Broken Butterfly: Fallen Brook Series: Book 3

by Jennilynn Wyer

  “You can cut that shit out right now, Jay. And let’s not forget that Jacinda was your problem,” Ry rounds on me.

  “I handled Jacinda,” Fallon says, and my brow cocks up in disbelief.

  “You may think you did,” I return.

  Trevor speaks up. “I know I don’t have the whole ‘growing up together’ relationship with Elizabeth that you guys do, but I care about her. She’s been a good friend to me since we met. Trust me when I tell you that those girls yesterday, and the guys today, did not get away lightly with the shit they said to her.”

  “Well, that shit has been going on for days, hasn’t it? And unless you beat the ever-living fuck out of all of them, then I say they got away too lightly,” Julien seethes. My brother is usually the calm and controlled one. The peacekeeper. You know things are really fucking bad if he loses his cool.

  Ry circles back around. “A lot of those pictures are recent on campus, but the one of her and Jay is from high school. It’s like I told Fallon, it’s stalkerish.”

  “You think Liz has a stalker?” Julien asks with concern and motions for Ryder’s phone so he can take a look at the images again. He taps something out and I hear his phone ding. He must have sent the images to himself.

  “Honestly, I don’t know what to think,” Ry tells him.

  I get Jules’ attention. “Forward those to my phone.”

  “How likely is the possibility that the guy who attacked her is behind this?” Shit, it never occurred to me. Julien and I look at each other.

  Fallon leans back in his chair. “Not likely. This online shit is juvenile and petty. My bet’s still on Marshall.”

  Liz hasn’t come back yet, and for the life of me, I don’t know why Ry hasn’t gone after her. “I’m going to check on Liz.” I don’t wait for a response.

  As soon as I open the exit door, Liz’s jasmine scent hits me. I go down a few flights of stairs, but I stop when I see her sitting on the bottom stair facing a wall that’s painted with a small mural of the campus bell tower. She’s lost in thought and playing with the locket I gave her. I quietly make my way down the remaining steps and sit beside her, arms resting on my bent knees. She tilts her head and lays it on my shoulder.

  “I may join you tonight. I feel like pummeling something.”

  My arm goes around her, her floral scent surrounding me. “I don’t think you’d like getting punched in the face much. It’s such a beautiful face too. Wielding a baseball bat like a mafia enforcer is more your style.”

  Liz snorts. “There is a campus intramural softball team I can probably join. Or maybe work as a money collector so I can bust some kneecaps.”

  “I’m sorry shit keeps happening to you, princess.”

  “Yeah, well, life sucks donkey balls sometimes.”

  “That’s really gross.” We look at each other and start laughing.

  “I wish I could understand why someone would do this. But at least now I know why people have been staring and sniggering at me the past two days.”

  I nudge her elbow. “First, only you would find something positive about the situation. Secondly, who says ‘sniggering’ nowadays?”

  Liz exhales a quiet laugh, then turns serious again. “But having those guys today come up to me and, well, I’m not going to repeat what they said. I felt violated.”

  “We’re going to handle this. Just like we did before.”

  “Not without me this time, Jayson. I appreciate what you said to Ryder, but I also made him promise me no more secrets. You guys kept so much from me in high school. I’m not that girl anymore. I can handle it. I need my eyes wide open so I’m never vulnerable to anyone ever again.”

  I shift to my left so that I can see her better. The pink streaks and tips in her hair are no longer visible, her long mass of pale blond hair is hanging down in messy waves. I smooth a strand behind her ear.

  “You’re the strongest person I know, Liz. I have and will always do whatever I can to protect you.” I lift her locket up and kiss it before tucking it back under the collar of her shirt.

  “You’ve always been my best friend, Jayson. I’ve missed being able to talk to you.”

  I don’t think I’ve ever hated two words more. Best friend. I have to remind myself not to stray from my game plan in winning Liz back, even though I want nothing more than to sink my lips and my body into hers. Scenes from the night she came to me when her memories returned are still fresh in my mind.

