Pyke novel Chapter 34

“Thanks for coming back, man.” I look at Kyland after serving me a drink. It’s been a week since we talked and that was on New Year’s Eve.

“I’m not doing this for you, asshole. This is for Mom and your parents.” He shoots me a glare and goes to the next customer two stools away from me and serves her a drink.

“Boss, good to see you again,” says Forrest.

“Happy New Year, dude. Tell Wright to see me in my office.” I drain the smooth as silk bourbon into my mouth and get on my feet.

“Okay,” Forrest says tentatively, eyeing me in a more confused look.

I leave the bar, walking directly to the hallway that leads to my office. The music is still blaring, but enough for me to sullen again.

My mind goes back to Camila. I stayed drunk before getting home so that I won’t remember how I hurt her in front of my door. I missed her—everything about her, how she rode me on my couch, how I ate her on that wall, and how I made love with her in my bed.

Open the door, Pyke!

You’re an asshole, don’t you know that!

Please, talk to me!

I hate you!

Those words are a constant reminder that I’m a total asshole to her. I lean my back to the door and squeeze my eyes shut to push back our memories, but I have to do this, otherwise, I’m going to hurt her again.

A knock startles me. The door swings open, Kyland is giving me a flinty and cold looked.

“What do you want, Hughes? You can just tell me there if this is related to my job.” He gets inside willingly and slumps himself to the couch.

“How’s she?” I ask in a low voice and sit at the edge of the desk.

His brows furrow, sounding surprised. “Why are you asking me? Isn’t she just living next to your door?”

“I haven’t seen her in a while.” Shrugging, I answer him truthfully.

“I know you’re going to hurt her, Hughes. That’s why I don’t want her to get near you. I guess I failed to protect her.” His voice is coating with regret, shaking his head repeatedly. He jerks to his feet. “Stay away from her for good. You’ve done enough. You took her innocence, hurt her, and now you dumped her!” His face reddens as he shoots me an unrelenting stare.

“I’m not leaving her, Wright,” I reply calmly because there is no point in getting him more pissed.

“What do you call of what you did, not leaving? She’s only living next door, yet you’re asking me how the fuck is she!” Kyland raises his voice. His muscles flex in his arms and balls his hands into fists, ready to punch me again.

“I’m doing this for her own good. You know how much she means to me, Kyland.”

I wanted to stab myself that night and felt the pain as the death took me slowly, then came back to life to do the same thing over again.

“Don’t Kyland me, asshole!” he snaps.

“Believe me I hate doing this to her. I can’t even think straight, but I have to figure out something before I start a relationship with her.” I rub my throbbing temples. If he hates me, then I hate myself more.

“So it wasn’t a relationship, huh?” he snorts, then asks me with sarcasm, “You two were just fuckbuddies then?”

“Fuck you, Kyland! Don’t you ever call your cousin as just my fuck fucking buddy! Call me any names you want, but I won’t allow you to insult Camila, especially when I’m around. I care about her more than I did to anyone.” I blow a frustrated breath. “I just need some time to clean my mess up that I should’ve done that a long time ago. I want her to be with me when I’m good enough for her,” I say as heat flushes through my body. I want to pull the piercings off of his skin and let it bleeds, but that doesn’t help solve my problems. In fact, I badly need him to be on my side.

He looks taken aback, blinking rapidly but still, his jaw remains tight.

“I’ve done horrible things before, and now they’re haunting me back,” I say, sighing deeply as I remember the stunt Athena had pulled back in the restaurant.

“So, are you this guy who had a child then sent for adoption because you were too young back then to take responsibilities?” His feature softens. “Look, Hughes, I love Cam like a sister. I’m keeping her away from our world because I don’t want her to fall for someone like us and end up brokenhearted. The truth is, I’m here because she begged me to come back to work. Bianca and Mom don’t mind, said, it’s all up to me.”

“I’m so sorry, man. I know I risk our friendship and I know you won’t trust me again. I just want you to know that I’m serious with her. What we have is more than just sex. Like it or not, once I’m ready, I’ll do my best to take Camila back into my life. For good.”

