Bully Me This (Bully Me #1): A Best Friend's Brother Bully Romance Read online

  “I didn’t know…” she starts but I’m quick to cut her off. I’m not here for small talk.

  “Where’s Hadley?” I demand. I do a good job at keeping my voice on an even level, but on the inside, I’m feeling all kinds of crazy.

  Willow eyes me suspiciously before answering and if I’m being honest, I can’t blame her for being on edge. “Erm… she’s at work, I think.” She pulls on her sleeves, a nervous trait she’s always carried since we were kids and I’m pleased to know I’m not the only one who’s affected here. But I also don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about it either.

  “You think?” I raise a suspicious brow at her. She thinks? Surely, she’d know where Hadley was? Those two are inseparable. I hope she’s not trying to bullshit me because if she was then that would really piss me off, especially after I’ve just punched some low-life for her too.

  “I’m not her keeper, Colby.” She bites back and I can see she’s still as fierce as ever. Man, how I’ve missed toying with her. Willow’s always been so pliable. Oh, yes. The Willow I love to hate is still in there, rooted deep inside of her. I bet she’s tried her damned hardest to change over the years too, but it’s clear to see that when I’m around she’ll always be weak. I’m her drug of choice—her addiction that she can’t shift. “Maybe if you’d stayed in touch with her, she’d be able to keep you informed of her whereabouts from time to time.”

  I can’t help but laugh as she stomps off. Obviously, that’s the best welcome home I’m going to get, and coming from Willow, I’ll take it. I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything different. But it’s no matter and I’m sure she’ll be relieved to find out that Willow isn’t the reason I’m here.

  “Colby, baby. You didn’t need to leave me in the truck.” Tiffanie waltzes through the door to the kitchen, a pitiful pout on her over enhanced lips, and I won’t lie. She looks a hot fucking mess.

  I should have stood my ground and left her with daddy dearest, not the damn truck, but I didn’t have much choice in the matter.

  I was majorly pissed I had to drag her along with me, but Tiffanie was fucking elated. She even gave me a celebratory suck on the drive over. Don’t judge me—a man has needs and this whore has no shame in giving me access to all areas.

  “You survived, right, so where’s the fucking problem?” I’m in no mood for her bullshit right now. Seeing Willow has taken me well and truly out of the game. I need to get my act together and fast because I don’t have time for distractions.

  What the fuck was she even doing in my house? The sooner I find Hadley the better.

  “This is a nice place. Small, but cute.” Tiff wanders around inspecting the walls and contents of my childhood home. Well, she can inspect away so long as it keeps her off my back. “Is this really where you grew up? Damn, no wonder you’re so angry all the time.”

  Tiffanie slides over to me, her hands roaming freely on my chest and I know she’s got one thing on her mind. She’s fucking sex mad, and for a guy it would be like hitting the jackpot—the only downside is it’s Tiffanie.

  “Wanna show me around?” she licks her lips seductively. She’s hungry and desperate for my cock, but I’m not in the right headspace to be dealing with her bullshit demands.

  “Fuck off, Tiffanie.” I warn her, but my tone only seems to fuel her more.

  “Colby, baby. I thought this little trip was supposed to be fun and so far you’ve been a right bore.”

  “Don’t start. You’re here aren’t you, so quit bitching because I’m getting fed up of hearing it.” Shaking my head in despair I run a hand over my face. Why the fuck did I agree to bring her along? “And you should know by now that I don’t do fun.” I say through gritted teeth and she smiles sadistically, confirming what I already know—this is nothing but a fucked-up game for her to play. This whole situation is one big fucked-up game. One Tiffanie shouldn’t be a part of, but then I guess business is business for Deano, and he doesn’t care who gets hurt along the way—so long as his end goal is met.

  “We’re not here for pleasure, Tiff, so quit messing around.”

  Right now, the only thing on my mind is Hadley. I need to find her, let her see that I’m okay and then it’s time to get down to business.

  The real reason I’m back in Redlake.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  COLBY

  I won’t lie.

