Hood River Zero (Hood River Hoodlums Book 4) Read online

  “You done?” Jace asks, eyeing Eli like he might have to ram his fist up his nose.

  “Not quite.”

  I grab Eli’s phone from his pocket. He has a face scanner, which I easily use to unlock his phone by holding it in front of him. I scroll through his texts until I find where he’s been texting me. He has me saved as Ice Cunt. Asshole. I delete our text conversation and my contact from his phone. I also skim through his files and pictures, making sure to erase my naked body from his device. Then, I start taking pictures of him with his own phone.

  “What…” Eli groans in confusion.

  Ignoring him, I type up a text.

  I’m a sexual predator. I need help. Thankfully, I didn’t succeed in raping an underaged girl. The girl woke up and saved herself before I could put my dick inside of her. My friends Paxton and Aaron wanted to rape her too. Also, I love cocaine. I like threatening girls and cornering them in the bathroom with my friend Grayson. One of my best friends, Ryan, went to prison for rape. It’s like we’re a band of really fucked up guys who will all land in prison sooner or later. Best to get help now. Whoever sees this message, this is me reaching out for help before I really hurt someone. You probably better talk to my friends too because they’re no better. Someone should castrate me. I deserve it. Maybe I should just end my life. It would be better that way. The girl I nearly raped has video evidence of the sexual crime and will use it against me in court if I don’t seek help. Help. I’m all alone and my thoughts are harmful to myself and others. Mom, if you’re at Aunt Jean’s, call the police because I don’t think you’ll get to me in time.

  I make sure to send that text to every single person on his contact list including Mom, Dad, Pastor Rick, Grandma, Nonna, Paw, Aunt Jean, Grayson’s Dad, and a whole other slew of people who will probably have a meltdown over this.

  Quickly, I explore the house, finding a bottle of pills from the master bathroom. Once I return, Eli is putting up a fight, but Jace has his foot planted on his chest. I wipe down his phone, turn it off, and then set it on the entryway table beside the bottle of pills. Then, I snap at Jace with my fingers.

  We start for the door, careful to wipe away evidence of anything we touched. My Sharpie comes with me, too. With one look over my shoulder, I glance at my handiwork. Eli looks pitiful as he tries to make sense of what just happened. Jace and I slip out without a sound, racing back to my Jeep.

  “Ho-lee-shit,” Jace drawls out. “You’re fucked up, kid.”

  I smirk at him. “You’re not supposed to be proud.”

  “Oh, but I am. Really fucking proud. You handled your shit like a boss.” He lifts a brow at me. “Are we going to get the hell out of here?”

  “Not yet.” I point at a neighbor, who comes running from their house, a phone pressed to their ear. “Looks like they’re worried Eli might take his own life.”

  “You’re evil, Penny English. To the core.”

  “Yeah, well, sometimes you have to be worse than your enemies. I’m not about to let assholes like Eli and his fuckbuddy gang get the last laugh. I know what happened to Charlotte and I’ll be damned if I let the same thing happen to me.”

  The woman rushes into Eli’s house. Two other neighbors hurry over as well. I can tell Jace is antsy, but I’m not in any hurry. Sirens begin wailing from the distance.

  “Penny…” Jace warns.

  “It’s fine. You’re being paranoid.”

  A police cruiser and ambulance fly past me. With glee, I watch them rush into Eli’s house. Not long after that, a white Lexus pulls up. Based on what I learned from social media, it’s his parents’. Eli’s mother is crying and her husband is barely holding her up.

  I should feel bad for them.

  It’s not their fault their son is a sadist sexual predator.

  But I don’t.

  This is all part of his punishment. He’ll have a helluva hard time talking his way out of this one. Sure, he can say someone hit him and that he didn’t write that stuff on himself, but it’s still enough to cause doubt in everyone’s minds. They’ll have to take his text seriously in case he really is suicidal. Not to mention, no one is going to let him get by without answering hard questions about the allegations written all over his body.

  I wish I could be a fly on the wall, listening to each and every question that makes him squirm. Unfortunately, Jace is about to go insane beside me. With a heavy sigh, I turn on the Jeep and boldly drive past Eli’s house. Jace slouches, but I rubberneck the whole time.

