Torque by Gillian Archer (10 ebook reader txt) 📕

had an argument or something because she came over to my place tonight all upset. We had some words, and she decided she wanted to sleep elsewhere so she left. I was worried about her driving when she was so upset, so I followed her on my bike. Just before the I-80 interchange, a King pulled up beside her, checked out her car, pulled out in front of her, and flung a huge fucking chain into her windshield.”

Everyone gasped. I paused, and that roiling feeling of fear and helplessness came back, remembering the sound of exploding glass and seeing Maddie’s car careening onto the shoulder. Fuck.

Worst moment of my life ever.

“Is she okay?” Sabrina had tears in her eyes.

I nodded tightly. “She had some scratches from the glass, but she kept her cool. Better than I did. She didn’t crash. I don’t know how she kept that fucking car on the road.” I shook my head as my eyes burned. “And the fucker got away. I lost him in all the traffic at the interchange.”

“You went after the King?” Ryan asked.

Sabrina gasped. “And left Maddie alone on the side of the road?”

“Yeah, I went after the fucking King. After I stopped and checked on her.”

“Oh Nathan.” Aunt Wendy shook her head. “We are definitely going to be talking about that later. But why do you think this has anything to do with Dylan? He wasn’t even there. Was he?”

“No, he wasn’t. But maybe you need to be asking Dylan what he’s been up to lately. And the shitty situation he put Maddie in.”

Dylan hung his head, avoiding all our gazes.

“Dylan?” Aunt Wendy prompted.

Finally, Dylan raised his head, tears streaming down his face. “You promise she’s okay? That they didn’t hurt her?”

Some of my anger drained away at the naked fear in his eyes. I sighed. “She’s pretty shaken up, but she only has a few cuts, maybe some bruising from the seatbelt, but the airbag didn’t even deploy.”

“Thank god.” Dylan closed his eyes for a moment, sighed, and opened them. “What Nathan said is true. I’m in deep with the West Coast Kings.”

Austin sighed. “For what? Money? Drugs?”

“I uh, used to mule for them back in high school.” Dylan sat back in his seat as if to brace himself. “They’d give me a package and tell me where to deliver it and I did.”

“That’s where all your money in high school came from?” Austin frowned.

“You guys were trying to start your shop. I wanted to help. I didn’t want to get left behind. Again.” Dylan swiped at his tears. “So I pestered one of my buddies in homeroom whose brother was a King, and he got me in.”

“And how long were you a mule for them?” Aunt Wendy asked with a frown.

“Just six months or so.” Dylan shrugged. “They had plenty of people I guess, so my jobs kinda dried up, and I never really pushed them for more. Maybe they had people they didn’t have to pay? I dunno.”

“And what’s that gotta do with what happened to Maddie?” Sabrina asked with a furrowed brow. “I’m lost.”

“You know that when Dad got out, he got tied up with the Kings? I guess he owed them for some um, product, and once he was back in prison, he couldn’t pay them.”

“How was he paying them before that?” Ryan asked. “The fucker couldn’t hold down a job to save his life.”

Dylan groaned. “I paid them. I paid them when Dad was out and losing jobs left and right. I paid them when he went back into prison because they said they’d hurt my family if I didn’t. Then they started blackmailing me.”

I blinked. “With what?”

“I guess one time I went and picked up Dad and took him somewhere, it was a job. Which he recorded for them. They have me on video picking up and delivering drugs. Recently.” Dylan’s eyes slid to side. “More than once.”

“Christ.” Ryan shook his head. “Just when you think that bastard can’t screw up our lives anymore, he pops up again like Michael in Halloween. That fucker never dies.”

“I know, okay? I’m sorry.” Dylan’s eyes welled with tears. “I’m sorry I ever testified on his behalf. I’m sorry I burned so many bridges trying to get that fucker a job. I’ve spent so much money I’ll never get back, and for what? He was an asshole twenty-seven years ago, and he’s worse now. All I wanted was… Fuck. It doesn’t matter. It was a mistake. So many fucking mistakes that I don’t know how to make right. And now Maddie—” His voice broke.

“Why didn’t you tell us any of this?” Sabrina asked.

“How the hell could I do that? Every mistake turned into another even bigger one. I was ashamed. I know what you all thought of me when I testified at his parole hearing. I figured this was penance for my mistakes.” Dylan exhaled. “Only it never ended. It got worse and worse until I couldn’t keep my head above water.”

“You still could’ve come to us, Dyl.” Austin’s eyes shined. “We’re family, bro. We’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”

Dylan jerked his chin in a tight nod. “So what do I do now?”

“Now we call a lawyer.” I leaned forward. “And use what we know about the Kings against them.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Austin nodded. “I’ll call Evan. See who he recommends for a criminal lawyer.”

“Wait.” Sabrina waved a hand. “Are we seriously gonna gloss over the part where Nathan is dating Maddie?”

“I already knew.” Aunt Wendy raised her hand.

“Me too,” Ryan said.

Austin hitched a shoulder as he tapped away on his cell. “And me.”

“I just found out today.” Dylan shrugged. “And I take back everything I said earlier about the two of you. I was deflecting and kinda took out my shit on Maddie. I’m really sorry, Nathan.”

“Thanks, bro. I appreciate it. And for what it’s worth,” I gestured toward his busted lip. “I was aiming for your eye.”

“Right.” Dylan laughed, shaking his head.

“Why