  “Come on. Let’s go grab the guys and get you to class. Have I told you that I’m happy you’re coming tonight?”

  “Once or twice.” She grins. “You’ll actually have a full audience. Everyone’s coming.”

  “I guess I’ll need to make sure I win then.”

  “I’m betting a hundred dollars that you do just that.”

  Chapter 23

  “Sweetheart, I wish you’d talk to me about how you’re feeling.” I roll my head on the headrest and take in Ryder’s concerned profile.

  Jayson texted me about an hour ago to let me know the fights would be happening at an old junkyard about twenty minutes from campus. Fallon, Trevor, and Meredith are meeting us there. After the library, I finished up my classes for the day and went home with Ryder. All the guys basically stuck to me like glue the entire day, and just like high school, someone escorted me to each of my classes. Hell, I wasn’t even allowed to go to the restroom without an escort to the door. By late afternoon, I was fed up with it. I knew they meant well, but it was overbearing. I felt suffocated. After the morning’s fiasco, things seemed to have settled down with the staring and the whispered comments. That doesn’t mean they stopped altogether, but it was manageable. As soon as Ryder and I got home, I escaped to the bedroom, telling him I needed some space. I hadn’t had time to fully process everything. Someone had painted a target on my back, and I was not going to play the damsel in distress. That was Old Elizabeth’s way of handling things; let someone else fix the problem. That wasn’t me anymore.

  Ryder glances my way and meets my gaze before turning his eyes back to the road. “What did you and Jay talk about at the library?”

  Oh, that’s a can of worms if I ever saw one. Ryder has been upset about the online photos and stewing ever since Jayson and I emerged from the stairwell. Even after all the times Ryder and I talked and poured our feelings out to one another since the day he showed up in Barcelona, there’s a lingering sense that part of him still doesn’t trust that I’m completely, totally his. That he’s it for me. I’m not going back to Jayson. Ryder is the love of my life. Can I blame him for his insecurities though? It’s my fault things got so screwed up to begin with.

  I reach my hand over the console and trace the side of his face from temple to jaw with the back of my fingers. I love this man more than life itself. I need to remember that he is as affected by things as I am. We’re in this together through the good times and the bad.

  “I love you.”

  Ryder takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “I love you too.” He places our joined hands on his thigh, his left hand still firmly grasping the steering wheel as he drives.

  “Jayson and I just talked. As friends. Nothing more. My head is still trying to wrap around why someone would post that filth about all of us. It’s not just me they hurt with those pictures, but you guys as well. I’m angry. I’m not shutting you out, Ryder. I just needed some time to process.”

  I see his chest move out then in as he takes a deep breath. “Thank you,” he simply states.

  “For what?”

  “For talking to me.”

  He pulls into the lot for the junkyard. There are already about a dozen cars parked and people milling about. As soon as he turns off the engine, I unbuckle myself and crawl over to his lap, straddling him the best I can in our close confines.

  His gorgeous light brown eyes dilate as I press in to kiss the tender spot at his ear. “I should be thanking you,” I voice gently beside his ear. “Thank you for not keeping things fro
m me. Thank you for telling me what was going on. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

  “I promised no more hiding things from you, and I meant it.”

  “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you.” Thoughts of spending the rest of my life with him dance around my mind. What would it be like? What would our children look like? All I know for sure is, I am looking forward to my future. One filled with him and our life together.

  I trail light kisses across his cheek as he chases my lips, trying to capture them. One of his large hands slides up to cradle the swell of my breast. Neither of us give thought to the fact that we’re in a parking lot where anyone could see us. The driver’s side window starts to fog up as our kisses get more heated, our groping becoming more frenetic. A loud knock on the window causes both of us to jump.

  “Didn’t I say no front seat porno unless I was invited?” Fallon’s wide-grinning face laughs at us through the glass.

  Ryder holds up his left hand and gives Fallon the middle finger. With his right hand, he grabs the back of my neck and pulls me in for one last heart-pounding kiss.

  “Aw, come on, man!” Fallon protests.

  “Did you just growl?” I giggle against Ryder’s mouth, feeling his low vocal vibrations against my smiling lips.