  It feels downright crazy being back home. I didn’t know how I’d feel on the drive over, but I’m don’t feel as bad as I thought I would, which is a welcome surprise.

  A small part of me thought this place would have changed a little while I’ve been away, but everything is exactly how it was when I left it all behind.

  I guess it doesn’t matter how much time passes, the world just keeps on moving. It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from—the world doesn’t stop for anyone.

  I was only back at the house for ten minutes when I needed to get the fuck out of there. Tiffanie was driving me insane. That girl doesn’t know when to quit, and it’s really starting to grate on me. The more time I spend with her, the more murderous I feel, and I know from experience that’s never a good sign.

  I still had no idea where Hadley was or when she was coming back home, but there was no way I was spending another second with Tiffanie. Instead, I spun her some line about needing to sort some business and she should make herself at home. All it took was a promise of some new shoes and she was like putty in my hands. Stupid, materialistic bitch.

  I knew my next stop had to be Sinner’s.

  When I arrived it was fairly quiet, a couple of thirsty customers and a blonde chick behind the bar who I don’t remember seeing in Redlake before. I decided to keep a low profile for the time being. That way I could focus on getting my head together before I headed to see Bryson. Not much has changed as that motherfucker is still hidden away in his office.

  “Colby. What the fuck man. Is it really you?”

  I feel a strong slap on my shoulder, I turn around to see which sorry ass has disturbed me and for the first time since I arrived back home a huge genuine grin takes over my face, and my cheeks ache from muscles that haven’t been used in years as they finally get some much-needed exercise.

  “Ryder.” I slap my hand down on the table and I get a strong sense of me—the old me. The Colby Carter who I was before all this bullshit kicked off. “It’s good to see you, man.” I tell him truthfully as he slides down into the booth and for a couple of minutes, I feel the heavy burden of my sins evaporate. Right now, it’s just me and Ryder—just like it used to be.

  The way it should be, but life doesn’t work out how you want it too, or how you believe it should. No, life likes to screw you in the balls, over and over again.

  “What are you doing back?” He asks and then stumbles, “not that I ain’t pleased to see you because believe me, I am. It’s just five years is a long time, man. I started to think you’d never return.”

  I can’t help but laugh as his eyes grow wide, excitement on his face and he looks like the big kid I remember. Damn, even I feel like a big ass kid right now. “Ask no questions and be told no lies my friend. You know how it goes.”

  “Oh, come on.” Ryder reaches out and jabs me in the arm playfully and I know he’s desperate for the gossip. “This is me you’re talking to. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

  “Right.” He’s so hungry for it. I guess somethings don’t change and it’s nice to feel a sense of familiarity. “I got back around an hour ago and I can tell you I’m already regretting it.”

  “Fuck off. You and I both know it’s about time you came back. What can I tell you, Redlake hasn’t been the same without you.”

  “Of course it hasn’t. What the fuck did you expect?”

  Laughter erupts around us and the chick over at the bar gives us a couple of suspicious glances. She’s pretty easy on the eyes. Maybe I’ll have to keep her in mind when I feel like a woman’s touch. I know I have Tiffan
ie willing and waiting back at the house but fucking her feels like a goddamn chore and after dealing with her for as long as I have, I think I deserve the right to have some fun.

  “Hey, have you seen the guys yet? Bryson’s in the back and I know he will be happy to see you. Favorite nephew and all that.”

  “Dude, I’m his only fucking nephew.” I remind him.

  Ryder shrugs his shoulders and says, “same thing.”

  I’ve got a funny feeling Bryson isn’t going to be all too happy to see me. I haven’t seen my uncle in five years. He knew why I left—why I had to leave. Actually, he was the only one I confided in throughout it all. He did good too. Bry was more understanding than I thought he would be, and he was the one who set things in place for when I’d gone. Without his help I don’t think any of it would have been possible. We kept in touch every so often while I was away, but he never reported anything major, so it looks like he had it all under control on this side.

  We used to be pretty close. Bryson was the cool uncle and I loved to parade him in front of my friends. Everyone wanted him to be their uncle, but only Hadley and I had that privilege.

