Striker: A Dark Bully Romance (Redwood Rebels Book 1) Rachel Leigh (the reading list book .TXT) 📖

I push past her and rush downstairs to where I left them playing video games. Tommy jumps up from where him and Lars are sitting. I see blood red as I lunge at him and take him straight down to the floor. “Where the fuck is Zed?”

“Dude. What the actual fuck?” Lars says, as he lifts me off of Tommy.

“Did you assholes know about what he’s been up to?” I shout, “Did you?!”

Marni is still mumbling off something to try and calm me, but I pay no attention. I need answers.

“What are you talking about? What who has been up to?” Tommy asks, as he brushes himself off.

“Zed! He showed her the video and—” I can’t even say it. For one, I don’t even know what he did to her, but I know he did something. Second, if the words escape my mouth, my entire body will combust.

“Zed left after you went upstairs. Said that he wanted to start the first phase of his plan.”

Pointing at Marni, I scream, “She’s his plan.”

The son of a bitch. I knew he couldn’t be trusted.

Marni steps closer, joining the circle we stand in. “Would someone tell me what the hell is going on right now before I run out of this house and never come back.”

“I need a minute.” I walk away abruptly into the kitchen and out the back door. I slam it shut behind me and it ricochets open a couple inches. The fresh air hits my face and I can slowly feel my heart return to a somewhat normal rhythm.

When the door slides back open, I spin around ready to take action, but it’s Tommy. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to come at you like that.”

“It’s fine. Just fill me in. What the hell happened?”

I point into the night, even though Zed isn’t around. “That sick bastard has been playing her behind our backs.” My voice cracks. “He fucking touched her, Tommy.”

Tommy's eyes widen. “He what?”

“Yeah. And he showed her the video. I haven’t gotten the full story, but I know exactly what he’s doing.”

“I think I’m his act of revenge. Think about it. He’s using her to get to me.”

“Nah,” Tommy sweeps the air with his hand, “that’s old news. You two moved past that a long time ago.”

“Did we? Or did we just sweep it under the rug because it was easier that way? Come on, would you forgive one of your best friends if they supplied the pills that killed your mom?”

Tommy doesn’t respond, but the look on his face says it all.

A gust of wind tears through, sending an eerie feeling into the night,

“We need to call this thing off. I’ll find another way. It’ll take some time, but I’ll figure it out,” I tell him. There will be more opportunities. Maybe not now, but someday, I’ll get my vengeance.

“You’re sure you wanna end it? You’ve worked hard for this. You deserve it.”

“Do you not see that girl standing in there?” I turn and look through the glass door. “She’s been through hell.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’ll gladly step aside and let you stop it all, but wasn’t that the plan? What’s changed?”

“Everything.” Everything has changed.

Through the door, Marni comes into view, and she’s not pleased. Her sassy steps lead her out here and I know she’s loaded with questions. “We need to talk.” Her arms cross over her chest, and her eyes threaten more tears.

My hand lands on the small of her back. “Not out here. Come on.” Glancing back at Tommy, I nod. “We’ll find another way.”

Once we’re back in my bedroom, Marni sits on the bed with her feet on the floor. Her eyes stay fixated on her fingers as she picks at her nails.

Pacing the length of the room, I begin chewing on my thumbnail. “I know this is confusing as hell for you.”

Her head lifts. “Ya think?”

Just when I go to speak, her phone sounds in her hand. “Who is it?” I rush over to her side.

She ends the call and drops her phone back down. “Just my dad.”

Dropping to my knees in front of her, I rub both hands up and down the top of her legs. I could sugarcoat this shit. Sprinkle in some lies and put a bow on it, but instead, I just lay it all out there. “When I was thirteen years old, I watched my dad drag my mom across the kitchen floor by her hair, leaving a trail of liquid. Only it wasn’t blood, it was her own urine. The blood was still caked in her hair and drying by the time he was finished with her.” I don’t look up as I continue. I can’t look at her out of fear she’ll see him inside of me. “He beat her so bad that she passed out and pissed herself. I didn’t even care. Her eyes were rolled into the back of her head and she could have been dead for all I knew. Yet, I felt nothing.”

“Talon—”

“Let me finish.” I hold up a finger as I continue, “They say that somewhere deep down all parents love their children, but my mom and dad weren’t like others. They were incapable of love. When I watched him pull her away, do you wanna know what I said?” I finally look up at her. “I asked him if he needed help.” Her expression isn’t fearful or calloused. The eyes I'm staring into are laced with pity.

“I craved his acceptance and his love. It’s all I ever wanted.”

A tear drops onto my hand that’s still rested on her leg. Sweeping it away, I muster up the courage to get to the point. “His cold eyes sought me out and he dropped Mom’s head to the floor with a thud and strutted toward me. She was finished off for now—alive, but no fight left in her—I was his new target for the remainder of