  “Insane,” Jace grumbles. “Just like your dad.”

  At this, I laugh. “Dad is not insane.”

  “Aww, the little princess is blind to her crazy-ass pops. He’s my best friend. I’ve seen him in action. He’s a fucked up power monster like you.”

  “Power monster?”

  “You heard me, psycho.”

  “Dad gets shit done.” I shrug. “You want to grab a burger?”

  Jace snorts out a laugh. “I think you might even be related to Cal. Only Cal would do something so fucked up and then want to eat afterward. You’re a Hoodlum all right.”

  “I am not a Hoodlum.” I roll my eyes as I pull into a burger restaurant parking lot.

  “And I’m not an ex-con. Riiiiight. Look up the definition in the Webster dictionary,” he throws back. “I’m pretty sure your name is etched in right beneath Cal’s.”

  “Whatever, old man. Buy me a milkshake. I’m famished after an intense afternoon of sweet revenge.”

  “If Charlotte makes Hoodlum T-shirts, your ass better be first in line.”

  “I’m not wearing a matching T-shirt with anyone, especially the Hoodlums.”

  “Whatever you say, Hoodlum.”

  I flip him off and give him a dirty look for good measure.

  Terrence

  My heart is so full it could burst. Each time I get to see Zella feels like a gift. On Sunday, we spent six hours together. Since then, she’s come over two more evenings. Each time, Renee has delivered her to me and then ran her home. Tonight, she said I could drop her back off at Jack’s after my visitation. Soon, maybe she’ll get to stay with me all the time.

  “You want another juice box?” I ask.

  Zella’s brown eyes light up and she nods. I rise from the table that’s full of chatter and head for the kitchen. Cal’s parents are over. Kate showed Charlotte how to make one of Cal’s favorite dishes. Penny came over too, but she wasn’t interested in learning to cook. She’s spent her time playing with Zella. Even now, they’re immersed in girly whispered secrets that makes my heart melt. It’s important my little girl likes my girlfriend.

  Penny and Zella share a smile and when I start back for them, they both try to pretend they weren’t whispering. I push the straw into the juice box and hand it to Zella.

  “Thank you, Daddy.”

  My heart squeezes in my chest. This girl already has me so wrapped around her pinky finger. Just hearing her call me Daddy is enough to make my day.

  “Anytime, Mello Zello.”

  “So Cal told us you’re working on your teaching certification,” Kate says once I sit back down. “How’s that going?”

  I shrug and shake my head. “Not as easy for me as it was for Cal.”

  “Not my fault I’m a genius,” he throws back.

  Charlotte rolls her eyes at him. “Don’t be mean.”

  “He knows no other way,” Penny supplies. “Besides, you like that mean boy for some reason.”

  Cal flashes everyone a smug grin that has most of us groaning.

  “Everyone learns differently,” David says. “But you’re enjoying it? You really want to teach?”

  “Yeah, man. I like coaching and I want to continue to do that, but I’d like to do more. At first, it sounded kind of out there, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I realize I’d like to do it.” I smile at Zella. “Plus, with having Zella around, it’d be nice to have a job that’s off on summers and holidays.” I chuckle. “Though, I’m not pr
ofessor material. Not interested in teaching college students like Cal.”

  “Actually,” Cal says, perking up. “Charlotte’s decided to go to the local college first to get her basics under her belt. We’ll move wherever she needs to later when she goes to medical school. Rather than getting my master’s to become a college professor, though, I was thinking about taking the steps to become a principal.”

  I choke on my green bean. “What?”

  His grin is pure evil. “What? Like I can’t cut it as a hard-ass principal? Have you met Karen? She won’t be principal forever. Someone has to carry the torch and I’m her favorite.”

  “You’re not her favorite,” Penny argues.

  “Not yet,” he agrees. “But eventually. And my guess is when she’s ready to retire, she’ll be desperate to fill the spot. Who better than me? I’m going to be ready for when that day comes.”

  “I think you’ll be a wonderful principal,” Kate says, beaming at her boy.

