Campfire Chaos (Hood River Hoodlums Book 3) Read online

  Campfire Chaos

  Copyright © 2020 K Webster

  Cover Design: All by Design

  Photo: Adobe Stock

  Editor: Emily A. Lawrence

  Formatting: Champagne Book Design

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information and retrieval system without express written permission from the Author/Publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Title Page

  Copyright

  About This Book

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Epilogue

  Playlist

  Acknowledgements

  About Author K Webster

  Books by K Webster

  I had it all.

  Popularity. Good grades. Cheerleading. Doting family and great friends.

  Until the wrong boy swept into my perfect world and destroyed every part of it.

  Abuse. Drugs. Humiliation.

  He trampled all over my reputation and I was powerless to do anything about it.

  I couldn’t break free from his controlling hold.

  But the night of the accident changed everything.

  Now I’m freed at last.

  It comes at a cost, though. I hurt a Hoodlum.

  I can’t fix him, but I can fix me.

  Without the monster in my life, I grow stronger, fiercer, braver.

  I’m on the right track to cleaning up the mess that is my life.

  Repairing friendships.

  Restoring trust with my family.

  Healing from my recent, terrible past.

  Everything was going to be okay.

  Or so I thought.

  Because I have a new problem.

  Cal Hutton.

  Town’s lawless, gorgeous bad boy. A Hood River Hoodlum. My new nemesis.

  He wants me to pay for what I did to his best friend.

  Cal thinks I’m weak and an unworthy adversary, someone he can toy with.

  But I’ll never allow another man to have that power over me.

  I have claws now.

  I fight back.

  To my husband—

  Thank you for showing me I have claws

  and for teaching me how to use them.

  Cal

  I wanted to kill him.

  Wesley fucking Ewing.

  My blood boils when I think about him, but seeing him today completely did me in. It took everything in me not to whoop his ass. He knew it too, which is why he left the restaurant where Mom, Dad, and I were sitting, the moment our eyes locked.

  What he tried to do to Roux…

  If only Jordy knew. His ass would be back in prison before he could utter his next word. I hate keeping shit from the other Hoodlums, but Roux was right on this one.

  Neither Jordy nor Roan can know.

  Terrence knows, though.

  And when he finally gets his ass here, we’re going to make a plan to destroy Wes. I have a few ideas up my sleeve, but I need my best friend’s help. I’m going to turn that smarmy motherfucker’s world upside down one piece at a time.

  “Slow down, Momma. I’m gonna lick your pussy to get you nice and juicy for me.”

  What in the ever loving fuck?

  I do not want to hear Jordy plow Little Hoodlum into next week.

  “I can fucking hear you, assholes,” I yell at them through the cabin door.

  Roux giggles and the door thumps. Ignoring them, I text Terrence.

  Me: Dude, get here and save me. You have no idea how weird it is to see them together.

  “Hey, Cal,” a girl with big tits and long-ass hair calls out from near the bonfire that’s blazing not far from the cabin.

  I lean back in my patio chair and admire the view. I’m pretty sure this chick’s blown me before. Tayla or Tara. Something with a T.

  “Hey, T.” I grin back at her.

  She’s pleased that I at least got some of her name right because she starts walking my way, swaying her hips. T Girl must have not been too memorable because I don’t remember anything about her except her mouth. She’s got a nice body, though. I might be okay with dragging her back to my tent later to fuck.

  Before she makes it over, my phone starts ringing. I answer on the first ring.

  “Ter, buddy, I’m about to abandon your ass for a piece of ass.” I chuckle, grinning at T Girl.

  “Where’s Roux?” the voice demands.

  “Roux? What?”

  All humor drains away as Hollis’s shaky voice starts rambling about an accident. His sister. Not the younger one. Charlotte.

  “Is she okay, man?” My stomach twists into a knot.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Roan’s calling me back,” he rushes out and then hangs up.

  T Girl is trying to climb in my lap now that I’m off the phone, but I shake my head at her.

  “Not now, Teresa,” I grind out, storming over to the cabin door.

  “It’s Tarrin,” she huffs out.

  I knew it started with a T.

  “Jordy!” I holler out and then start beating on the damn door.

  The moaning stops and I can hear them thumping around, probably getting dressed. Moments later, Jordy emerges, his clothes crooked and violence shining in his glare at having been interrupted.

  “What the fuck?” Jordy snarls.

  “It’s Hollis’s sister, man. Fuck.”

  Horror washes over his features. “What happened?”

  “Hollis called me,” I croak out. “Roan and the other responders are just arriving on the scene. It’s Charlotte’s car. She got in a really bad accident. That’s all I know, man.”

  Roux rushes out, grabbing onto Jordy’s hand. “What? Charlotte’s hurt?”

