Collateral Damage (From the Damage) by Jasmine Denton Read Free Book Online Page B

she started to gather the broken pieces of the table into a pile and wondered if her father would ever change, if he would ever love her again.
    ***
    Ryder
    ***
    Ryder’s car was parked by the lake, and he sat on the hood of it, staring out at the water. A few boats dotted the horizon as families and couples took advantage of the warm, romantic Saturday night.
    The fact that Seth had been running his mouth about him had been driving him crazy all afternoon. So, he’d been on his way to the abandoned lot Shane mentioned, to accept Seth’s challenge, but as he passed the spot him and Meagan always went, he’d decided against it. 
    Meagan wouldn’t want him to fight Seth unless there was no other way around it, that much he knew. And he didn’t want to look her in the eyes and tell her he’d succumbed to his testosterone and pride.
    The blue green water reminded him of Meagan’s eyes, and made him think of the times they’d come here. She was still in the hospital, but she’d be released soon. Probably Monday morning, her doctors had said. But he wasn’t so sure he wanted her released. It seemed to him that she was safer with an around-the-clock staff of nurses and a panic button within reach. When she left the hospital, what would stop Seth from trying to hurt her again?
    The psycho had done nothing but traumatize Meagan and ruin her reputation, and something told Ryder that he wasn’t even close to finished with her. The whole situation made him uneasy and nervous, especially considering the fact that the local sheriff was Seth’s dad and deputies refused to touch him.
    If he were a different person—the careless fool he’d been just last year—he’d say it was time for some southern justice and would’ve gladly gone down to the fighting game and played by their rules. Now, he could only hope Seth would trip up, leave some evidence or at least do something incriminating in front of credible witnesses who didn’t mind going up against the hotshot.
    When a car pulled up next to him, he paid no attention to it. And then he heard his social worker’s voice, “Thought I’d find you here.”
    He turned to see the middle aged woman as she got out of her Lincoln. Since they’d already had their monthly check-in, he knew her visit could only mean one thing. “Sophia. Past business hours, isn’t it?”
    “Well, you know how it is. The job’s never done.”
    Nodding, he watched with a feeling of dread as she came closer. She had that look…the one she always had when she came to deliver bad news. “I hope you come with good news, and not the usual.”
    She gave him a sad look of pity, then sat down next to him on the hood. “I’m afraid not.”
    “So, what’s the excuse this time?” He leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows. Pretending not to be offended, but dreading the thought of moving again. “The motorcycle too loud? Am I too ‘distant’?”
    “Your foster-parent said that you’ve been getting into a lot of fights at school. He’s afraid you’re a violent person.” She tried to gain eye contact with him, but he couldn’t look directly at her, too afraid she’d see the pain, the rejection.
    “I got into one fight,” he corrected. “The others, I was breaking up. But the damn teachers never give me a break. Never listen to me when I try to explain.”
    “I’m sorry about that,” she said, and he could tell she meant it. “Maybe from now on you should stop playing referee?”
    He shook his head, knowing he could never go back to turning a blind eye to injustice. “Where am I headed?”
    “Well, as you know, you’re turning eighteen in a few weeks. I thought Cornerstone might be a good fit until then.”
    “The group home?” Ryder asked, feeling his entire body sink with disappointment. “ Seriously ?”
    He hated that place—there were cameras everywhere and strictly enforced curfews, not to mention a revolving shift of asshole guardians.
    “On the bright side, it is