  Unfortunately, that all looks set to change when he figures out why I’m really here.

  “How’s Hadley?” I ask, unable to hold back the one question which has been running through my mind since I left. “She good? Please tell me she kept her head down and her dumb ass out of trouble.” If I can count on anyone in this world to be straight up with me then it will always be Ryder, hands down. He isn’t afraid of pissing me off, and he’ll always tell me something he thinks I’ll need to know about. Only over the past five years I kind of made that hard for him.

  Ryder leans back in his seat and puffs out his cheeks. Fuck, I already know this isn’t going to good. “You haven’t seen her? Man, she’s gonna have your balls when she finds out you’re home.” Home. That word coming from Ryder sounds right, and I like the warm feeling I get when he says it, but this isn’t a fairytale and I can’t allow thoughts of non-existent endings to penetrate my mind. But he’s right. No matter what happens—whether I’m here or not, this will always be my home.

  “She wasn’t at the house when I got back. I was hoping she might be here?”

  Ryder’s eyes fall down and rest on the table and I instantly know he’s holding something back from me. “You won’t find Hadley anywhere near this place.”

  “Really?” Ryder’s omission takes me by surprise. Hadley used to always come down and hang at Sinner’s. She used to sneak in even before she hit the legal age. One of the perks of having a well-respected uncle who couldn’t give a damn about the law.

  “Oh, man. When you left, things between Hadley and me, well, they got a little heated.”

  Ryder refuses to look me square in the eye and I feel like he’s just knocked all the air out of my lungs with his words. Friend or not, this motherfucker better not be messing me around. I swear if he’s so much as touched a single hair on Hadley’s head he’ll wish he’d never been born.

  “Back up.” I clench my fists as I try my damned hardest to think the worst and get my temper under control, but the need to sucker punch him square in the jaw is getting stronger by the second. “You’re telling me you’ve been fucking my little sister?” My voice is calm but laced with a severe warning—this son of a bitch better tread carefully because he’s already walking on thin ice. Ryder has known me for years, and you’d like to think he’d no better than to go sniffing around Hadley.

  “Are you fucking crazy?” He shouts out before throwing his head back and a loud laugh roars from his chest. “Jesus Christ, Colby. What the fuck do you take me for? No offence, but I wouldn’t touch Hadley. She’s like an annoying little sister to me, or at least she was.”

  “Was?” Well, it seems the plot thickens. And why the hell is he starting to talk in riddles. If he hasn’t fucked her then that’s great news for the both of us. He doesn’t lose the function of his jaw and I don’t lose my temper, or my best friend at the same time. I’d call that winning. But I need to know he’s stuck to his word. I need to know he’s been looking out for her while I’ve been away, and hearing his ‘was’ bullshit leads me to believe he hasn’t been sticking to his side of the deal like he promised.

  “Well, you know what Hadley’s like. She’s a hot head. It must run in the family.”

  “Just fucking get to the point, Ryder.” I don’t want him to try and make light of whatever has happened. I need him to be honest with me and tell me what happened.

  “She didn’t take the news of your sudden departure as well as you thought she would. Actually, she went bat-shit crazy. She screwed me over, man. But she wasn’t happy to leave it there. Oh, no. Hadley came back, dug those crazy ass heels in my balls and fucking dragged them across the floor for the whole damn world to see. I wouldn’t worry too much. That chick can definitely look after herself—she’s fucking savage.”

  The mood lightens again now I know his dick hasn’t been anywhere near my sister, and I can’t help but laugh at his description of Hads. I’m glad she’s protecting herself and standing up for what she believes in—just like I always told her to do.

  “Wanna tell me what you did to piss her off?”

  “Who me?” Ryder looks taken aback, shocked that I’d think such a thing. But I’m not buying it. I know Hadley, and I know he must have done something to piss her off to get that kind f reaction from her.” I didn’t do shit. But then that didn’t stop her from blaming me for your disappearing act.” He sighs heavily and shakes his head like he’s reliving the moment again for the first time. “You know, it didn’t matter what I said or did, her mind was made up. Hadley was dead set I had some kind of involvement with whatever you were doing.”

