Whitney diverts her gaze, leaning back to focus on the stars as if seeking salvation from them—though I know they can't protect her. The responsibility falls on me and Hawk, as it always has. I grasp Whitney’s elbow, pulling her onto my lap so her back fits snugly against my chest. Her warm, vanilla scent envelops me, igniting sparks in every nerve, and I can’t fucking get enough of it. I gently sweep her hair to one side, exposing her neck and allowing me to place soft kisses there, making her shiver beneath my touch.
“Raze,” she murmurs, her eyes dreamy yet fixated on the stars in the night sky.
“What is it, baby?” I whisper, feeling her warmth radiate against me.
“It... it just feels good,” she says, seemingly caught in a blend of pleasure and uncertainty.
Hawk’s gaze meets mine, and I can read the underlying message there—my blood begins to boil. King has hurt her. And he won't fucking get away with it. Though I dread hearing the specifics, I know I need to understand what happened. King has always been my friend, but if he’s fucking hurt Whitney in any way, I won’t hesitate to fucking confront him. No one gets to lay a hand on her—not while I’m around.
“Whitney, tell me what happened with King,” I urge softly but firmly, making it clear I’m here to support her, but this registers as serious business.
Her body stiffens, and I can feel her holding her breath, her gaze locked on the stars above. The tension in the air intensifies,but I strive to conceal my anger and instead project warmth, hoping to create a safe space for her to express herself.
“It’s okay, Whit; you can tell him,” Hawk reassures, offering a supportive smile that goes unnoticed as she refuses to break her gaze from the sky.
She exhales heavily, her body relaxing just a fraction as I slide my hand between her thighs, brushing against her pussy in a way I can’t help, even as my mind races with concern. I feel the heat radiating through her thin shorts, a growl escaping my lips—that’s when I notice the bruises starting to emerge on her beautiful skin. Rage ignites within me as I realize the extent of King’s cruelty.
“Whit,” I breathe, resting my chin on her shoulder while gently continuing to caress her, my other arm securely wrapped around her waist to reassure her of my presence. “What happened with King?”
“He’s trying to blackmail me,” she whispers, her hands trembling as she fidgets with the hem of her crop top.
“I need details, love,” I respond, softening my tone in an effort to encourage her to share.
“The other night,” she begins, her voice shaky. “I went to see him to find Boston, but she wasn’t there. Instead, he wanted me to smoke with him, and he made it so I couldn’t decline. So, we smoked, and only after the blunt was finished did I realize he’d laced it and drugged me.”
I clench my jaw, bracing myself for the worst while my hands continue to caress her; I can feel her trembling as she takes a long, shuddering breath. I know rushing her will only push her away, so I hold my ground, remaining patient.
“Go on, baby. I’m right here... we’re right here,” I urge gently, sneaking a glance at Hawk as he nods, taking a drag from the blunt before letting the smoke drift into the night air.
“He recorded us... having sex, even though I didn’t want it. I begged him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen. I don’t know what all is on the tape, but it’s enough to ruin my reputation.”
“I’m going to—” My words cut off as Hawk coughs, a reminder that she still has more to share, more horror to confess.
“He knows about Red and 13 being undercover, and he’s convinced I’ve known longer than I have, that I’ve been lying for him.” Whitney finally lowers her head, tears slipping down her cheeks onto my arm that wraps securely around her waist.
“He threatened her,” Hawk interjects, understanding Whitney’s panic. “He said if she doesn’t comply with his demands, he’ll leak the tape online, which would ruin her and put her in even greater danger with Dustin still out there.”
“Son of a bitch,” I hiss.
I’m fucking appalled by King’s actions. He’s always been a decent guy in my eyes, but this? This is new territory—a fucking betrayal of the highest order. I tighten my grip on Whitney, desperate for her trembling to cease and for her to feel secure in my embrace. I turn her gently to face me, her ass still warm on my lap. I brush my knuckles against her cheekbone, cupping her face as my hands find her neck, grasping her chin firmly, though gently enough to show her I'm serious.
“He’s not going to do anything to you. You don’t have to do anything either—Hawk and I will make sure of it.” I smile reassuringly, though the promise weighs heavily on my heart.
I know King and D can be unpredictable and ruthless, yet when it comes to Whitney, there's no length I won’t go for her. I was her protector when we were younger, and nothing has changed.
“I love you, Whitney,” I declare, looking deeply into her eyes, hoping she can see the truth of my feelings embedded in my soul.
She hesitates, her fingers gently tracing my abdomen beneath my shirt, her gaze locking with mine as blush colors her cheeks. I hold my breath, waiting for her words, but when they come, they leave me speechless.
“I’m too broken to love, Raze. I know how much you want to save people, but I can’t be fixed. I’m shattered, been used, degraded, and lied to. My life is chaotic and traumatic, and I won’t drag you into it.” She forces a smile, tears still brimming in her eyes. “You both deserve a good life, and I refuse to take that away from you.”
“It’s only a good fucking life because you’re in it. You don’t know the half of it,” I confess, frustration bubbling up as I consider revealing a secret Hawk and I have kept buried—one we never intended to surface.
But tonight, I can’t hold it back any longer.
“Then tell me, Raze. Don’t I deserve to know the truth?” Her question hits hard, weighing heavy in the air.
“There hasn’t been a day we haven’t thought about you since we left. From the moment we made it to the East Coast, we’ve been... keeping tabs on your every move, aware of everything happening in your world as it unfolds,” I reveal, my fingers clenching around her chin tighter.
