FORBIDDEN: The Stowaway PART ONE

Chapter Twenty-Six - Riggs

After a few minutes, I compose myself enough to get off her bed and follow everyone outside. Peter is in the car, his hand gripped around the steering wheel as he speaks to Crew. She's looking out the window, sinking into her seat, and crying.

Defeated.

She knows as well as I do that this is the end.

As upset and disgruntled as I am, knowing she's the reason for the heartache I experienced the past year and a half, I'll always have a soft spot for her.

Those beautiful, luscious lips.

Those big hazel eyes.

Tiny little thing.

I walk up to them and open the door to the car, taking Zay by the hand. She frowns, looking at Peter as I yank her out of the car and pull her toward the end of the driveway so we can walk to where I stashed my bike in the bushes across the street.

"Where do you think you're going?" Crew asks.

"Getting my bike."

Peter gets out of the car and his hand slides down her arm and grips her wrist. "You two are riding with me. Mickey will ride your bike to the club."

I flare my nostrils, staring at this boy I wanted more for.

Didn't get what I wanted.

I don't, usually. I always had the shit end of the stick, but I owned it.

Allowed it.

Because people bow down to me. Worship me.

At least they used to before I was to blame for half of our club going to prison. Including my daddy.

Peter gets into the black Mercedes. The same one that was at the cabin a couple of days ago. Zay sits in the back seat, looking as though she's given up.

Don't give up yet, sunshine.

I get in beside her instead of sitting next to my brother. Make it look like I don't want her to do anything stupid. And because I'm not ready to face the reality that this fucker lied to me for a year.

He hid.

Pretended.

And I was played like a fool.

My gaze trails over to Zay. She has her head down, tears falling from her eyes as she stares at her shaking hands.

I hate this.

Hate this moment.

I'm distraught. On the one hand, I'm so happy to have my brother back. On the other, I wish I didn't know her truth. I wish we could go back in time and be the way we were at the cabin.

She liked me at the cabin.

I was falling for her at the cabin.

There was no real life at the cabin.

I don't remove my gaze, even though I feel Peter glancing at me in the rearview mirror. I keep my gaze locked on her.

"Pretty little thing, isn't she?" he says, and that's when I shift my eyes to him. "Have to say, you never screamed like that for me, sweetie."

She sniffs, wiping her cheek. "You're a shit lay."

His grip on the steering wheel tightens and his foot presses harder on the gas pedal. "Yet you still fucked me the night you tried to kill me."

She doesn't lift her head, nor does she say anything else. She sinks into the seat, clenching and unclenching her hands to stop them from shaking.

It doesn't work.