but she cried when she put it back in the box to give back to you.”

  “Why didn’t she tell me?” Ryder stands and starts pacing. “Why didn’t she tell me all of this?”

  “Did you make her feel like it would really make any difference?” Paige asks.

  “Man, I gotta ask. Why didn’t you go and visit her in the hospital? She was devastated, even though in true Parker fashion she puts on a brave face.”

  Ryder sighs. “I did. I was there every night as she was sleeping.”

  “What?” Mason asks.

  “I didn’t want her to be alone.”

  “She thinks you don’t care, Ryder,” Paige says. “You have to tell her.”

  “No, I think you have to show her a this point, man. Your word don’t mean shit. No offense.”

  Ryder sighs again and sits down on the couch again, and he stares at the necklace in his hand.

  Chapter 13

  Parker groans. “Paige, I don’t want to go out.”

  “I know you’re still wallowing, but the doctor says you need to move around a bit. You haven’t moved farther than ten feet to and from the bathroom in days.”

  “Fine, I’ll go take a shower,” Parker says and dramatically heaves herself off the bed.

  “Thank God,” Paige says before leaving the room.

  Parker takes a forty-five minute shower, but she was able to do it completely on her own. She also successfully put in her contacts, put product in her hair, and applied some makeup. Feeling accomplished, she loos at her clothes. “Paige!”

  Paige comes into the room and gasps. “You look clean!”

  “Shut up. I need help putting on my sweatshirt. I’m not completely independent yet, but I’m close.”

  Paige smiles and gently helps her slip into her sweatshirt with minimal pain. Then she hands her the sling to slip on. “Ready?”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I thought we could go for a walk.”

  “Can we get something to eat? I’m starving.”

  “You’re hungry? It’s a miracle!”

  “Very funny. The pain is slowly starting to go away, so my appetite is coming back. I need it back. I feel like a stick figure.”

  “You look like one, too,” Paige says and leads Parker out of the room.

  “Let’s walk to Greta’s.”

  It takes them about fifteen minutes to walk there, and Parker is winded. “I feel so out of shape it’s not even funny,” she pants.

  “You just survived a gunshot wound. I’d say you’re doing pretty damn good.”

  They walk in, and Greta gives Parker a great big hug. She tries to hide the pain, but her face can’t help but grimace. Greta immediately apologizes and lets her go. “I’m so sorry, Honey. Here, come sit down.”

  Greta leads them right to Ryder’s booth, and Parker can’t help but feel a wave of sadness at the memories. Her favorite is still when Ryder saved her outside of Aaron’s house, and they had a discussion on how sex was and should be. Every time they ate there after that, they would tease and play with each other until they couldn’t hold back any longer and left to head to their house. His house. It was his house now.

  “Hey, you in there?” Paige asks.

  “Sorry, what did you say?”

  “Ryder?”

  “You said Ryder?”

  “No, stupid. Were you thinking about him?”

  “No.”

  “Liar.”

  Parker sticks out her tongue and changes the subject. “What’s going on between you and Mason?”

  “We’re just hanging out. Having fun.”

  “Fun?” Parker wiggles her eyebrows at Paige.

  “Yeah, that too.”

  “Chance for anything serious?” Parker takes a bite of her pancakes Greta brought to the table. She doesn’t even have to ask what they’d like; she just knows. And they’re predictable.

  “You know Mason. Serious isn’t in his vocabulary.”

  “He acts differently with you.”

  “I don’t know about that. But he’s definitely giving, if you know what I mean.”

  “Gross,” Parker says and sets down her fork. “I’m done now.”

  “You’d think that after multiple affairs, Aaron would’ve gotten better.”

  “You really would,” Parker laughs.

  “I’ve finally figured out what sex should be like. It just took a man whore like Mason to show me.”

  After they’ve finished eating, Paige waves Greta down and asks for the check.

  “It’s on the house, baby. Parker, we’re all just so glad to see you around again.”

  Parker smiles. “Thanks, Greta.”

  They walk out the front doors to see Mason and Ryder outside and leaning against his pickup.

  “Hey, Paige,” Mason says as he pushes himself off the front of the vehicle.

  “Hey,” she says and narrows her eyes. He wasn’t part of the plan. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m going to kidnap Parker,” Ryder says.

  “And I’m going to walk you home,” Mason says as he extends his arm out for Paige to take.

  “Not different my ass,” Parker mutters.

  “What?” Mason asks.

  “Nothing,” Paige says between clenched teeth and shoots an evil glance at Parker. “Aaron’s at my house, though.”

  “So?”

  Paige laughs and takes his arm, letting him lead her home.

  Parker smiles as she watches them, but her smile fades when she looks at Ryder. “Kidnap me?”

  “Well, it doesn’t exactly qualify as kidnapping when you let the person know ahead of time, but I’d like to show you something. If that’s okay.”

  “I think it’ll make our clean break messy, Ryder. We just need some space to get over everything.”

  “I don’t want space. Or a clean break.”

  “Okay, messy it is.”

  “I don’t want a break,” he clarifies. “We’ve had far too much space these past three years.”

  “Isn’t this just the same old song and dance? Aren’t you getting tired of it?”

  “I love dancing with you, but you’re right about the song. So, let’s change it.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  “Let me show you. Someone recently told me my word don’t mean shit, and they’re right.”

  Parker sighs. Walking home would be very tiring, but she wasn’t sure about this either. “I don’t know.”

  “Please?”

  “Fine,” she says and lets him open the passenger side door for her.

  Chapter 14

  Where are we going?” Parker asks after two hours of driving in almost complete silence.