Unspoken: A High School Bully Romance: The Longlake Duet, Book 2

by Hattie Jude

  “I’m just ready for you to explain yourself.” I pull the blanket tighter around my arms, trying to armor myself against whatever he tries to evade next.

  He sighs and gives his hair a hard tug. “You can never just leave things alone, can you?” He sighs again and this time, it sounds angry.

  That didn’t take long.

  “Here we go. You can never just admit what’s going on. It’s always some game that I have no rules for. You won’t even explain what the game is…”

  He backs up, holding both hands high in front of him. “This was a mistake. I should’ve known. Nothing can ever be simple with you.”

  “No, I guess not. I guess I’m not just someone you can stick your dick in and not try to have a normal conversation with once in a while. I’ve already been abused in that area, thank you. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it ever again.”

  His eyes widen in horror. “Don’t you dare compare me to what you had with that prick. This isn’t even close to you and Luke and you know it.”

  “No, I know nothing, Raf. Nothing. Because you give me nothing.” I don’t want to keep talking, but I can’t stop myself. “It’s been days. I can’t just forget everything as quickly as you can.”

  He takes off walking and I follow him. I don’t want to be with him, but I want to be alone on the beach even less. I struggle with the blanket as I lose my grip on it and stumble to keep up with him. When we reach my house, he keeps walking and I turn into my gate, not bothering to say another word.

  I should’ve known whatever we were doing was a disaster waiting to happen. I sneak into the house, not watching where I’m going and run right into a solid chest. I scream and a hand is clasped over my mouth.

  “Is that any way to greet your daddy?”

  A cold fury clamps around my heart like a vise and I push him away with everything in me.

  “How did you get in here?”

  “You didn’t lock the door on the way out to your little rendezvous with lover boy. He’s a good-looking kid. Does he have any interest in the industry, you think?” He laughs like that’s the funniest joke he’s ever told and I think about how I’ve never gotten the typical “dad jokes” because they’re nothing my dad would ever tell. My father is too perverted to waste time on normal silliness.

  I turn away from him and fumble around for my phone under the blanket still draped across my shoulders. I text my mom, at least I hope it’s her.

  911

  And then my phone clatters across the floor as he jerks me around to face him.

  “How serious is this side piece with your mother?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play stupid. I know she’s seeing someone.”

  “You probably know better than I do how serious it is.”

  “I want to hear it from your mouth.”

  “She seems happy. Happier than you ever made her,” I add.

  The slap across the face stings, but I’m grateful it wasn’t a fist. I drop the blanket, needing the freedom to move quickly if this escalates. I reach down and grab my phone, running across the living room and dialing the police. They answer and the phone is shoved out of my hands and crushed under his boot.

  “Why do you insist on disappointing me at every turn, Josephine? You make it so hard to be proud of you.”

  I lift my head up, not bothering to hide my disgust for him. “I could say the same thing about you.”

  He laughs and his face turns into something hideous when he’s this cruel. I hold my hand out for him to sit down, hoping that my mom will get my text and do something to help because I’m not sure I can outrun him. He’s going full-throttle tonight, which usually means I’ll have a broken bone by the end of the night when he’s in this kind of mood.

  Or my mom would.

  But she’s not here, so it’s not looking good for me.

  “Your videos made me a fortune. Thank you for that. I could’ve split it with you if you’d let them stay up longer.” He laughs again, the sound making my goose bumps stand on end.

  I don’t say anything, just stare at him, trying to figure out what he wants. He leans forward, his elbows on his knees.

  “So you’re basically raising yourself here. I could sue for custody on the grounds that you’re a minor living alone. I think I’ll do that when I get back to Vegas.”

  My eyes flicker to his and I flinch at the hatred I see there. The scary thing is he could win if he ever tried to fight for me, because he always manages to get his way. He has clout in places he shouldn’t, which is why it took my mom a lifetime to get away from him. I doubt custody of me is what he wants. I’m old enough now to put a major crimp in his lifestyle and have been ever since I learned to fight back. But he’s evil enough to try if it means making my mom and me miserable.