  “Yes.”

  “My sweet alpha man,” I tease, kissing him on the brow. Ryder opens the car door, bending over to get out so I don’t hit my head. He carries me along with him and I tuck my chin in his shoulder, still giggling. “Hey, Fallon.”

  “I swear to God, the two of you are like horny rabbits.”

  “Have you seen Meredith or Trevor yet?” I ask him.

  “Nope. Just got here.”

  I look around. The place looks straight out of Nightmare on Elm Street. Sheet metal walls surround piles of compacted cars, busted cars with no windows, various pieces of scrap metal scattered all over the place. Several spotlights mounted on telephone poles light up the place. A small, dilapidated shack that serves as the main office sits adjacent to the dirt and gravel parking lot.

  As soon as I spot Jayson’s truck parked across the lot, I hear his voice. “Liz!”

  Jayson walks up to our group. “You made it.”

  “I told you I would. This place is creepy.”

  Jayson gives Ryder a guy half-hug and ignores Fallon. Fallon couldn’t care less. “The guy who owns it is letting us fight here tonight. Come on. I’ll introduce you to some of the others.”

  “You’re friends with the guys you fight with?”

  Jayson grabs my wrist and pulls me away from Ryder and Fallon. “Everyone knows it’s not personal. See that guy over there? I broke his nose and a few ribs last year. He and I go out and shoot pool every once in a while. No hard feelings. That’s part of the sport.”

  “Jayson, I’m not sure about this. It sounds like you can get seriously hurt.”

  “It almost sounds like you care about me.”

  I look at him aghast. “Of course I care about you.”

  “Yeah?” he asks, taking my hand. I deftly remove it from his grasp.

  “Jay-man! How are ya doin’?” a pot-bellied older man, with a long dark beard and hair pulled back in a ponytail, greets him. “And who is this fine lady?”

  “Ray, this is Liz. Liz, this is the man you give your money to when you want to place a bet.”

  I don’t like how this guy is looking at me and I instinctively step a little closer to Jayson. “Nice to meet you, Ray.”

  “We’ve got some girls fighting tonight if you’re interested.”

  “Back off, Ray. She’s not fighting.”

  “Pity,” he says, leering at me. “Hey, Staci is here tonight. She’s been asking about you,” he says to Jayson who quickly diverts his gaze from me.

  Because I’m dumb and need to learn when to keep my mouth shut, I ask stupidly, “Who’s Staci?”

  Ray gives me another slick smile. “Well, catch ya later, J-man. Need to make my rounds.”

  “Jayson?” Yeah, something’s up because he’s fidgeting like crazy and won’t look me in the eye.

  “She’s a fight groupie. I never had sex with her if that’s what you want to know.”

  Oh, thank God. I was about to flip out thinking I needed to get myself and Ryder tested. Jayson and I didn’t use protection the night my memories returned.

  “That’s very specific,” I point out because it sounds like he may have done something with Staci even if he didn’t stick his dick into her.

  “Liz, I’m not talking about this with you.”

  I wipe my concern away as if I was turning the page in my e-reader. “No need. I’m not upset. You can go at it with whomever you want.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Liz. You were gone for over a year. What did you expect me to do?” Jayson argues.

  “Jayson, I’m not being sarcastic. I want you to be happy, and that includes supporting you moving on and finding someone who will love you as much as you deserve to be loved. You’re my best friend.”

  He sighs in disgust. I hear Meredith’s talkative voice behind us and look over my shoulder. The gang is all here. I thankfully and quickly excuse myself as Jayson is approached by some guy who wants to talk to him.

  “Elizabeth! Oh my God, girl!” Meredith squeals.

  “I know, right?” I agree, looking around at the crowd that keeps getting bigger by the minute. I wrap my arm around Ryder’s waist and snuggle close. Jayson’s comments have me wanting to ask Ryder if he was with anyone while I was in Seattle. Fallon and Trevor’s low, angry voices have me turning my head their way. Fallon notices me watching and says something to Trevor who looks over at me. They both stop talking and slowly make their way over. I’ll make sure to ask Fallon about that later.

