Page 17 of Healing Souls

Things get quiet until there is a soft knock on the door.

I immediately squeeze Ryker’s hand, not wanting more people to be in here. I haven’t even processed everything, and I really don’t want to break down in front of these people.

They may seem like they are on my side and good people, but looks can be deceiving. I’ve learned that the hard way.

The door slowly pushes open, and a man steps through. Not just any man. My fucking dad. Gabriel. He walks farther in and looks at me.

I try to mask my fear by showing my hatred and anger.Think of your mom, Harley. Be angry. Not scared.I hear movement to my left, but I don’t dare take my eyes off Gabriel. The bed dips slightly, and I tense.

“Darlin’.”Sugar. “We need to know what’s goin’ through your head right now. No one in this room is going to lay a hand on you, including Rage. But you have to tell us what happened and why you were aimin’ a gun at him,” he says gently.

“Which was beyond fucking idiotic, by the way,” Ryker growls, and everyone tenses. I assume they’re expecting me to freak out, but for some reason it doesn’t freak me out at all.

I finally peel my eyes away from Gabriel and look at Ryker. His face is clouded with anger, and his lips are pressed tightly together. I offer him a small smile that he half returns. “You’re cute, but we’ll still talk about that later,” he murmurs.

I say nothing, not even sure how to respond to that. Plus, I kind of need to figure out what the hell to say to them about, you know, pulling a gun on Gabriel.

I still want to know how Ryker and Grayson are involved with this club. Is Cayden too? It’s all weird, and I really liked them, but if I plan to take them all down, I have to get rid of those feelings… Quickly. Somehow, they are worming their way into my mind, my life, my—my heart. Not even just the boys either, but everyone here.

Nerds gives off this understanding calm energy and Sugar just seems like he would protect you at all costs and give you the fucking world. I realize now that I’ve been quiet this whole time and probably need to say something.

Fuck. Guess the truth it is because I have nothing else to say.

“I know that you’re my dad.” I bring my eyes back up to Gabriel. His eyes shine with hope, which makes me glare at him, even as my heart cracks slightly. “I also know that you raped my mom,” I add with as much venom as I can.

Sugar tenses while Ryker, Grayson, and Nerds all cast their eyes down. I don’t like that.

I watch as many emotions pass over Gabriel’s face, from sadness, to confusion, to anger, but mostly, he just looks heartbroken. “Everyone, out,” he orders in a tone that brokers no argument.

Unfortunately for him, I refuse to listen and have already made mistakes and don’t care to keep my mouth shut anymore. Too many years with no answers to questions. I’m going to get what I want now. This is my revenge. I’ve already decided it doesn’t matter whether I live or die.

“No.” Everyone’s heads whip in my direction. I exhale. I can do this. “You can’t tell them what to do, and I don’t want to be alone in a room with you. Got something to say? Fucking say it. But I probably won’t listen. Nothing you say will change what you’ve done.” I feel my heart beat faster, and my hands get clammy. My mouth ran from me, and as much as I’m glad to be able to stand up for myself, I’m fucking terrified deep down of the punishment that comes with that.

He nods, masking his emotions under a wall that I recognize well. It’s something I’ve done. “Fine. We can do this however you want. Everyone will leave, including me. There is someone else here that might be able to get through to you.”

He makes everyone step out, with Ryker taking the longest. The feel of his hand slipping from mine for the first time since I truly woke up sends me spiraling on top of what Gabriel just said.

Someone is here for me? No. Not her. Please no. I have to get out of here. I have to go. I can’t do this again. Fuck! I fucked up, coming back to Jacksonville.

Hands grab my shoulders. I hear a faint voice, but I’m trapped.

I can’t break free. I feel someone hugging me.

No… Mother wouldn’t hug me.

“Harls, please.”

That voice… Before I can do anything, I’m falling again.

Chapter Five

Ryker

Whenyou’velivedthroughhell on more than one occasion, you would think watching someone get hurt would get easier. I guess it does when it’s not someone I care about. I don’t give a fuck if I have no right to care about her. I do. I know somewhere deep in my soul that my brothers and I need her just as much as she needs us.

She didn’t just show up here again for that not to be true, and I’ll do whatever I can to prove that to her.

I know I’m a possessive asshole. My brothers are everything to me, and if someone hurt them, I would destroy that person. But now that extends to Harley too. I’m already going to hell, so it doesn’t really matter what I do now anyway.

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