  “I don’t know, Little Hoodlum. He said he’d call me back.”

  As Jordy comforts Roux, I dial Terrence. He doesn’t pick up. I told him to come straight to Campfire Chaos, but knowing his pus
sy ass, he stopped off at his grandma’s first.

  Minutes feel like hours as we wait for Hollis to call back.

  The second my phone rings, I answer.

  “Cal…” Hollis’s voice is husky and raw.

  “Is she…” Dead? I can’t say the word with Roux watching me, tears in her amber eyes.

  “It’s not Charlotte.”

  Ice surges through my veins. “Spit it the fuck out.”

  “It’s, fuck,” he curses. “It’s Terrence.”

  I freeze, trying to understand his words. “What’s Terrence?”

  “The other car…” He pauses as my heart pounds like a war drum in my ears. “They don’t think he’s going to live. He’s been life flighted to—”

  The phone slips out of my hand, hitting the wood deck with a loud clatter.

  Not Terrence.

  Not my best friend since kindergarten.

  He can’t fucking die.

  Charlotte

  I wake to voices.

  Soft. Familiar. Comforting.

  I’m reminded of when I was a little girl, still haunted by the dregs of a nightmare. Back when my parents were happy and in love. They crawled into my bed, hugged me tight, and promised they’d keep the monsters away.

  It was a lie.

  The monster came anyway.

  Yet, as I blink my eyes open and see them both clutching onto my hands, I can’t help but have hope again. Just like when I was six years old.

  Mom’s eyes are closed and her face is puffy from crying. Dad’s forehead is lined with worry as he frowns. Neither is looking at me, just holding my hands, lost in their own world. I wish I could pretend everything was a bad nightmare. That Mommy and Daddy will keep me safe. That tomorrow I’ll wake up and we’ll go get ice cream with Hollis and Penny.

  I’m not a child, though.

  I’ll be a legal adult in a couple of weeks. I’m a young woman who somehow fell into the clutches of a monster and couldn’t figure out how to escape. These nightmares are my reality.

  It would be easier to just close my eyes and pretend to sleep. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to face the terrible facts.

  I let Ryan ruin my life.

  He hurt me in more ways than I could ever explain. He shredded my heart and my dignity. He tore me down until I was reduced to nothing.

  I can’t even remember where it all began. A date. One simple date. He was confident and forward and handsome. I liked his possessiveness at first. Made me feel special and cared for. But possessiveness turned into ridiculous jealousy. Jealousy turned into cruelty. Cruelty turned into hate.

  “She needs help,” Mom says, her words a swift jab at my heart.

  “I’m working on it.” Dad’s voice that normally never wavers, shakes enough to hear. “I didn’t realize the magnitude…”

  “He’s a rotten sonofabitch.” Hearing Mom curse with such vehemence would normally be something to send her three children into a fit of giggles. I’m not laughing, though. Ryan is rotten and I understand her hate toward him.

  “Yeah,” Dad agrees. “And Michael’s not much better.”

  Michael Cunningham is probably worse than Ryan. Just hides it better.

  “I don’t care that Michael’s a cop,” Mom bites out. “I want it known that she is not to see Ryan ever again.”

  Dad lets out a heavy sigh. “After the accident, I don’t think we’ll have to worry. It looks bad on them.”

  “Fuck them!” Mom hisses. “She may have been the one driving, but make no bones about it, Ryan did this to her. The drugs. The depression. The bruises.” Her voice cracks as she adds, “The baby.”

  A sob chokes my throat as fresh tears leak from my eyes. I stifle a sniffle, not wanting it known that I’m awake.

  “It’s probably for the best,” Dad says, his words barely a whisper. “Not that she’ll see it that way.”

  My fears are confirmed.

  This time, the sob escapes.

  “Oh, honey,” Mom croons. “It’s okay. You’re here. You’re safe. We’ve got you.”

  I flutter my eyes open to look at my mother, needing her to make everything all better. Dad squeezes my hand and kisses the back of it. Their eyes hurt too much to look at.

  Ryan didn’t just ruin me.

  He ruined them too.

  “I’m sorry,” I croak out. “I’m s-so sorry.”

  “Hush now,” Mom says. “Enough of that. We’ll worry about all that stuff later. Right now, we’re worried about you getting better.”

  “What about Terrence?” I ask, bracing myself for the words.

  He’s dead.

  I killed him.

  “He’s critical. That’s all we know,” Dad grunts out, always giving it to me straight. “You’re in a heap of trouble, sweetheart, but we’re going to help you out of it.”

  I hate that I’ve disappointed my daddy.

  Every girl’s worst fear.

