Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

" W hat are you doing here?" I ask Gray, who is currently standing in my foyer with that permanent pissed-off look on his face.

"Welfare check. You've called in sick for three weeks straight. How much longer do you think the team's going to put up with this self-imposed hiatus of yours, Jameson? ?Cause I gotta be honest. The little pull I actually have with my father is running thin. I've even resorted to using Graycee on the old man, which he totally saw through by the way."

"Let them fire me then." I throw my hands up and walk away. Of course, the asshole follows me into the kitchen.

"Yeah, you and I both know you don't mean that. What's going on?" Gray asks.

"It's my fault." Montana's voice has me turning towards the entryway, where she's standing with her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.

"No, it's not," I tell her before glancing back at Gray. "I'm on injury leave. If I have to make it long-term, I will."

"That's not happening," he says and then turns his attention to Montana. "You're looking well, Montana. Why don't you stop by the rink, watch a practice, come to a game?" He doesn't bother looking in my direction before he pivots on his heel. "Walk me out, Luke."

I follow him, moving past Montana, who watches us make our way down the long hall. When I reach the front door, I open it and wait. I know whatever Gray has to say, he'll get to it in his own time.

"What's really going on here?" he finally asks me.

"I can't leave," I tell him. "I can't leave her alone." I don't mention why. I don't explain that I'm fucking petrified. Worried that if I leave her alone, I'm going to lose her for good. When I saw her with that piece of glass in her hand a few weeks ago, I freaked the fuck out.

I don't know if she'd actually try to end her own life, but I'm not about to take any chances. Not after Sean. I didn't see it with him. I had no idea what he was planning, that he was struggling to cope with whatever the fuck was haunting him. But I'll be damned if I lose his sister the same way.

Montana might think she doesn't have anything to live for. She's wrong. I'm going to show her that her life can be better. That she can be happy again. I know she's strong enough to overcome this, and until she believes that herself, I'll be right next to her. Reminding her every second of every day.

"What happened?" Gray asks.

"Nothing. Because I'm here. I can't leave. Because if I do and she…" I shake my head. I can't even voice the thoughts in my brain .

"Okay, I'll come up with a solution, because you can't miss any more practices and we need you out on that ice. The team needs you. I need you."

"She needs me more," I tell him.

"I agree, which is why I'm going to figure out a way you can have both." He walks out the door. "And next time I call, fucking answer your phone. It'll save me the trip."

"You live a few houses down. I doubt the commute was bad." I laugh.

"Oh, so you do remember where I live? Good, we're barbecuing tonight. You and Montana are invited," he says. "And before you say no, Graycee wants to see your ugly mug. And I wouldn't recommend disappointing my daughter."

Fucking hell, the dirty bastard has no qualms about using his kid as a weapon against anyone. He knows we'd all do anything for that little girl, which is exactly why he walks away with a smirk on his face. Fucker knows he has me by the balls.

I just have to convince Montana that she can leave the house first. I've been trying all week. Her bruises are all but gone, externally anyway.

"I'm sorry. I can't, Luke. Please don't make me," Montana pleads.

I've been trying to convince her for the last hour that it's a simple barbecue and she can come. That she should come. I know it'd be good for her to get out. She's been holed up in this house for a month. Hasn't even walked outside to the backyard.

I want her to just try. I can't force her, though. Because if I force her to do anything she doesn't want to do, I'd be no better than he is. I refuse to be him . I won't take away her ability to make choices for herself.

"Okay, if you really don't want to go, we won't go. We'll stay here," I tell her.

"No, you need to go, Luke. I want you to go see your friends."

"I'm not leaving you alone, Tanna."

"I won't be alone. I've already messaged Aliyah. She's coming over with wine." Montana smiles.

"You messaged Aliyah?"

She nods her head. "I don't need a babysitter. I know why you've been hovering and I appreciate everything you've done. But I'm good. I promise. I have no intention of following in my brother's footsteps, Luke. I wouldn't do that."

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I don't want to leave her here. We still haven't been able to find Andrew. Although it's not like I've been out there looking for the asshole either. Gray's family is searching for him. And, honestly, if they can't find him, there isn't much of a chance of me doing that shit on my own. The resources the Monroes have are limitless. I'm surprised the guy's gone undetected this long.

"Please, Luke, don't make me the reason you don't see your friends," Montana says.

"You are my friend, my best friend," I tell her.

She looks up towards the ceiling. "Huh, I really thought Sean would strike us down with lightning or something if he ever heard you say something like that." She smiles at me and I swear the room brightens and the heaviness in my chest eases slightly.

"Tanna, I'm serious. I don't care about anyone else. What I care about is you."

She opens her mouth to respond and then the doorbell rings out. "That will be Aliyah," Montana says, jumping up and rushing towards the entryway. " I hope you don't mind me inviting her over. Shit, I should have asked first. I'm sorry." She glances at me over one shoulder, her eyes wide as she takes a few small steps backwards. Literally and figuratively.

"This is your home now, Tanna. You can invite anyone you want over. You never have to ask me."

"Okay, but still… I'm sorry."

The doorbell sounds out again. "Come on, let's go let Lia in before she huffs and puffs the door down." I hold out my hand to Montana. I can see the indecision, the fear on her face for a split-second before she accepts my offer.

I've been careful to keep things more platonic between us—well, as platonic as I can be, with her. Ever since I saw Montana break down in the bathroom, I haven't pushed her for anything more than the friendship we've always had.

And let's just say… there've been a lot of cold showers. I wake up with her body curled next to mine every morning, and there's that moment between sleep and awareness where I let myself believe that she's mine in every way I want her to be. And she will be. Eventually. I just need to give her time and space to work on herself, so she knows what she wants.

She's been talking to Dr. West every day. Sometimes, she'll end the sessions early; others she spends the whole hour talking things out. I'd love to say it's helping, but she's still having nightmares, calling out in her sleep.

I open the door, and Aliyah pushes past me, two bottles of wine in her hands. "I've brought supplies, and we're ordering in. I'm thinking Thai."

"That sounds amazing," Montana says.

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at Gray's?" Aliyah asks me.

"Ah, yeah…" I look to Montana. "I could use a girls' night, though."

"Nope, no way. We have shit to talk about. Shit that's not for your ears. So off you go. But if anyone asks, I'm not here. I told Kathryn and Lil that I was staying home tonight."

"Why?" I ask, a little shocked Aliyah would lie to her two best friends.

"Because I'm not ready to share my new friend with the world. And until we're ready…" Aliyah points between Montana and herself. "...no one needs to know about her."

I have no doubt that Kathryn and Liliana know about my new houseguest. Liliana did tag along with us when we went to hunt down Andrew. She didn't know the reason, though. It's not my story to share. It's Montana's. To share, when and if she wants.

"Okay, I'm going. But I'll just be down the road, Tanna. If you need anything, call me," I tell her.

"I'll be okay. Go… See your friends," she says.

I look at her for another minute. I really don't want to fucking leave her.

"Luke, go. I'm sleeping over, so I'll be here all night," Aliyah tells me.

"Okay. But I won't be long." I sigh before walking out the door.