Page 12 of Broken

I pushed off his chest, and he rolled out of bed, heading to his desk for a tissue. I watched as he worked the condom off into the trash.

“You can take the bathroom first.”

I nodded, noticing how less awkward this was now than our time before, and scooped up my clothes before darting through the door at the corner of his room into his private bathroom.

There was a pedestal sink with floating white shelves above the toilet that matched the white tile on the floor and shower. It contrasted nicely with the navy-blue walls he’d picked out when his mom had remodeled back when we were ten, the same color he’d painted his bedroom. Normally, it would feel too dark to me, but all the splashes of white balanced it out well. There were even black, white, and orange basketball pictures on the wall, a nod to his dream.

I quickly cleaned up and got dressed before taking a look in the mirror and groaned. My hair was a mess.Talk about bedhead.Knowing Tucker wouldn’t care, I borrowed his comb, doing my best to release the knots and get the strands to lay mostly straight again.

Once I was done, I slipped out to give Tucker a turn and dug through my backpack for my makeup bag, touching up what I could and putting on a fresh coat of lip gloss. I was just putting it away when Tucker came back out.

I went to sit on the edge of his bed, and he spun around his desk chair, sitting there to face me. A part of me ached at the space between us, but it was necessary. For this, at least.

My stomach was in my throat. Ryder warned me not to share, but technically, Zane was the one who blabbed. There was no way out of it now. It had been killing me to keep it in in the first place. If I was honest with myself, the reason I told Tucker earlier was more reality than any threat from Ryder.

I cleared my throat, knowing I had to start. Trying not to let my voice shake.

“I had just gotten done with my talk with Zane when Annie texted. Someone grabbed me from behind and threw something over my head before I could answer.

“I was shocked at first, but I fought to get free, thrashing and kicking, but he was too strong. He threw me in the SUV, and I scrambled for the door, but it was locked. I never stopped kicking. I’m pretty sure Ryder should have a good bruise on his head from where I kicked it into the window. Probably even a few more on his body from my heels.”

My eyes stayed on Tucker’s lap as I spoke, unable to meet his gaze. Afraid of the withdrawal I might see. Even after what we just shared, it plagued me.

“He got mad after that and grabbed my legs, yelling at me to stop. That’s when I knew who it was.” My voice sounded monotone. Robotic. It was creepy even to myself, but I had to check out to retell it. Even though nothing really happened, the terror of the unknown that night had left a scar.

“Ryder threatened me, made me swear that I’d never tell you about it. To never tell the cops oranyoneabout it. About anything he’d ever done with me.Tome. He said I’d wish that was all he’d ever done if I told. The look in his eyes, the way he pinned me down…” My throat started to close, and I had to look away, my fingers clutching Tucker’s comforter. I took a deep breath through my nose as a few tears started to fall. “He was so rough. I was so terrified.”

I took another breath. “Micah was driving. He did warn him, I guess, when he started to get too rough, but you know Ryder.”

“He didn’t listen,” Tucker interjected, his voice like steel, the protector rising to the surface. I knew that tone, but never had I heard it so intense before.

“No, he didn’t. He kissed me, really rough, almost bruising, and grabbed my wrists.” My own hands mimicked the movement. “And yanked them above my head. It was then that Micah slammed on the brakes and yanked Ryder out of the car. It wasn’t supposed to go that far from what Micah said. He was just supposed to warn me off. After that’s when David and Zane showed up, and you pretty much know the rest. David got me out, and Zane dealt withthem. We headed back right after.”

I stopped, the room silent and still. But holy mess was it filled. With tension. With anger, hurt. With everything screaming between us.What I’d give to be back on that bed in his arms again.

Another tear slipped down my cheek, and Tucker reached over to swipe it away with his thumb. “Are you okay?”

Finally meeting his gaze, I could see the concern in his eyes, the pain he felt for me, but oh, the anger that simmered behind the surface.

I held his stare. “I have to be.”

His jaw ticked, his swallow hard, and he dropped his head, everything in him tense for several moments before he looked back up. My heart clenched, and I looked back down, his reaction too much.

“Why didn’t youtellme?Fuck,” Tucker grated. He slammed his fist on his desk, and I jumped. I looked over, seeing all of the anger, frustration, and hurt pouring across his features, radiating down his entire form. “Fuck.” His head dropped, and he gripped the back of his neck. “Fuck, I know why you didn’t. I know he threatened you, but…seriously,fuck!”

He jumped up and stormed towards his door. My eyes flew wide. “Where are you going?”

“To deal with this shit!” He slammed the door behind him.

Shit.I raced to follow, but by the time I flung open his door, he was already halfway down the stairs. I stopped at the top. “Tucker! Wait! Please!” If he went, they would know I’d told.

“It’s fine, Izzy. I’ll deal with it,” he barked, throwing open the front door.

Jenna stepped back onto the front porch, surprise on her face as Tucker rushed past. “I’ll be back late,” he tossed over his shoulder as he hopped in his truck, tearing out of the driveway.

With a hand to her chest, Jenna stepped inside. “What in the world? Oh, Izzy,” she said when she spotted me. Her eyes trailed up from my legs, along my clothes, and lingered on my hair before taking in my expression and the tracks of tears on my face. She set down her purse and opened her arms, and my tears finally began to freefall. Rushing down the stairs, I flew into her arms.

“Oh, sweet girl. What’s my son done now?”

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