  “I’ve held them off as long as I can since you were injured, but the moment you’re discharged, honey, they’re going to arrest you.”

  Dad’s words are a punch to the gut, but I know I deserve whatever punishment I have coming to me.

  “Don’t worry,” Dad assures me, “the longest they can keep you is forty-eight hours since this is your first offence. I’ll have you out as soon as possible.”

  “I don’t want to be like this anymore,” I whisper. “I ruin everything around me.”

  “You don’t ruin anything,” Mom confirms. “You’re our sweet princess who lost her way. Daddy and I are going to get you back on the right path.”

  I want to believe them.

  It feels too good to be true.

  “I’ve already called Samantha. She’ll deal with the legal trouble you’re in, but we’ll need to do our part to show you’re willing to get better,” Dad says, affixing me with a stern stare. “The drugs…school…”

  Another tear races down my cheek.

  I ruined my senior year by letting Ryan ruin me.

  While my friends will graduate this month, I will not.

  I’m a failure.

  “I’ve found a rehabilitation facility that provides extensive therapy for those dealing with loss and abuse,” he says, pinning me with a pitying look. “It’s a good start, Charlotte, and one I think I can present to the judge when the time comes in an effort to lessen your sentence.”

  I’m already nodding. I want to resume my normal life. Atone for my sins. Make amends to those I’ve hurt.

  “I will go, Daddy,” I whisper, my bottom lip trembling. “I’m sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing,” he murmurs. “Just promise me you’ll come back to us. That you’ll stay away from that family. We can’t lose you.”

  Mom kisses my forehead that’s tender with bruises from the accident. “You’re not alone, baby. I know you probably thought so, but you weren’t. You have to talk to us so we can help you. You may turn eighteen soon, but you’ll always be our little girl.”

  Somehow, I’m okay.

  Physically that is.

  The anguish that shreds me from the inside out is nearly unbearable. It helps being at home now, but not tons. Because while I’m away from Ryan, I’m unable to avoid Roan.

  Terrence is one of his best friends and he’s in a coma because of me.

  Pain wraps around my heart like a noose. Roan came by with Hollis and Sebban, but he’d barely been able to look at me. I felt his disgust and anger. Because of his love for my brother, he kept it in check. Barely.

  “You have a visitor, jailbird,” Penny says from the doorway.

  Those two days in jail weren’t as scary as I thought. Aside from a few women trying to intimidate me, I survived.

  “Hollis?”

  “No, they’re stopping by later for dinner.” She pins me with a no-nonsense stare. “Roux.”

  At the mention of her name, I shut down. Guilt threatens to swallow me whole. She was my best friend. Until Ryan grew jealous of our friendship. His fucked up thr
eats had me cowering and avoiding her. The last thing I wanted was for him to mess with Roux.

  “She wants to see me?” I choke out.

  Penny rolls her eyes. “For such a smart girl, you really are a dumbass sometimes.”

  With that Penny-ism, she bounces off, her blond ponytail swinging. I try to readjust myself in the bed to sit up. Everything is bruised and aching. Aside from a gash along my hairline that needed stitches and the multitude of bruises, physically, I’ll heal just fine.

  It’s the emotional trauma of hurting Terrence and losing the baby that will eat me alive.

  “Hey,” Roux greets softly from the doorway.

  Her voice does me in.

  I miss her so damn much.

  Bursting into tears, I press my palms to my face and release the dam. The bed sinks down and the best friend I crushed with my cruel words wraps her arms around me, hugging me to her. I cling to her, inhaling her familiar scent.

  I’m so, so sorry, Roux.

  If I could stop crying, I’d say those words. I’d tell her I was an idiot to let Ryan rule my life. That I’ll be a better friend if she gives me another chance.

  But I can’t say those words.

  My sobs turn into hiccups and then I can’t breathe. Everything hurts inside. The pain is a knife carving excruciating reminders on the inside of every organ and bone. I want to forget it all. To disappear into a haze.

  It’s in this frightening moment, I fully understand what Ryan’s done to me. I crave the release that so many of the pills he made me take offered me. The darkness. The bliss. And I hate it. I hate him. It’s a reminder of the hell he’s dragged me through.

  “Shh,” Roux chokes out. “You have to stop crying or I’ll never stop crying.”

  I let out a crazed, tearful giggle as I imagine us crying forever. It’s then I can breathe again. One ragged breath at a time. Roux strokes my tangled, greasy hair and whispers assurances that I truly believe because Roux never lies to me.

  Things will get better.

  She does love me.

  Terrence won’t die.

  The last one, she can’t know for sure, but I choose to believe it anyway. He’s in a coma because of the extent of his head injuries, but I hope one day he’ll come out of it so I can personally apologize.