“You just can’t leave women alone, can you, Cash? Like father, like son.”
Rachel sucked in her breath as Cash got to his feet and The Last Riders began to fall in behind him.
“This is a birthday party! Let’s go eat some ice cream and cool down.” Rachel desperately tried to head off the fight she could see coming.
“Shut up, Rachel,” Greer snarled at her attempt.
“Don’t talk to her that way,” Cash growled.
“I can talk to my sister any way I want to.”
“Talk to her that way again and I will—”
“What are you going to do? Rachel is none of your business. She’s the only woman in this town of ours you haven’t fucked.”
“Wanna bet?” Cash grinned. “I fucked her under your own roof,” Cash bragged.
Rachel thought she would pass out at Cash’s gloating. The horrified looks on her brothers’ faces as they turned to her had Rachel taking a step back. When she was unable to deny his statement, all hell broke loose.
“You son of a bitch!” Greer threw himself at Cash, nearly knocking him into the pool, but Rider managed to grab his arm and steady him. Greer’s fists flew out, one nailing Cash in the stomach. A free-for-all almost started as her other brothers moved forward, but The Last Riders managed to surround Cash.
Rachel stood with her hand to her mouth as her brothers screamed obscenities at the bikers.
“This is how you repay us for saving Lily’s life? You motherfuckers can go to Hell!” Tate tried to go for Shade, who went stiff at his damning insult.
“We are paying you back. We’re not beating the shit out of you right now! Back off.” Shade’s brusque order was ignored.
Rachel made an attempt to stop her brothers one more time, grabbing Tate by his arm when he moved toward Shade. “Tate! Stop. Please!”
“Don’t fuckin touch me.” Tate shoved her from him, jerking his arm away. Rachel stumbled, but Tate caught her, pulling her to his side, his furious eyes glaring down at her in disgust.
“Get Logan and Holly, Dustin. We’re leaving.” Tate jerked her toward the patio doors as Dustin and Greer followed.
Rachel started crying, humiliated. Mrs. Langley and half the town had gathered to cut the cake and were now staring at her as her brothers dragged her from the party. They had all heard what Cash had said, and Rachel could read their filthy thoughts as Tate pushed her inside the house where Holly and Logan were inside the kitchen.
“We’re leaving,” Dustin said, picking Logan up in his arms.
“But we have to help clean up,” Holly protested.
“She has plenty of help. Let’s go.” Tate’s harsh expression had Holly hastily closing her mouth.
She didn’t say another word, following closely behind the angry group. Rachel tried to break away, but Tate picked her up, tossing her in his truck.
“Greer, bring her car,” Tate ordered.
“Where are your keys?” Tate asked her, getting in the truck behind the wheel.#p#分页标题#e#
Rachel just wanted to go home. She reached into the pocket of her dress then, angrily rolling the window down, she threw the keys at Greer. As soon as the keys were in Greer’s hands, Tate pulled out of the driveway. Rachel expected angry yells all the way home; instead, the freezing silence had her shivering.
As soon as he pulled in front of the house, she jumped out, but she had to stop at the door, realizing her house key was on the key ring she had given Greer.
Tate opened the door and Rachel ran inside, determined to go to her room.
“Is it true?” His harsh voice broke her heart. He had sometimes been stern with her since their parents’ deaths, but he had never before used that tone of voice with her.
Rachel stopped, turning back to her brother. The expression on his face froze her in place.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Did he rape you?”
“No.” Rachel’s back stiffened as she admitted the truth. “I wanted him, Tate.”
“Just like the rest of his bitches. Mom and Dad would be ashamed at what happened tonight. You’ve shamed our whole family. You could have done anyone in town, but you had to do him, knowing how bad we hate him and his family!” Disgust was written plainly on his face.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“You said he didn’t rape you; that means you could have said no, Rachel. Go to your room and get out of my face.” The door opened and Greer, Holly, and Dustin entered, carrying Logan.
Rachel blinked back hurt tears. “Tate—”
“Now, Rachel. So help me God, I can’t look at you right now,” he growled through gritted teeth. Greer’s and Dustin’s expressions weren’t any more forgiving; their faces were just as condemning.