Time Will Tell (Maybe #3)(32)

“Not very often,” Grim replies, smiling fondly. “She’s a good kid. Was very close to her dad, kind of like you were.”

He glances at me, as his smile turns sad. “Messed up both of you to lose them so soon.”

“At least I have Mum, you know? She didn’t even have that,” I murmur. “Did you ever see her mother?”

Grim shakes his head. “We moved in a couple years after her mother left. Heard she was a bitch though. Beautiful, but lazy. Entitled.”

“Nothing like Trillian, then,” I comment, knowing she’s the opposite of all those things.

“Ian did a good job raising Trill. He loved her to pieces and raised her right. She wasn’t spoiled or anything.”

The back sliding door opens and Zach walks out. “There you guys are.”

He’s wearing his leather cut over a white t-shirt and dark jeans. “Want to go for a ride, Xander? I have business to take care of about an hour away from here.”

Grim stares down his son. “You still didn’t take care of that?”

Zach scowls. “Doing it today.”

I stand up. “Trill’s got classes until five, so I’m free.”

“Sweet,” Zach replies. “Let’s get going, then. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good, long ride.”

“Heard you were having one just before you came here,” I smirk.

Zach turns back, a grin playing on his lips. “Hey, I can always bring some of the club girls around if you’re interested.”

When I had a girl like Trillian? No f*cking thank you.

“Think I’ll pass on that one. I still have the last girl you set me up with causing problems,” I admit.

Zach stills. “No shit? Did she say something to hurt Trill?”

“Just rubbing shit in her face, reminding her that we f*cked that night.”

Like we need that reminder.

“Oh, and she called Trill fat. Her and her friends were saying shit about her and Trill heard. ”

“Jealous bitch. Fuck,” Zach mutters under his breath. “I’ll have a word with her. She should know better than to mouth off at Trill.”

My chest tightens at the thought of someone other than me looking after and standing up for Trillian. “I’ll handle it.”

She should have gotten the hint from our last confrontation, but you never know.

We walk outside to the driveway, get on our bikes, and enjoy the ride.

*****

“What the f*ck is he doing here?” I ask as I see Rex leaning against the wall of the building we stop at.

Zach’s lips tighten. “He’s a good guy. Don’t hate him just because he wants to f*ck Trillian. You’d have to hate half of the f*ckin’ town then.”

This is true. However, I never said I was acting rational. I just keep seeing them both sitting there on that couch, like they do it every day, and I don’t like it one bit.

We walk up to Rex, who smirks when he sees me, making me want to punch him in the face that little bit extra.

“What are we doing here?” I ask, having a bad feeling about this.

Zach cracks his knuckles. “Just dropping in for a little visit. You can wait out here if you like, Xander.”

He and Rex walk into the building, a dodgy looking apartment complex, and I follow behind. We walk up a flight of stairs and then stop at room number twenty-four.

“Who lives here?” I ask.

“Someone who owes us money,” he replies, stepping back and kicking the door open with one smooth movement.

Looks like they need better security here.

A bulky man walks out of the bedroom and pales when his eyes land on us. Zach closes the door behind us and walks over to the man. “We want what we’re owed. You have twenty-four hours.”

The man swallows and nods. “Yes, of course.”

Rex grins cruelly. “Just as an incentive…”

He brings his fist up and punches the man square in the face. I hear a crunching sound and cringe.

“Fuck! Okay! You will have it by tomorrow, I swear!”

I exit the room before anyone else. If I had known this was some intimidation mission, I would have stayed my ass back in Channon waiting for Trillian to get home. I’ve been in trouble before. Hell, the first time my sister Summer met me, I’d just walked out of jail after spending a night in there for fighting. That feels like a long time ago, although it’s actually just a few years. I have no plans to get in any kind of trouble again, which is why I’ve made up my mind that I don’t want to join the Wind Dragons MC, although sometimes the lifestyle is a tempting one. Zach walks out with me but leaves Rex in the room with the man.

“What does he owe you?” I ask curiously.

“Cash.”

“Are we bullying anyone else or we going back home now?” I ask dryly, pulling out a piece of gum and shoving it in my mouth.

“Home? Is Channon home for you now?” he asks, flashing me a knowing grin. “Am I going to need a suit one of these days?”

I put the chewing gum wrapper in my jean pocket and stare at Zach drolly. “Who knows? Maybe one day.”

Zach chuckles. “Never thought I’d see the f*cking day.”

“What is Rex doing?”

“Scaring the shit out of that guy. We need him scared or he won’t pay up. Instead, he’ll call his friends up and have them start trouble with us.”