Driving up to the 12-foot black metal gate, I punched in the code.
During the day, there was security on duty to check visitors in and out, but at night, the staff was spread thin and usually spent their time patrolling the community in their SUVs.
The gate hummed as it swung open, and I slowly descended the perfectly paved street leading into the Seven Hills Valley.
After a few houses, we turned into Madoc’s driveway and curved around the loop in front of his door. Hopping out, I slammed the door shut and clenched my hands, trying to get psyched up. I still wasn’t sure what my plan here was, but as usual, I dove head first and acted like I knew what I was doing.
When in doubt, stick to what you know.
I heard Jax fall in behind me, and we both walked into Madoc’s house and charged through the foyer toward the back.
Really, it was a mansion, but Madoc corrected me on that term years ago. It was a house…or else.
He never bragged about his position in life or his money. If he did, we wouldn’t be friends.
“Hey, dude. ‘Bout fuckin’ time.” He jogged up to meet us in the hallway. He wore ridiculous black and gray plaid board shorts and his blonde hair, slicked back, looked like he’d just been swimming. But the rest of him was dry.
Halloween was in two days, and it was freezing, but Madoc’s Jacuzzi would make the weather tolerable.
I stopped in front of him. “So he actually came into your house?” I asked.
Nate knew Madoc was my best friend. After the video, I didn’t think Nate was so stupid that he would trust breathing the same air as Madoc.
He smiled. “That’s the awesome part. He thinks this is K.C.’s house.” His eyes gleamed like he was so proud he fooled Nate. “K.C. was out tonight and ran into him. She cooked up a scheme and texted me. I told her to bring him here. He hasn’t even seen me yet.”
He shrugged his shoulders and waited for me to respond.
I held back, not sure about how far I wanted to take this. I had shit to lose now, and for the first time in a long time, I cared about where my life went.
Jax cleared his throat at my side. “Leash a little tight, Jared?”
Leash?
Fucking little shit.
I cocked my head to the side and shot him a look, but he just smiled and looked away.
Jax knew everything that had gone down with Nate—he was helping with the video after all—and while he gave me a hard time about my attachment to Tate, he was on our side. He wanted to see that asshole pay as much as we did.
Stalking down the hall through the kitchen, I felt Madoc and Jax fall in behind me.
I spied K.C. and Nate through the glass doors, carousing in the hot tub, before I walked out and interrupted his relaxed little world.
“K.C., out of the hot tub.” I jerked my head to the side.
“Wha—” Nate started.
“Don’t talk.” I cut him off.
K.C., dressed in only her black bra and underwear, sloshed water out of the tub as she climbed out.
“Get his clothes,” I ordered whoever without taking my eyes off Nate. In a second, it was Madoc who came up and grabbed Nate’s shit from the side of the tub.
I wasn’t sure if Nate was wearing anything, but knowing him, he was all guts.
He didn’t talk as his blue eyes darted between me, Madoc, and Jax. I wasn’t sure where K.C. had gone, but I hadn’t heard the door to the house open, so I assumed she was still here on the patio.
“Jax, give me your knife.” I held my hand out to my side, my eyes still focused on Nate’s shocked expression, and a moment later, a switchblade was a placed in my palm.
Sliding the switch, the partially serrated blade shot out, vibrating in my hand.
Nate’s eyes got wider, and his gaze shifted around like he was looking for an escape route.
Yeah, don’t even try.
“You know why I’m pissed.” I stood on the opposite side of the tub, facing him. “And you should’ve known I wasn’t going to forget.”
“Jared—” he started.
“Shut up,” I shot out.
His short, black hair was sweaty and clung to his forehead, while his lips trembled slightly.
“We could’ve gone to the police,” I told him, “but I settle my own scores.” I rotated my wrist, emphasizing the blade. “And it’s really going to hurt.”
“Please.” His voice was raspy as he tried getting up. “I can explain.”
“Explain?” I barked, and he sat back down. “Which part? The time you tried to force yourself on my girlfriend in the woods, or when you videotaped us naked and put it out for the whole world to see?”
I circled the hot tub, getting in his space. “You see, I can understand that you’re too stupid to understand a simple direction.” I dropped my voice to hell and let the knife do some talking. “But you will understand this. You’re going to have a very uncomfortable night.”
I inched closer, leaning in.
“I’m sorry,” he gasped out, his blue eyes dancing between my face and the shiny, black blade in my right hand. “I shouldn’t have touched her. I won’t even look at her again. Please, don’t.”
“You’re what?” I stopped and asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry,” he said louder.
“Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry for messing with your girlfriend,” he rushed out.
“No.” I shook my head like I was speaking to a toddler. “You’re sorry for messing with Tate,” I prompted.
Whether or not she’s my girlfriend, he doesn’t mess with her again. Ever.
“Tate.” He corrected himself, breathing hard. “I’m sorry for messing with Tate. It’ll never happen again. I was stupid. I was drunk. I’ll apologize to her.”
“No.” My voice had gone from slightly amused to death-threat. “If you ever speak to her again, look at her, talk about her… if you even smile at her, I’m going to add your blood to this knife’s collection.” My jaw ached with tightness, and I could sense Madoc and Jax shifting off to the side. “Now, go home,” I ordered Nate.
“What?” I heard Madoc’s bellow, but my eyes stayed on Nate, scurrying out of the hot tub completely fucking naked.
“He leaves.” I turned to look at my friend and brother, both looking like their eyes were about to pop out of their heads. “This time.”
I knew they wanted to see this dickhead get his ass kicked. Hell, I wanted it, too.
But something had changed. I didn’t want to always feel like Tate deserved better than me.
Doing what my gut wanted to do to Nate tonight would serve no end. He was a loser. I had my girl. She loved me. I’d won.
“My clothes.” Nate looked around, fidgeting and shivering. “My keys are in my jeans.”
“Then I guess you’ve got problems.” I hoped my smile looked sinister. “Have a nice walk.”
He hesitated for a moment, probably wondering how he was going to get home ten miles away and with no clothes in the October chill.
But he didn’t argue.
Everyone was quiet as he left the patio.
I noticed K.C. standing a huge distance away, covered with a towel. She had sounded drunk on the phone, but her face was somber now.
“I’ll make sure he gets out,” Madoc laughed. “Don’t want him trying to grab clothes from my house.”
Sliding the switch to tuck the blade back in, I tossed it to my brother and started walking towards the house.
“Jared, what the hell? Not even a punch?” His voice was soft. Not really disappointed so much as confused.
“There are other things worth fighting for, Jax.”
Walking up to Tate’s best friend, I was surprised that I actually felt glad to have K.C. around. I doubt Madoc or Jax could’ve gotten Nate here tonight. She and I had both been stupid for our own selfish reasons, but I knew she had Tate’s back tonight, and I hoped K.C. would come clean about everything. Tate needed an explanation from her.