  David chuckles. “He won’t put up with any troublemakers, that’s for damn sure.”

  “Mark my words,” Cal says with a shrug. “By the time the ankle biter Hoodlums reach high school, I’ll be primed and ready to keep them all in line.”

  “Thank God that’s a long time away,” I mutter, amused at Cal’s line of thinking. “You almost done?” I gently touch Zella’s arm as I ask the question.

  She yelps and then curls her arm against her chest. At first I think I’ve hurt her.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, dipping my head so I can see her face that’s now bowed.

  The table grows quiet and Penny’s brows are furled with worry.

  “Nothing,” Zella whispers.

  “Is your arm hurt?”

  She shrugs.

  “Can I look at it?”

  Her shoulders lift up again in another shrug.

  Carefully, I pull up the sleeve of her arm. Silvery scars mar her brown skin, making sickness roil in my gut. One of the scars isn’t scarred over yet, though. It’s red and oozing with puss. An angry welt.

  “Who did this to you?” I demand, already knowing the answer.

  “Terrence,” Penny barks out at my harsh tone.

  I glower at her before turning my attention back to Zella. “Who hurt you?”

  “I accidentally touched Dadd—” She frowns at me, her face twisting in confusion. “I touched his smokes by accident.” Her eyes shift away as tears well in them.

  “That motherfucker did this to you—” I growl, making her flinch, but am cut off by Penny.

  “Enough. You’re freaking her out,” Penny snaps. Then, to Zella, she gently touches her shoulder. “Did Jack burn you?”

  Zella shudders in apparent fear, shaking her head in vehemence. “I did it. It was an accident.”

  “You’re lying,” I accuse, hurt that she would defend that monster.

  “Terrence,” David booms. “That’s enough.”

  Are they all blind?

  She’s been fucking abused!

  I rise to my feet, sending my chair scraping loudly back behind me. “I’m going to beat the fuck out of him!”

  Cal is on his feet in the next instant as Zella bursts into tears. My heart shatters even more at hearing her cry. Penny hugs her while Cal grabs my shoulder.

  “Take a walk with me,” Cal grinds out.

  I’m pissed as fuck but allow him to guide me outside.

  “Dude, calm the fuck down,” he says. “You scared the crap out of your kid.”

  I wince at his words. “But he hurt her!”

  “I’m not fucking blind,” he growls. “But scaring her when she’s already petrified won’t help. You need to calm down. Call Samantha. Find out what to do next. But accusing her of lying is only going to make her retreat more.”

  I pace along the gravel in front of the cabin, rubbing at the tension now forming in my neck. “How can he do that? How can he burn a little kid like that?” Tears burn at my eyes. Zella is so sweet. She doesn’t deserve that shit. “Lacey had scars too.”

  Cal’s lips press into a firm line.

  “When we slept together, I saw them. She was embarrassed. Thought I wouldn’t want her because of them.” Fuck, my chest aches. “Do you think Zella is ashamed? Is that why she’s denying it was him?”

  Cal shrugs and walks up to me, a frown on his face. “That or she’s scared. Maybe he threatened her.”

  My blood boils and I fist my hands. “I’m going to kill him.”

  “And leave your kid parentless?” He shakes his head. “No, you get Samantha’s ass on this. Beating that motherfucker to death will only feel good for a second. Then, you’ll be cuffed and dragged to jail. Zella needs you.”

  I know he’s right. Cal could have killed Michael and Ryan for what they did to Charlotte, but he didn’t. They lived and after the trial, their asses will be locked up for a very long time. Too much evidence stacked against them. It’s sweeter justice in the end. I need to get Samantha to move the ball on this custody shit so she can be with me full-time and I don’t have to worry about Jack’s sadistic ass.

  “I need to apologize to Zella,” I say with a sad sigh. “I don’t want her to think I’m like Jack.”

  He nods and clutches my shoulder. “Get in there.”

  We head back inside. Penny is packing up the little backpack of dolls Zella brought. Zella is no longer crying, but she’s withdrawn and staring at the floor. Charlotte and Kate both shoot me a sympathetic smile.

  “I’ll take her home,” Penny says, not meeting my gaze.

