Page 18 of Rascal

“Yup. Listening now, girl, aren’t ya? We can’t get those five years back or what they did to you, but we can move forward.” King wrapped an arm around me, and I leaned into his shoulder.

“King, I want this done and to move on.”

“You ain’t alone. Shane hurt you badly, and I lost you because of him. You’re no longer the kid I grew up with,” King stated with sadness.

“You miss the old me? You told me I was weak.” I let the confusion leak into my voice.

“Hallie, I miss your soft parts. Who wouldn’t love your new version, but there are bits I miss. Your ready laughter, sense of humour, the way you trusted, the zest for life, the rose-coloured glasses. Hallie, the old version of you was sweet and adorable. Ain’t no possibility that this you would be accused of that…” King waved his hands up and down me.

“Well, being stabbed in the back by the fiancé you loved does that.” I held King’s eyes. “He also needs to pay for her.”

King’s face saddened. He knew who I meant, whom I couldn’t voice. He nodded. “Oh, he’ll pay in blood for her.”

A smile crossed my lips. “Let’s go out. We need fresh air. Leave the searches to continue running.”

“Sure. There’s a nice park across the road.”

“Could you sound any creepier?” I demanded as King got up.

He laughed, and I shook my head. Sometimes he drove me up the wall!

“Why don’t you leave?” a male voice demanded. Turning, we found ourselves opposite the young man who’d been with Rascal when we confronted him.

“Because I want justice.”

“You don’t deserve it. You stabbed him.”

“Jinx, right? Look, Jinx, Shane’s a liar and damn good at it. You think you know him; you don’t. Shane managed to turn everyone against me, including my family. I had alibis, and because they’d have proved him false, they disappeared. Now the truth is coming out. I’ve got a shark for a lawyer who won’t stop digging. I’d advise you to tell your club president to throw Shane out. They don’t want to be linked to this scandal,” I said.

Not a shred of doubt flickered in the kid’s eyes. Poor sap, Jinx truly believed Shane’s lies. Oh well, I warned him.

“Never mind. The State Attorney General is involved now. We brought him in; we handed the entire case over. Would a guilty person do that? Warn Shane; his days are numbered,” I hissed. “This time he’ll give us that cunt’s name or go down himself for her. I have to admit, I can’t wait to see what he does.”

With that, we turned and walked away.

“I feel sorry for that kid. Shane would sacrifice Jinx, and he won’t even notice it coming.”

“That’s Jinx’s choice, Hallie. It’s impossible to deny you’ve not been vocal about this. If Hellfire MC wants to burn with him—let them.”

I nodded as King threw an arm over my shoulder, and we kept on walking. I wasn’t letting Shane or anyone ruin my day.

Famous last words. I swear that sometimes the universe had it in for me. Waiting in the hotel parking lot were my parents and brothers.

I climbed out of King’s convertible, crossed my arms, and held their stares. If they expected the old me, they were in for a shock.

King immediately moved and took my back.

“Can we talk?” Mom asked.

“Nope. I’ve nothing to say to you.”

King snorted, and Mom sent him a reproving look. “Kingston, this isn’t amusing.”

“Nah, it’s not. It wasn’t funny five years ago when you called Hallie a murdering bitch either.”

Mom and Dad squirmed. “We want to talk.”

“The moment for that was five years ago whilst getting arrested and dragged away. You didn’t support me then, and I don’t want your bullshit apology,” I seethed.