The Revolution (15 page)

“Mark,” I whisper. “I was invited. These are my friends. Why are
you
here?”

His pupils are small, little pinpoints, but like little daggers aimed at me. “No, no. We need to talk. You need to give me a second chance. I deserve that much. I deserve you.”

My wrists prickle with pain, a harsh reminder of what he actually deserves, and that’s not me. “Go home and we’ll talk tomorrow. Now is not the time and you are not welcome here.”

“Because of him?” he asks, pointing over my shoulder at Kaz.

“This has nothing to do with him. Go home. You’re making a scene in the middle of Rochelle’s party.”

He grabs my arm. “If I’m leaving you’re leaving.”

Kaz is suddenly there, his hand on Mark’s arm. “Let go of her.” He’s not yelling, he’s calm and in control. His gaze is a glare, solid and unblinking.

Mark’s grip tightens, marking me as his property instead of allowing me to be my own person. I try to free myself, but if he holds me any harder, I’ll be bruised. “Mark, you’re hurting me.”

Kaz grits, “This is your last warning.”

His hand falls away instantly and his attention is back on me. “I’m sorry. I just want to talk to you, to sort through everything.”

“Not here. Not now,” I say, trying to stay calm, which is the exact opposite of how I feel. Kaz stands tall next to me, his arm pressed to mine. A lump forms in my throat, leaving me unable to speak as my eyes fill with tears.

“Please,” Mark pleads, “talk to me. This is torture. I’m going out of my mind without you.”

His eyes water, tears depicting the inconceivable emotion he wears on the inside for the rest of us to witness. Even I have a heart. When looking up at a six-foot-five professional baseball player with tears of desperation settling in, my stance on the matter falters and he takes advantage. “Please, Lara. Let’s talk out front and I’ll bring you right back to the party. Twenty minutes. That’s all I’m asking for.”

I don’t even realize I’ve moved, my mind fogging from humiliation, until Kaz calls me, “Lara?” When I look back at him he’s shaking his head. “Don’t go.”

“Please. Ten minutes,” Mark bargains.

Knowing the relief I’ll gain if I settle this tonight, I agree. “Ten minutes.”

“Yes. Thank you.” He takes my hand in his and turns for the door.

Just as I tear my hand free, I hear, “Lara?” and am pulled in another direction by Kaz’s concerned voice. “Can I speak with you?”

Mark answers before I can. “I’ll bring her right back.”

“I’ll be okay.”

Kaz stands there with his arms crossed. “You sure?”

No.
But I go anyway desperately needing this closure for Mark and me. I pass Rochelle. “I’ll be back.”

She eyes the two of us, worry creasing her forehead. “Are you okay?”

I nod while tucking my phone into my back pocket just as we reach the door. “Ten minutes, Mark. Not a second more.”

He looks at me with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Nope, not a second more.”

The door closes behind us and we walk to his large Hummer. As soon as we get in and the doors lock, I know I’ve made a fatal error.

I SHOULD HAVE
stopped Lara from leaving. My instincts told me to, but I didn’t act on my instincts. I trust her even though I don’t trust him. “I’ll be back,” I tell Derrick. He’s sidetracked with the girl who’s made herself at home on his lap anyway.

Working my way through the crowd, I look for Rochelle. I spy her in the kitchen with Dex, Johnny, and Holli. Dex has his arm around Rochelle’s shoulders. Johnny and Holli are holding hands. I feel as though I’m intruding, but I need to speak with Ro. When I approach, everyone says hi in good spirits, but by the expression on Ro’s face, something is weighing heavily on her, and I have a feeling it’s the same thing weighing me down. Signaling over to an empty space nearby, I look at Rochelle. “Can I speak with you in private?”

She nods. “Sure.”

Clearing my throat as we walk a few feet away from the others, I don’t hide my feelings. “We shouldn’t have let her go.”

“I know. I was feeling uncomfortable about it, but they need to end this.”

When she won’t look at me, I ask, “What’s going on?”

“I’m worried. I don’t know why I didn’t stop her.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“She was so insistent and I know she wants this ended once and for all, but…” She looks up at me, but doesn’t finish that sentence. “They left. I messaged her, but haven’t heard back.”

“I didn’t know they were leaving. I thought they would talk outside.”

“I didn’t either. That’s why I messaged. I don’t know what to do.” I see something change in her eyes. “If she’s not back in ten like he promised, I’ll text again.”

Dex joins us. “What’s up?”

Rochelle leans against him, her head falling back on his shoulder. “Nothing. Just chatting.”

“About Lara?” he asks, wrapping his arm around her.

We both nod, but neither of us says anything. “Okay, can you guys be acting any weirder?”

Rochelle looks up at him and smiles. “C’mon, let’s get a cupcake.” She takes his hand and pulls him back toward the crowd, but when she glances back at me briefly, her eyes are sad, worrying me even more. Looking at my watch, it’s been four minutes. Six more to go.

Ten minutes turns into twenty, and then I’m done waiting. I find Rochelle. “I can’t sit here any longer. I’ve got to do something.”

“We can’t call the police. She went willingly.”