  “Absolutely not.” I try to keep the venom out of my tone so I don’t freak Zella out anymore. “I’ll take her home.”

  Penny stands up, lifting her chin, fire blazing in her eyes. “I think it’s best if I do.”

  “Penny,” I grit out. “I don’t want you anywhere near that man. It’s bad enough I have to send my daughter back there. Just stay here.”

  “We’ll go with him,” David says, giving Penny a nod. “Just stay here with your sister. We’ll make sure Zella gets in safely and that Terrence doesn’t do anything to get himself in trouble.”

  Penny’s shoulders relax and she nods. She gives Zella a fierce hug, bends to whisper something to her, and then kisses her forehead. I’m still in awe at the relationship they’ve already formed having only met twice.

  I squat down in front of Zella and hold my palm up to her. “Mello Zello?”

  Her gaze lifts to mine, teary and sad. My heart stutters when she places her palm in mine. I squeeze it affectionately.

  “I’m sorry I yelled. Daddy was worried about you. I don’t want anyone to hurt you. It makes me sad.” I give her a gentle smile. “You understand? It’s because you’re my little girl and I love you. I want to protect you.”

  She nods, more tears forming.

  “It’s okay to tell the truth, even if it scares you.”

  Her frown deepens and her shoulders sulk. I’m clearly not reaching her, which means I need to stop pressing. It hurts, but I have no other choice if I want to salvage our new, delicate relationship.

  “Let’s get you back home,” I say in a light voice, trying desperately to keep the fire out of my tone.

  We all load into my Trailblazer. David sits up front with me while Cal sits in the back with Zella. I’m thankful for Cal’s idiot ways because halfway back to Jack’s, he has her giggling. I owe my best friend for those sweet laughs.

  “Let me do the talking,” David says when we pull into the driveway at Jack’s. “Keep your cool, James.”

  I let out a ragged sigh. “I’ll try.”

  Quickly, I climb out and go to get Zella. I kiss her forehead and then pull back to look at her.

  “We cool, Mello Zello?”

  She smiles and nods. “Can I come back?”

  “Of course. I’m going to make it happen.”

  I pull her out of her seat and then set her to her feet. She holds my hand, squeezing it like it’s a lifeline.

  “We sho
uld have taken pictures,” I hiss out to Cal as David walks ahead of us.

  “Penny took some while we were outside,” Cal murmurs, keeping his voice low enough Zella doesn’t hear. “She texted me on the way here. Samantha is going to have a social worker come out here tomorrow. Everything is going to be okay.”

  Nothing feels okay about sending your child to doom.

  We climb up the steps and David knocks on the door. A moment later, Jack answers the door. His eyes widen to see the three of us.

  I want to punch this motherfucker in the face. If I weren’t holding on to Zella’s hand with Cal at my side, I might do just that. David beats me to the proverbial punch.

  “Good evening, Jack,” David says in a sugary sweet tone. “Thought we’d have a little chat.”

  Jack’s face pales. “W-Why are you here? Zella, come inside, sweetheart.”

  She starts for him, but I give her hand a little squeeze. I bend over and whisper, “Love you, Zella.”

  Her head nods and then she lets go of me to walk inside. Jack steps aside, barely sparing her a glance, before glaring at us.

  “You can leave now,” Jack growls.

  David shakes his head. “Not before I say something.” He steps close to Jack and leans in, keeping his voice low. “Everyone knows what a piece of shit you are, Henderson. Everyone. Your violence may have gone unpunished for a long time, but that stops now. Know that every man with a fucking fist in this town is watching you. Just waiting for you to get out of line. And when you do, if the law doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, we’ll do it instead. It’ll be painful, Henderson. I can assure you that. You will feel every goddamn thing you ever did to the females in your life you’ve hurt. I’ll make sure of it.”

  David steps back and gives Henderson a seemingly friendly smack to his cheek.

  “Everyone,” David reminds him. “Watch your back.”

  Jack, a mixture of worry and fear emanating from him, scrambles back into the house and closes the door behind him. Good. Maybe he’ll leave Zella the fuck alone until I can get full custody of her.

  He better or we’ll absolutely destroy him.