  “I thought you were doing the decent thing for once in your life,” I say softly, my lips trembling against my will.

  He clasps his hands behind his head and nods. “I allowed you to think that. But you must know that this has gone on long enough.”

  “Why? Why can’t you let us go?”

  There’s a slight noise behind him, but I don’t dare pay attention to it. I shuffle on my feet, trying to make noise and nearly pass out with relief when I see Stefen and three other large men enter the room, guns drawn. My dad lifts his hands and smirks.

  “Well, hello, gentlemen. I wondered how long it would take you to get here.” He taps his watch and shakes his head. “Sub-par.” He stands up and turns to me, his expression a storm ready to break. “Tell your mother I’ll be in touch. You shouldn’t be left alone here while your stalker is on the loose.”

  I’m shaking, but when he walks out the door, I collapse on the couch, breathing hard. “Are you going after him?” I ask Stefen.

  “There’s not much we can do. He left willingly.”

  “We have a restraining order against him.”

  “He was able to get a judge to lift that,” my mom says behind me.

  I turn around, hair flying. I didn’t know she was here for any of that. “Why wouldn’t you tell me something like that?”

  “I didn’t want you to worry. I should’ve told you.” She hurries to sit next to me and puts her arms around me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

  “Yeah, I know you’ve been leaving,” I say under my breath.

  The guys go out to make sure my dad is gone.

  “How did he get in?” My mom frowns at me. “The alarm system isn’t working right. We need to make sure—”

  “I went for a walk,” I interrupt.

  “Josephine,” she hisses, but low enough that no one else hears. “Why would you do that so late at night when you know how dangerous it is?”

  I don’t tell her about Raf being with me. I don’t want to get either one of us in trouble. “If you’d told me about the restraining order, I wouldn’t have.”

  I fold my hands over my chest. It’s been a long night and I’m sick of trying to survive without knowing all the information.

  Not even my mother will tell me the truth.

  I’m over all the secrets.

  Stefen checks the house and the alarm and says he and his men will stay and watch the house throughout the night.

  “What about Raf?” I ask Stefen.

  “He went to stay with Henry tonight. Left a few hours ago.”

  I shake my head. “I saw him on the beach right before this happened.”

  I feel my mom’s eyes on me as she waits for me to say more, but I don’t. Stefen says something to his men.

  “I’ll be back. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

  I clutch my mom’s hand and wait.

  Just knowing my dad is in town makes everything dirty. I rub my arms and feel like I need a shower, something to wash off his words, the way he makes me feel like I’m nothing.

  My mom falls asleep while we wait to hear back from Stefen, but the sun rises and he still hasn’t come back. And I
haven’t heard from Raf at all.

  I have a horrifying feeling that my dad is to blame for all of this.

  Chapter Ten

  My mom’s phone wakes both of us up around nine. She sits straight up after she answers it, her hand clutching her throat.

  “Is he okay? Please tell me he’s okay,” she whispers.

  I move closer to her, already tense. “Who is it?”

  Her eyes well with tears. “You didn’t take him to the hospital? Shouldn’t he get checked out?”

  I start pacing, my thoughts running wild.

  “Okay, I’ll get some food for you guys and we’ll be over shortly.” She hangs up and looks at me. “Do you want to run with me to get takeout?”

  “Is it Raf? He’s hurt?”

  “Yes.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “It sounds like he was beaten pretty badly, but no broken bones and he’s conscious.”

  “Why wasn’t he taken to the hospital?”

  “Stefen had a friend take a look at him.”

  “It was Dad, wasn’t it?” I don’t wait for her to answer, her face saying it all. “Why isn’t he arrested right now? Stefen just let him go after he beat up his son? Why isn’t he making him pay?”