“Do you know that for a fact?”

“She walked out of the house willingly.”

Tommy knows everyone in this town. “I found out where Mark lives.”

“I’ll go with you.”

She’s feisty, and always been so strong, but she needs to be here. “Stay. Try to enjoy your party. I’ll call you.”

“Please, Kaz. I’m worried.”

“I know you are. Stay here with Dex. I’ll keep in contact.”

She lifts up and kisses me on the cheek. “Call me.”

“I’ll have her call you.”

Smiling, she says, “Thank you.”

Slipping out of the party without saying goodbye to everyone isn’t easy, but I’m swift enough to do it. I drive straight over to the baseball player’s house, but it’s gated. I should have had a plan, but the fucking security guard isn’t budging and doesn’t recognize me.

None of my texts or calls are returned, so I drive by her place. No lights are on and I don’t hear any movement inside to make me stay. I call Rochelle on the way home and tell her, hoping she’ll tell me Lara is back at the party, but she doesn’t. I can hear the worry in her voice. She’s gone from patiently waiting to shaking. “I should have told you, Kaz, but I know Lara doesn’t want anyone to know.”

“Know what? Tell me.”

“He’s gotten rough with he—”

“What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why would she leave with him? We should have stopped—”

“I know her. She would have done it whether we wanted her to or not. She still feels she can get through to him and end this.”

“Fuck.” I rub my temple, a headache flaring on the right side. “What do we do?”

“We wait. I don’t want to, but have to at this point.”

My hands fly up and slam back down on the steering wheel. I’m frustrated and pissed the fuck off. “Call me if you hear from her.”

“I will,” she says, “I promise.”

I cruise back to my new house. I can’t be around Derrick as he fucks some girls in the other room while I’m worried about the one girl I care about. I had a mattress delivered with some things from the apartment. My wishful thinking that I might end up back here with Lara was a misplaced notion. Rochelle’s right. She went willingly. I don’t think she would have started something with me if she was still in love with him, but maybe she is. Maybe I’m so busy thinking the worst and she’s fucking—No, that’s not Lara. She knew what she was doing when she left.
She said she was fine, but now I’m thinking it was a front. Was she too scared to say anything? Shit.
I need to wait and allow her to tell her side of the story.

There’s a brand new bottle of Jack Daniels waiting for me when I walk in. Unfortunately there’s no mixer or glasses, so I unscrew the top and tip it back, taking two good shots before releasing it from my lips. The burn feels good. The first half of the night was good, watching Lara mingling, seeing her in all her beautiful, sexy glory. The second half? Not so good. Not one I’m keen to remember.
Have I lost her before I really had the chance to have her?
I tip it back once more but lose interest in the idea of getting drunk and set it on the floor. I empty my front pockets and keys next to it, and then go into the bedroom and lie down on the mattress that’s taking up space in the middle of the room.

MY PHONE RINGS,
waking me. I look for the clock on the nightstand, but there’s no nightstand or clock or furniture. Momentarily I’m stunned into confusion.
Where the fuck am I?

The phone keeps ringing until I grab it from my back pocket, finally remembering I’m at my new place. “Hello?” My voice is gruff as I roll to my back and drape my free arm over my eyes. My ear is met with crying, causing me to sit up. “Hello?”

“Kaz, it’s, it’s… it’s Lara. Can you… come? Get me?”

I’m on my feet heading for the keys. “I’m on my way. Where are you?”

“I screwed up, Kaz.” Her sobs are getting the best of her and it’s hard for me to understand her.

“Where are you, Lara? Tell me. I’m coming to get you.”

“I… I’m not sure. I think I’m near the golf course in Calabasas.”

“What do you mean you’re not sure? Are you okay?”

Her breathing is broken, gasps between cries. “No. I… I… I stole his Hummer. He’ll kill me. I have to leave it. I need to get out of here. I need a ride.”

The area comes to mind. I’ve been there. I’ve been to that golf course. “There’s a shopping strip near the country club. I’ll pick you up in the parking lot in front of the market.” I’m about to hang up, but add, “Keep your phone handy and call the police if he shows up.”

The phone goes dead and my heart follows as anger courses through me, imagining the worst. It takes me too long to get to her. I lost track, her cries circulating in my head the entire time. I see the center on the right and pick up speed. At three thirty in the morning the parking lot is vacant except for a silver Hummer. I drive by slowly and see the driver’s seat is empty. Looking around for any sight of her, I come to a stop and park. A woman comes from the shadows and makes her way toward me. I know it’s her and jump out to meet her. “Lara?”

The light from a tall lamppost shines down as she hurries to me. Her head is down, her shirt ripped. Her body hits mine and her arms go around me. She buries her face into the crook of my arm and her body is trembling. I’m not sure if it’s from sadness or fear, but I need to get her out of here and safe.

“We need to leave,” she says. “Please. Can we leave?”

“Come on.”

As soon as we get into my car, she slides down while locking the doors. Her seatbelt is fastened, but she turns away from me. I fasten my seatbelt and take off as soon as I can. I want to give her time, but I need to know what’s going on and what to do, how I can help her. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”