  “And she was pissed at you for that?” What Ryder is saying doesn’t make any sense. Had’s would never cut someone out of her life unless they’d done her a major wrong. She loves hard, but she hates harder. No, something else must have happened for her to cut him off like that.

  “She sure is. I’ve never seen anyone come for me the way she did, and you know I’ve pissed a lot of people off in my time. But she got in her mind that I was the one to drive you out of town and that in turn stopped you from being there when she needed you the most—when you both needed each other the most. I guess it didn’t help my corner when there was zero contact from you either.”

  “I had my reasons.” I snap. I don’t feel proud about what I’ve done and who I had to leave behind but there was nothing I could do. It was well and truly out of my hands. I drag a tired hand down my face and my chest sinks as I stop to think how Hadley must have felt after I’d left. Surely, she has to know I’d never willingly abandon her. Not unless I didn’t have any other choice, and all my options were gone.

  “I sure hope those reasons cut it, man. Hadley’s had it real tough and I don’t think she’s going to give you an easy ride.”

  He’s not wrong. “Knowing my little sister the way I do, I don’t fucking doubt it, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.”

  “Yo, Miley.” Ryder turns his attention away from me and shouts over to the chick behind the bar. At least I know she has a name now. I store it to memory in case I decide on taking myself up on the offer of having a little fun while I’m here. “Do something useful and bring us two beers.”

  “Do I look like your slave?” The small girl hollas back at him and he laughs.

  “Only in the bedroom, baby. In here you can be whatever the fuck you want.” He throws her a wink and she blushes, red heat instantly rising to her cheeks. Fuck, some people never change.

  It doesn’t take her long to saunter over to our booth, two chilled beers in her hands, and she pauses to give me the once over. I know she likes what she sees as her eyes mist over with lust. When she turns to look at Ryder she says, “who’s your friend?”

  “Who this? This is Colby Carter. One of the greats who left this little town, but he soon came to his senses and c
ame running back.” He laughs and then his face drops, and he turns serious. “He also just happens to be Bryson’s nephew so if you know what’s good for you, you’ll pick your jaw up from the floor and get your ass back behind that bar.” Ryder growls back at her and I can’t help but laugh. Talk about marking his fucking territory. His shitty attitude doesn’t seem to phase Miley as she places our beers down on the table and she flips Ryder off before making her way back toward the bar.

  “Ex fuck-buddy?” I enquire, amusement running freely in my veins and I feel fucking good.

  “Nah, I wouldn’t go as far to say ex. We’re good at the casual thing, every once in a while, you know. But she’s starting to get a little needy and man, if there’s one turn off for me, it’s a needy chick.

  “Fucking chicks. Can’t live with them and we definitely can’t live without them.” I exclaim and thoughts of Tiffanie invade and weigh heavy on my mind. I really wish I could get rid of her. I wish I could get her out of my bed and out of my life for good, but until this job is done, that shit won’t be possible.

  Hopefully, when I finally get around to introducing her to Hadley, maybe they’ll hit it off and I’ll be able to keep her off my back some more. I think Hadley and Tiff could get on, but Willow is the one I need to look out for.

  “Hey, Colby.” Ryder pulls me out of my thoughts and I’m glad because going down the thought process of Willow is never a good fucking idea. She gets in my head and I can’t seem to shift her, no matter what I do. When I look at him, he’s wearing a crazy ass expression. What the fuck does he have to be sad about? His life looks pretty set to me. “Hey, look. I’m sorry about your mom and dad. Hadley was real cut up so I can’t begin to imagine how you were holding up too. I swear I tried to be there for her, but she just wouldn’t let me in at all.”

  My mom and dad? What the fuck is he talking about? “Jeez, don’t tell me the king and queen of Redlake have parted ways and shown the world that true love doesn’t exist?” I joke. Nothing could ever separate my mom and dad. Damn, his face is set. Is he actually being for real? I knew I’d miss things when I’ve been away as long as I have, but I never saw this coming and I would have thought Bryson would have told me about this life-changing event.