  “We all want to make him pay. It’s just going to take time.” Her voice is calmer than I’ve ever heard it and I stare at her, trying to understand what she’s thinking.

  I’m so shaken up I can’t think straight and my mom seems to be in her element, hurriedly sliding into her boots and throwing a sweater on. She grabs the keys and her purse, chucking her phone into a pocket.

  “If you’re going with me, let’s go. I don’t want to waste any time getting over there.”

  “You know what, I’ll meet you over there, okay? I’d like to brush my teeth first.”

  “I don’t want you walking over there alone. Either come with me now or wait for me to get back before you go over there.”

  “I’ll wait,” I promise.

  “Okay, I’ll be back in twenty minutes or so.”

  The house is creepy now that my dad has been inside it. I’m jumpy, thinking he’s going to pop out at any moment. By the time I close my bathroom door and lock it, I’m shaking. I stare in the mirror and try to talk sense into myself. Living with him, I learned a long time ago that I couldn’t let fear rule me. Where is that boldness now?

  I take a deep breath and shower quickly, not wasting time enjoying the hot water, just going through the motions. I brush my teeth until they bleed and brush my tongue until I gag.

  Slow down, hurry up, slow down, hurry up. My thoughts are at war with themselves and I throw on my leggings and a long fitted shirt, searching around the room for something cozy to wear over it if I get cold.

  There, on the bed, sits a red lily.

  I scream and then cover my mouth, looking wildly around. Nothing else is out of place and I run down the stairs and out to the car, making sure my mom isn’t out there anywhere. Her car is gone and I breathe easier, hoping she got out of here with no trouble. I run down the back gate and through Raf’s and pound on the back door, breathing hard.

  Stefen opens the door and holds me up as I fall inside.

  “What’s going on—where’s your mom?”

  “There was another flower on my bed. She went to get food, I think. The car is gone. She told me to stay there, but once I saw the flower, I had to get out of there.”

  “Slow down. Let me call and make sure she’s okay.”

  I nod and try to catch my breath. I bend down and when I lean back up, I notice Raf lying on the couch. His face is a rainbow of colors, his eye swollen shut and one side of his lips puffier than the other.

  I whimper and rush to his side, wanting to touch him but not knowing where I won’t hurt him.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he says softly.

  “It looks really, really bad.” A tear drops down my cheek and Raf’s eyes track it.

  He reaches out and takes my hand. “Come here. Sit by me.” He sits up and clutches his ribs and I try to stop him. “It’s fine. I swear it.”

  We sit facing each other and I haven’t let go of his hand.

  “You’re shaking.”

  I hear Stefen coming and Raf lets go of my hand.

  “I’m okay,” he says. “Are you?”

  “I just got shaken up. I’ve been worried about you. And you know, these stupid flowers keep showing up. It could’ve been put there last night, I guess. Mom and I slept downstairs waiting to hear from you. Maybe my dad left it and I just didn’t notice it until today. I don’t know.” I rub my forehead, trying to smooth away the headache that’s building.

  “We’ll check out the house again today. I didn’t notice it last night and I’ll ask the guys if they did. We checked, but it’s possible we missed it. Did you leave it there?”

  “Yes. On my bed.”

  Raf’s eyes flash and he stands up, walking slowly toward his dad. “Find the bastard,” he says through gritted teeth.

  “You know I will,” Stefen says under his breath. He points at Raf. “Get back on that couch. You agreed to rest if I wouldn’t take you in. Don’t make me regret it.”

  Raf scowls, but he lies back down.

  My mom comes in a few minutes later, and once the door is shut behind her, she rushes to me, hugging me until I can’t breathe.

  “I shouldn’t have left you for a second.”

  “We don’t even know if it happened today.”

  “Your dad is capable of awful things, but I don’t know why he’d be part of this with the flowers. He knows how—” She leaves it hanging and we stare at each other, remembering how crazy it got with Luke.

