Page 108 of Unforgettable
35
Ryker
Ibolted out of the stuffy room, which was filled with so many different scents that I had a headache standing on stage. But nothing made my head hurt more than to see Haven carted off like she was some sort of criminal.
I ran as though I were carrying the football down the field, fast and furious, until I was falling flat on my face. Dishes went flying, glasses shattered, and a man started swearing.
I scrambled to my feet, a little disoriented, to find a server picking up dishes that were strewn over the floor.
“I’m so sorry,” I said. I should’ve helped him, but I couldn’t lose sight of Haven.
But by the time I skidded to a stop in the lobby, I saw Haven getting into the back seat of a black Escalade with two security guards.
A low and lethal growl erupted from my chest.
I would guess the men were part of the senator’s security staff. I would also guess that her old man wanted Haven out of the public eye given the news that had broken. He didn’t like media attention, so I suspected he didn’t want her to be run through the wringer with questions she could or couldn’t answer. For once, I agreed with man.
Lucas huffed as he sidled up to me. “Man, what the fuck is happening?”
I laughed like a crazed man. “No clue. But I’m going to find out.”
Vicki jogged up. “You guys need to see this.” She flashed her phone in our faces.
Motherfucker!
Lucas’s mouth hung open. “The senator is accused of bribery? Wow. When the shit hits the fan, it sure as hell hits hard.”
Inside my head, I heard the screeching sound of brakes as the whole debacle with my father and what had happened with his company and the state water board surfaced.
Anger, fury, and rage had me fisting my hands.
Lucas rounded his gaze to me. “Do you think?”
“Fuck yeah, I think.”
Vicki glanced at us like we had five heads.
Sorry, pretty lady. I had no time to get into specifics.
“I’m going to the senator’s place,” I said, trying to convince myself that was the right thing to do when I knew it wasn’t, only because I was sure I would put my fist through the senator’s nose.
“You probably should wait until you calm down,” Lucas counseled.
“Why do I get the feeling you want to kill rather than check on Haven?” Vicki asked in a brittle tone. “Whatever it is that has you all twisted up inside, forget about that. If you have feelings for her, then do something, but don’t make a scene. That’s the last thing she needs. She’s going through hell.”
I felt like she’d just sucker-punched me.
“She’s right,” Lucas said. “The senator will get what’s coming if the headline is true.”
Maybe, but it sure would feel good to beat his ass.
If you did, then you would lose Haven even before you had the chance to tell her how you feel.
I doubted the senator would let me near her. But I was going to try like a motherfucker, though. I’d lost too many people in my life. I wasn’t about to lose Haven.
I fished out my keys. “I’ll check in with you later.” The statement was more for Lucas than Vicki, although she and I had to set up a day and time for dinner since she had paid ten grand for my sorry ass.
I hoofed it to my car, sped out of the parking garage like I was transporting a bloody victim to the emergency room, and merged into traffic. Of course traffic on a Saturday in downtown Lakemont was hopping.
