Page 25 of Pedal to the Metal

“I’m going to kill that asshole!” Ace says angrily.

Sadie turns to him. “That won’t help anything.” She turns back to me, “Why don’t you come stay with us until Farrah gets back.”

“No, I can go home. I don’t want to intrude. When Ace found me, I just wasn’t thinking right. I should have had him take me home then," I tell them.

I’m up and trying to get to the door when Ace steps in front of me. “You’re not going back there. They don’t protect you, Londynn! They don’t care, you can stay here with Kynlee and I or go home with Sadie and Axell. We will make sure you’re safe and that Ryce never does this to you again.” I think about arguing with him, but I can see something in his eyes that tells me I won’t win.

Reluctantly I agreed to take the couch at Sadie and Axell’s. Kynlee told me she’d swing by tomorrow and bring me some more clothes until I feel up to go shopping. I tell her thank you. Ace walks us out and I tell him thank you. He just smirks at me, “I’m just glad it was me that found you.” I don’t tell him but I’m glad it was him too.

When we get back to Sadie and Axell’s he disappears and comes back with blankets. He makes out the couch for me while Sadie gives me some Tylenol and water. They tell me good night before disappearing into their room. As soon as I lay my head on the pillow I’m out, the events of tonight leave me while I sleep.

Chapter 16

Jagger

By the time I pull into the driveway of my childhood home back in L.A. it’s almost four o’clock in the morning. The house is dark and quiet, I feel nervous about what Sadie might tell me. I’ve tried to figure out what her words meant the whole way here. If I ever cared about Londynn I needed to get back here. During the trip I had come up with a thousand different scenarios, none of which were good. I pause at the front door and take deep a breath before quietly unlocking it and stepping inside.

It seems everyone is asleep because the house is completely dark. I hear the leather of the couch moving and look that way. Immediately I assume Axell is in the doghouse with Sadie but as I step into the living room I notice the moonlight catching the honey colored hair laid across the pillow. Londynn. What is Londynn doing asleep on the couch? Looking down at her I realize that out of all the scenarios I thought up this one never came to mind. There is a bag of unfrozen peas lying in her hand. The side of her face I can see is black and blue and slightly swollen, there’s a cut on her lip. The rage that takes over me at the sight of her makes me want to go beat whoever did this to her but instead I quietly go to my room and slip on a pair of sweats and muscle tank.

On my way back to the living room I stop in the kitchen and grab another bag of frozen veggies. I slowly lower it on her face then I sit down on the floor beside the couch. As I listen to her even breathing, I let my mind wonder. I should have been here. I shouldn’t have left her the way I did. Who could have done this to her?

At some point I must have fallen asleep because I wake up to the sound of Jovi in the kitchen getting breakfast. The moonlighthas been replaced with the sun. I get up and go into the kitchen but not before checking on Londynn. She’s still asleep so I collect the now thawed bags of veggies. When I enter Jovi is at the table eating a big bowl of Lucky Charms. “Jagger?” he asks with his mouth full.

I ruffle his hair, “Don’t talk with your mouth full it’s not a good quality,"

He laughs and swallows his cereal before continuing. “When did you get back?”

I’m trying to keep the noise down, but Jovi doesn’t seem to get that. “Damn, keep it down dude," I say chuckling.

“Why?” he asks with a confused look on his face.

I nod towards the living room, “Londynn Parrish is asleep on our couch.”

“Ohhh…I wonder if that’s why Axell and Sadie left out last night?”

I shrug, “I don’t know but I would guess so. Now, to answer your other question I got back this morning.

He continues eating and I go to make a pot of coffee. “Are you back for good?”

I don’t answer right away but then just as I’m about to I hear Londynn say, “That’s the million-dollar question Jovi.”

I turn to see her leaning against the wall of the kitchen watching me. I try not to stare at the damage on her face but it’s hard not to. Her cheek and eye are both bruised but most of the swelling has gone down. Her lip is cut and there are scrapes and bruises all over her arms and legs. Despite all that though I’ve never been so happy to see someone, the other part of me is furious and wants to beat on the one responsible for this. I give her my signature smirk, “For better or for worse.”

She shrugs as she sits down across from Jovi, “We’ll see.”

“What the hell happened to you?” Jovi blurts out.

I’m standing behind him at the fridge grabbing the milk, so I turn around and slap him in the back of the head. “Jovi Martin James," I scold him.

He looks down at his cereal and mumbles sorry. Londynn reaches over and takes his hand. “It’s okay. I got into a fight with Ryce, and it didn’t end so well.”

“I thought you guys were back together," Jovi says. This is just another reason for me to not like Ryce Whitten. I can’t wait to beat his ass down then my mind goes back to what Jovi just said, like it’s just now registering. When did Ryce and Londynn get back together?

I see her shrug, “Not anymore.”

“You want some of my Lucky Charms?” Jovi asks her.

Londynn giggles, “You know I don’t think I’ve ever had Lucky Charms.”