  I’m not sure I believe my father is capable of anything good at this point, but I don’t argue with her. And the thought of Luke being inside my house…if it’s him, he’s getting cocky, which doesn’t bode well for me.

  I focus on Raf, picking up his ice pack and handing it to him. “You should use this.”

  I don’t know how he can smirk without wincing, the way his face is so bruised, but he manages.

  “I should’ve gotten beat up a long time ago if it meant you’d take care of me,” he says low enough that only I can hear.

  I flush and I feel my mom’s eyes on both of us, so I act annoyed and walk to the kitchen. She follows me in there and I ask her where the glasses are to distract myself.

  “Jos…” She groans. “I just can’t seem to get used to calling you Gabriela.”

  “It seems like they know so much anyway. Why hide my name anymore?”

  “What do you want me to call you?”

  “I prefer Gabriela or Gabi. I’ve done my best to shed Josephine since we moved here.”

  She nods. “Okay, I can try to do better. Honey, what’s going on with you and Raf? There are times I swear, you guys seem—”

  I wait for her to finish and she looks expectantly at me. “Oh, I wanted to see where you were going with that.” I try to laugh, but it doesn’t sound real. I fill the glass with water and take a long drink. “Nothing is going on between us. We hate each other…most of the time.”

  “It doesn’t look like hate to me.”

  “Well, trust me, that’s all we’re capable of.”

  I hear commotion in the other room and my mom and I exchange a quick look of terror before running into the other room. Raf is slower to get there.

  Stefen stands in the entryway trying to contain a livid Heidi. He has her by the arm as she tries to peel his fingers off of her. She’s crying and angry.

  “Dad?” Raf takes a step forward and Heidi turns on the waterworks more when she sees him.

  “Tell him to let me go!” she wails.

  “I caught her lurking around Gabriela’s car and the house,” Stefen says through gritted teeth.

  Heidi jerks away and shakes her head wildly. I can’t tell if she’s on something or just losing it. Stefen shifts her bag off of her arm and it falls to the ground
. One of Stefen’s men comes in behind them and hovers over her.

  The hatred in her eyes toward me is staggering and I take a step back.

  “What is your problem with me?” I ask.

  Her lips curl and she stares at Raf, desperate again. “I won’t let you ruin him.”

  Raf moves toward her and takes her hand. It’s like a deep cut in my side and I nearly bend over with the hurt.

  “Let her go, Dad. She’s fine.” He leans into her ear and whispers something and she brightens, wiping the tears from her face. She nods and he backs away.

  “Stay off our property,” Stefen says. “You and Raf might be friends, but there’s no good that can come out of you trespassing around here like you own the place. Next time you want to see my son, arrange it over the phone. And stay away from Gabriela.”

  “Yes, sir.” She gives Stefen a meek look and when her eyes flash to mine, she’s got a smug smile.

  I wish I could say I feel relief as she leaves, but I don’t. Her little moment with Raf stings. Nothing makes sense.

  I try to call Laura. It’s less about wanting a drink and more about the downward spiral I’m sinking into. She doesn’t answer. Again.

  I’m beginning to question everyone.

  Chapter Eleven

  Stefen and his team are gone for hours. A few guards stay behind, but they’re all outside. Once again, I’m looking for a place to hide in Raf’s house.

  “Should we go to the police ourselves?” I ask my mom several times while I’m pacing back and forth. “I just don’t trust these people—”

  “My dad works closely with the station,” Raf interrupts. “You need to stay here. He’ll let you know if you should go.”

  I want to bite his head off, my anger still boiling over how he acted with Heidi.

  My mom puts her hand on mine, her eyes warning me to keep the peace.

  “I didn’t know he worked with the police. If you’d told me that from the beginning, it would’ve helped.” I roll my eyes.

  “You knew he was an investigator.”

  “If you only knew how many sleazy ‘investigators’ I’ve met,” I say, my hands on my hip. “And the fact that he bought Heidi’s story doesn’t put me at ease at all. If he bought that, he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.”