“Yeah, that’s why we’re such great friends,” he jokes, carrying me up the stairs.
“I can walk,” I say once he hits the porch.
He laughs and goes to speak, but the front door swings open. “What in the fuck are you doing?” Lisa demands, placing her hands on her hips, still dressed in her Givenchy evening gown. Her eyes widen when she looks over at me. Yeah, I’m sure I’m a sight to see. “Henley …?”
“I can explain …” he starts, setting me on my feet.
But the door is yanked open even more, and a blur comes barreling through it. Law is picked up off his feet, and he and who I now realize is Scout go rolling down the steps he just carried me up.
“Scout!” I shout, and it hurts not only my throat but my entire body.
“You son of a bitch!” Scout shouts.
Law stops rolling, and Scout jumps on top of him. He fists his hands and punches him. Law doesn’t stop him, but he also doesn’t just lie there. Law hits him back, knocking Scout off him.
“Scout!” I try to yell, but my voice cracks. Lisa starts screaming for my father behind me, still standing at the door.
“I’m going to kill you, you son of a bitch!” He scrambles to stand and jumps on Law again.
I run down the steps and jump on Scout’s back, ignoring the pain. “Scout, stop. Please.” I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Henley?” He looks over his shoulder, one hand fisted in the air and the other gripping Law’s bloody hoodie.
“It’s me.” I lay my head on his back. Please, just stop. I’m so tired.
He pushes himself off Law and sits on the ground, pulling me around and into his lap. He cradles me, and we begin to rock. “Henley?”
“It’s me, Scout,” I assure him. “I’m okay.”
RYAN SCOUT
I sit on Lisa’s couch while a very tired Henley sits next to me. She holds an ice pack to her face.
Law sits across from me in a high-back chair. Rellik sits to my left, his eyes closed and rubbing his temples. Dax sits in the matching high-back chair next to Law with his elbows on his knees and face in his hands. Henley’s dad stands over by the fireplace while Lisa stands next to him.
“Someone better explain what the fuck is going on right now,” her father growls.
“It’s a long story,” Henley whispers.
I go to rub her back, but she pulls away from me. My eyes shoot to Law, and he’s watching her with concern. What in the fuck is going on between them?
“We’re not leaving this room until you explain it!” He pushes off the fireplace and starts to come toward her.
Lisa steps forward and pulls him back by his arm. “James, take a deep breath. We’ve got time to hear them out,” she says to him softly.
“Hear them out?” he snaps. “The three of them show up saying Henley is dead, and then Law shows up with her. She looks like she’s been raised from the dead! I demand answers. And I demand them right now!”
Henley pushes her wild, bloodied, and dirty hair from her face. “It all started when I saw Dax raping Brenda Nash.”
“Dear Lord,” Dax growls, finally dropping his hands from his face. “I thought we had moved on from this. I didn’t do it.”
“But you did,” Law answers.
Everyone’s head snaps to look over at him. I frown. Since when does he believe her?
Dax gives a rough laugh. “Really, Law? She gave you so much pussy that you start to believe her?”
“What?” Lisa shrieks, gripping her expensive and rare diamonds around her neck. “You two are sleeping together? James, did you know this?”
Henley bows her head, and James rubs the back of his neck, all of a sudden very uncomfortable.
Dax goes on. “We’ve all fucked her. Well, except for Rellik.”
“Henley!” Lisa gasps.
“This has nothing to do with sex,” I snap at Dax and look at Law. “Explain why you believe her.” Someone better start fucking talking. I’m with James. Answers need to be explained and now.
Law picks his ass up off the seat and pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket, carelessly tossing it to Dax.
“Law.” Henley jumps to her feet, narrowing her eyes at him.
“What?” Law stands as well. “Fuck him,” he spits at Dax. “Henley saw you do it, and I believe her without a doubt.” He straightens. “Almost makes me feel bad about what we put her through.” He turns to Henley and winks at her with a smirk, then he walks out of the living room.
“Henley, what did he do to you?” Lisa asks her wide-eyed. The poor woman is scared to death. “Hamilton, get back in here,” she calls out to her son, but he’s not returning.
Dax huffs as he picks up the folded piece of paper and opens it up. His eyes scan it, and his shoulders square, his body stiffening, and his face goes red with fury.