Heathen: A Dark Enemies to Lovers Romance (Redwood Rebels Book 2) by Rachel Leigh (sight word readers .txt) 📕

Zed wants Willa. Well, Zed isn’t fucking touching Willa.

Without even knocking, I push open the door. Tommy comes walking out of his room in just a pair of gym shorts, with his phone pressed to his ear. “Yeah, Dad. Uh huh. No parties, got it. Ok, bye.” His words slur a bit, but he seems to have sobered up a tad.

“Parents outta town?” I ask him, once he drops the phone on the couch.

“Yeah and it’s a damn shame that I can’t even throw a party because I’m too busy wiping your asses to make sure they’re clean.”

Slapping a hand to his back, I try to reassure him. “It’ll all be over soon. Then we’ll be at your beck and call, bro.”

“Whatever. I don’t even care anymore. This shit just needs to end.” Tommy walks into the kitchen and I follow him. He grabs a couple bottled waters from the fridge and tosses me one. “So, what are you doing here? Need more services? Got another person for me to follow?”

Twisting the top off, I take a long drink before I answer him. “Not exactly.” I screw the top back on and set the bottle down on the kitchen table. “I know that you guys made this deal with Zed to make sure that he gets what he wants, but I need you to help me instead.” It really sucks feeling like I’m out of this group; I’ve been battling all this shit on my own and I can’t fucking do it anymore.

His brows dip. “So you want me to betray our friends?”

“I wouldn’t call it betrayal to them as much as a loyalty to another friend.”

“If this is about Madison—”

“It’s not. It’s about Willa.”

Tommy pulls out a chair and sits down then proceeds to drop his head in his hands and let out a breathy sigh. “Fuck. I knew you had something going on with that girl. What is it? You falling for her?”

He lifts his head and watches my expression. “She’s pregnant and she’s still in Redwood.”

A very thick silence surrounds us and the air suddenly feels heavy. He’s the first person I’ve told this to and now I’m really regretting it.

“Holy shit, man.” He slaps his hands to the table and his wide eyes convey his shock. “Pregnant?”

I nod my head. “Yeah. Pregnant.”

“And it’s yours?” He doesn’t even wait for me to respond. “Of course it is. Why else would you be telling me this shit?”

“That’s what she says.”

“And you believe her?”

I shrug one shoulder. “Yes and no. I mean, I want to because, come on, it’s Willa Mack. But I’m also skeptical.”

He takes his sweet ass time as he chugs the rest of his water, and I’m sure it’s because he’s speechless. Once he finishes and crinkles the plastic in his hands, he asks, “What the hell do you plan to do?”

“She wants to leave Redwood. Told me that no one needs to know and she’d free me from responsibility if I set her up for a while.”

Smacking the bottle to the table, he beams eagerly. “Well, fucking do it, Lars. You’re eighteen years old. You can’t have a baby.”

“Yeah, but she’s eighteen, too. Do I really just send her on her way to live alone and take care of a baby by herself?”

His eyes bug out and he nods. “Yes. Yes, you do.”

I thought Tommy would at least understand, but apparently, he doesn't. It doesn’t matter, that’s not why I’m here.

“I’m still thinking about that. The reason I’m telling you this is because someone has been harassing her. Someone knows. I’m assuming it’s either Zed or Madison.”

“Ah, and you need me to find out? Of course.” He salutes me. “Aye aye, Captain.”

“No. I’m working on that. I need you to convince Zed and Talon that Willa isn’t the answer. For whatever reason, Zed wants to use her and there’s no fucking way I’m letting that happen.”

“Come on now,” he laughs. “This is Zed we’re talking about. The least reasonable person in existence.”

“Did they say what the plan is? What he wants with her?”

A beat of silence has me on the edge of my seat.

“He says he has a plan and swears that no one will get hurt. Maybe he just wants to talk to her.”

“Yeah. Talk to her my ass. We all know what he did to Marni. Not a chance in hell. I’d kill him first.”

“You like this girl, don’t you?”

“No!” I shout as I jump to my feet, running my hands down my face. “She’s carrying a baby, Tommy. You think I’d let Zed near any pregnant girl, or even any girl who’s not pregnant for that matter. He’s a monster. This damn pact has gone too far. These girls are innocent. First Marni and now Willa.”

“And Madison?”

I hold up a finger and glower. “Madison is not innocent. Don’t be fooled. But Willa is. She’s been through enough. Not to mention, she’s fucking pregnant.”

“Zed thinks he can stop Madison, too.”

“Yeah, and what’s in it for him? Hmm? Zed doesn’t do anything for anyone without a string attached.”

“Consolation prize, maybe? He rewards you for letting him use Willa.”

Sighing heavily, I glance at the door, ready to leave. “Yeah, that sounds more like something Zed would do.” My arms fly up. “Fuck it. I guess I’ll just handle this shit on my own. Thanks for nothing.”

“I’ll talk to them. My hands are tied, man. It’s all I can do. We all just want this shit to end.”

“Well, in order for Zed to use her, he has to find her.” Huffing and puffing, I leave before I lose my cool and do something I’ll regret.

Thought for sure that Tommy would have my back. But it looks like Zed’s the ringleader and calling all the shots. Maybe our hands are tied, but I’m shredding that rope and freeing us before he tightens his grip and