Page 10 of Reckless Vengeance

“I’ll go there if I want to.”

“No, not this time. What if you’d been there? You could’ve been killed. Do you think I want to get the call that you’re bleeding out in a hospital because of that gang? I love you, and I only want to keep you safe, honey.”

“You’re not my fucking mom, and I’m an adult. You don’t want me here? Fine. Fuck you,” Rory snapped as she stood and stalked from the room towards the stairs.

Mom went to follow, but I sighed and stopped her, motioning to the guys. “You guys go after her. I need to talk to Mom.”

Lukas practically sprinted after her, while the other two followed at a slower pace, and Mom looked at me with concern.

“Caden, she could have shown up a moment earlier and been caught in the middle of it. I’m not trying to control her, but⁠—”

“Emotions are heated right now, we’ll make sure she stays here.”

“I’m worried about her.”

“He died holding her hand, Mom,” I said softly, pity filling her eyes.

“He did?”

“Yeah. They were seeing each other. She was covered in his blood when we arrived at the hospital. I know you care about her, but now isn’t the time to put authority on her. She’ll only run.”

She lowered herself into a chair, seeming confused. “They were dating?”

“It was pretty new.”

“You were okay with that? I really don’t understand your relationship dynamic. I’m trying, but it’s hard to imagine splitting my love between multiple people.”

“You love all of us. It’s like that.”

“My love for you boys and Rory is very different to my love for a partner. She’s involved with dangerous people, Caden. It worries me that you’re all being dragged into things that you won’t be able to get yourself out of,” she whispered, and I reached over to take her hand, giving it a squeeze.

“We’ve been involved with them for years. They keep us away from their business, we’re just friends.”

“I can’t lose any of you,” she said in a shaky voice, her hand tightening in mine.

“You won’t.”

“You can’t promise me that when Rory showed up to find one of your friends freshly shot and bleeding. A minute sooner and she would’ve walked into gunfire. I know she’s an adult, but it’s up to me to make sure she stays alive. I don’t care how old you all get, you’re all my kids and that’s my job.”

“I know. Sometimes you have to let us make our own choices and just be there when we fall,” I shrugged, and she gave me a sad look when she pulled back, getting to her feet.

“I might not get the chance to catch you. It was a long flight home, so I need to freshen up. Try and talk some sense into Rory, please.”

I didn’t argue, letting her leave the room before I scrubbed a hand over my face and grabbed my phone. The urge to text Skeeter about the Devils was strong, but he had enough on his plate. It wasn’t like they’d hurt her, so I texted him to check in instead.

Caden: Hope you’re alright. We’re here if you need us.

He saw the message but didn’t reply, not that I really expected him to.

Social media was filled with reports of the gang war shooting, and I had to find a way to keep Rory and Tyler off the damn thing. They didn’t need the reminder.

I headed upstairs to Rory's room, finding her sitting on the floor with Tyler as she consoled him, and Jensen gave me a small nod to let me know everything was okay.

Rory

By the time I’d calmed down from my outburst at Josie, Skeeter arrived and was waiting for me in the living room.

He was talking quietly with Caden, both of them glancing over when I walked in.