Sawyer (Carolina Reapers 2)

“You planted drugs in his jacket,” I said, my tone a hiss. “He could’ve lost his contract! The Reapers’ could’ve lost the Cup!” Maybe they still would, seeing as they’d lost again last night. If they lost two more games, they’d be out.

“You’ve lost it,” he said, but there was fear in his eyes.

“Come on, Chad. Let’s not play dumb.”

He shrugged.

“I have proof.”

His entire body stilled, his lips parting, a plea or a denial I couldn’t tell.

“You lie.”

I tilted my head. “You think I’d open a bar and not have the place covered with security cameras?” I glared at him. “You think I’m that stupid?”

He swallowed hard. “What are you going to do?”

“It’s not about what I’m going to do.”

“What?”

“It’s about what you’re going to do.”

He pursed his lips but remained silent.

“You’re going to leave me the hell alone,” I said, ticking off the first item on my finger. “You’re going to leave Sawyer alone. You’re going to leave anyone I fucking know alone.” I raised my brows. He gave me one nod. “You’re going to stop showing up at Scythe.” I ticked the next item off on my next finger and received another curt nod. “And you’re going to forget you ever knew me.” I dropped my hand, my limbs shaking. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “There was a time when I thought if we stayed in contact, maybe I could help you get out of that hole. That maybe I could help you get clean. But you don’t care what I think. You don’t care what anyone thinks. I’ve tried to get you professional help so many times I’m sick with it. And what you did? What you’ve done these past few months? You’ve made it incredibly easy to let you go. To give up.” I shook my head. “You’re a poison. And I’m not going to let you hurt me or the people around me one second longer. You understand?”

Another nod as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Because, Chad?” I made sure his eyes were solely focused on me. “I swear to God if I see you or hear about you trying to fuck with my life or any of my friends’ lives again I will use the security footage to put you in jail for a long, long time.”

And that’s likely where he belonged. Maybe that’s the place he’d get clean. Maybe I should’ve already turned him in. But I couldn’t be that girl. His family needed to deal with him. He needed to deal with himself.

“If Sawyer’s contract would’ve been taken from him?” I stepped closer to him, letting him see the rage in my eyes. “I would’ve already turned you in. Got it?”

“I got it.” He had the audacity to sound pissed.

“Good. Then we’re done. Forever.” I turned my back on him, stomping away from his family home, my chest a bit lighter with each step. I saw the fear in his eyes—he cared about himself and his habits more than anyone, and jail was the last place he wanted to end up. Finally, I’d clipped the chain off my ankle that was Chad.

I fell into my driver’s seat, my lungs tight with tension as I breathed in and out.

Sure, I’d rid myself of Chad. Sawyer wasn’t in trouble.

But I’d lost him.

You’re not alone because people leave you, Echo. You’re alone because you make it impossible to stay. You push everyone away, and that’s on you.

I cringed against the memory of his words. The sight of him so utterly disappointed and wrecked. But I had to push him away. Being with me…it had nearly ruined his life. Almost cost him everything. I wasn’t worth that. I had to end things so he could have the life he deserved—one without drugs and darkness and the baggage I carried.

Guess it was only a matter of time. Thanks, bitch.

I rolled my eyes at the traitorous voice in my head, hating that it still had any sway over my thought process. Sawyer had already broken me with his instant assumption that the drugs were mine. That I would ever put him or his dream career, or the Reapers at risk. And even after he believed me, I’d done a full shredding of my heart by ending it between us. Because he fucking deserved better.

But…he made me want to be better.

God, did I want to be the woman he’d spoken of—the woman to come home to. His home, our home. I may love the loft I lived in, but it wasn’t roots. Wasn’t like what I’d had growing up. And with Sawyer? It wouldn’t matter where we lived—loft or condo or a house in Reaper Village—it would be home. Because even if I’d pushed him away for his own good, he still owned my heart.