  “Hey, Trevor.”

  “Hey, Elizabeth,” he says back. “What do you think?”

  “I think guys who do this are straight-up crazy,” I reply honestly.

  “And that’s why women should rule the world. We’re masters at getting shit done without punching anyone. But you have to admit, it’s sexy as hell,” Meredith says, seemingly forgetting her willingness to jump into any fight.

  I groan. “You and I need to have a long talk,” I tell her and she smiles.

  “What happens now?” she asks.

  Trevor looks around and nods to someone. “The guys will size each other up and decide who they want to fight. If their challenge is accepted, they fight.” He makes it sound so simple and easy. I still think it’s stupid.

  “I can’t believe you did this shit,” Fallon says to his brother.

  “Like you’re the one to talk, little brother.”

  “Guys, it’s neither the time nor place,” I reprimand them both. I will get those two together to sit down and talk if it kills me.

  To lighten the mood, I joke, “The guy Jayson is talking to asked me if I wanted to fight.”

  “Hell no!” Ryder says as Fallon says, “Fuck, yeah!”

  “No, Fallon! She’s not fighting,” Ryder’s grip around my waist tightens.

  “I have to agree with Ryder,” Trevor says.

  “And when did you all decide it was okay to make decisions for me?” I glower at both of them.

  “I actually agree with Fallon,” Meredith adds. “How cool would that be, watching Elizabeth kick some butt? Am I allowed to fight?”

  “That’s a fuck no to you too, firecracker. Not on my watch,” Trevor tells her.

  “Remind me again why we slept together?”

  “Remind me again why you keep bringing it up?” Trevor counters.

  I throw my hands up. “You know what? Everybody needs to shut up.”

  Jayson finishes speaking with the random guy and jogs over. “What’s up, Trevor? You fighting tonight?”

  “Nope. Just consider me part of Elizabeth’s entourage.”

  Meredith wraps her small hands around Jayson’s upper arm and squeezes. He looks down at her in question. “What? I just want to sampl
e the big guns. You’re very big. And hard. I’d put down a solid Benjamin on you to win.”

  “Is she for real?” Jayson looks to me for help. I un-grip her hands from molesting him further.

  “She can be a bit handsy,” Trevor replies, and Meredith snorts, “Didn’t hear you complaining. Either time.”

  “Would you please stop bringing that up?” Trevor says in exasperation. Fallon is holding a fist to his mouth to stop his laughter from escaping.

  “Behave,” I tell her.

  “I can’t help it. It’s testosterone overload out here and it’s making me a bit punch-drunk. And horny,” she whisper-shouts at me.

  “Jay! You’re up, man. You’ve been challenged.”

  I instantly go on alert and forget about everything else. I want to beg Jayson not to fight. I want to plead with him to stop. I grab his arm. “Please be careful.”

  Those silver eyes shine back at me. “Always, princess.” He gives my hand a squeeze and breaks through the circle of people who have created a makeshift ring where the guys will fight.

  “He’ll be okay, Elizabeth. He’s been doing this for a year and hasn’t come back home with anything more than a black eye and a split lip,” Ryder tries to assure me, but it doesn’t help.

  “If anything happens to him,” I reply, choking off my words. I may not be with Jayson anymore, but I still care for him deeply.

  “Come on, kitten. This is something I’ve got to see,” Fallon says, dragging me through the throngs of people already cheering and taunting. Everyone else in our group plows through after us.

  Meredith sidles up beside me and Ryder. I see Ray and call out to him.

  “You called, pretty lady.”

  I shove five twenties into his hand. “A hundred on Jayson.”

  “Oh, me too!” Meredith shouts.

  Our money disappears into a large roll of cash as he accepts it. A thin man next to Ray jots something down in a ledger. He gives the man Jayson’s name. “Enjoy the show.” He winks.

  “I can’t believe you just bet money on a fight, especially an illegal one.” Ryder chuckles, brushing the side of my neck with his nose. “My little criminal.”