“What did you do that you need to stay away? That must be hard,” he chuckles.

“What did she tell you?”

“Lately, I don’t like Camila. She’s overprotective when it comes to you and doesn’t say a thing.”

“That’s my girl.” Saying that words to Wright make my heart stops momentarily. I burst into laughter, shaking my head in amusement.

“That bad, huh?” His brow raises.

My head snaps to him. I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah.” It feels good to admit.

“If it concerns her, Hughes. You know I’m always here to help.”

“Thanks, man.”

I release a sigh when my phone rings. I look down at the screen after fishing it out from my jacket.

My eyes widen a little bit, then I press the answer key. “Yep.”

“Mr. Hughes—”

I cut him off, “Yes, Detective, just drop it if you don’t have something important to say. I’m busy right now.”

“You might wanna turn on your TV,” he replies quickly.

“What are you saying?” I ask while I gesture Wright to the TV screen.

Wright press the remote button, the TV screen comes to life. My mouth gapes to see the face of Aaron Gray covers half of the TV screen while the other half is the live coverage of him being handcuffed and drags by the cops out of his building. I don’t know if the video is playing tricks with me, but I am sure it’s not because I am still taking to the Detective who’s handling the case.

“Fuck yeah!” Wright gushes, then arms crossed over his chest.

“Holy fuck!”

“You know what it means, Mr. Hughes?” asks the detective cheerfully.

“I know, Detective. A promotion?” My brow arches, but I know it’s more than just a promotion for him.

I hear him chuckle from the other line. “Nah. Justice.”

“Thanks, Detective.” I close my eyes and let out a huge breath.

“I should call Cam, man,” Kyland suggests with excitement.

This can’t be. No no. This is fucking impossible!

“Where are the fucking visitors?”

“In the holding area.”

“Don’t let them go.”

“On it. Your dad is on his way.”

“Thanks, Fitz.”

I should have thought about it sooner. I shrug helplessly in frustration.

Mom hugs me the moment I stop in front of Camila’s room. Mrs. Wright hugs me next. I know she’s been with Camila since she will only agree to move in her apartment if her Aunt will stay with her for a while.

“I’m so sorry for the trouble I’ve caused, Mrs. Wright.”

“Don’t beat up yourself, Pyke. This is my fault, too,” she says, looking down at her hands.

“What do you mean your fault?” I stare at her intently.

“We didn’t mention her mom is still alive.”

“Christ!”

They yelp in surprise the moment my fist hits the wall. I, myself is surprised at my sudden outburst. “Is she the one who visited Camila?”

She nods slowly to confirm.

“I need to see her before I’ll go insane. Seriously, I, myself is gonna be crazy with all these things happening to her lately.”

After a minute to calm my racking nerves, I push the door open. Camila lies on a bed with a slight frown on her beautiful face. I missed this woman like fucking crazy.

“Hey, you’re here,” Kyland’s girlfriend mutters with a sad smile on her face, then pulls me into a hug which surprises me. I also wrap my arms around her and pat her back.

“Hey to you, too.”

“Happy New year,” she whispers. “I’ll leave you two alone. Don’t wake her up just yet, but I don’t think she will wake up sooner. The doctor gave her something that knocked her off quickly.”

“Thanks, Bianca.”

“You’re welcome.”

I sit slowly on the chair, holding Camila’s warm and soft hand and plant it to my lips. I blink when my eyes start to water.

Shit!

“Why does this have to happen to us, Babe?” I look up at the plain white ceiling just not to cry like a baby in front of her. “Can’t we just live happily ever after like a fairy tale? I thought leaving you for a while would let me settle my mess before I can ask you to be my girlfriend. I want you to be proud of me, Camila. I want everyone to see us together without you being ashamed of me.”

I let the air fill my lungs before I speak again. “I know things are getting shitty lately, but I promise you now, no matter how life goes shitty I will never leave you again. Let’s face our problems together. I want you to be mine, Camila, hold you in my arms and never let you go.”