“Did he rape you?”
“No.” Rachel’s back stiffened as she admitted the truth. “I wanted him, Tate.”
“Just like the rest of his bitches. Mom and Dad would be ashamed at what happened tonight. You’ve shamed our whole family. You could have done anyone in town, but you had to do him, knowing how bad we hate him and his family!” Disgust was written plainly on his face.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“You said he didn’t rape you; that means you could have said no, Rachel. Go to your room and get out of my face.” The door opened and Greer, Holly, and Dustin entered, carrying Logan.
Rachel blinked back hurt tears. “Tate—”
“Now, Rachel. So help me God, I can’t look at you right now,” he growled through gritted teeth. Greer’s and Dustin’s expressions weren’t any more forgiving; their faces were just as condemning.
Rachel turned away to her room.
“Maybe she should go stay with The Last Riders since they’ve had her now.” Greer threw her car keys against her bedroom door.
Rachel bent to pick them up before going into her bedroom and closing the door. She didn’t bother to turn on the light as she went to sit on the side of the bed.
Burying her face in her hands, she let her humiliation free. Silent sobs shook her shoulders as she heard her brothers’ angry voices from the other side of the door.
Not only her brothers, but the whole town would know by morning she had given herself to Cash. Everywhere she went, she would be met with the same stares. Her reputation in town was ruined; the townspeople would gossip about her for the next year.
Rachel sat quietly until the house finally settled down. She then silently got to her feet. Kneeling beside her bed, she pulled out her suitcase. It was time she executed the decision she had been putting off. She loved her home and her brothers, but it was past time she stood on her own two feet.
She moved around her room, making sure she made no noise. If they caught her packing, they would lock her in. She chose the few items she didn’t want to leave behind. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to pack her lifetime into one suitcase.
Rachel waited another hour to make sure everyone was asleep before she sneaked out of the house. Her hand was shaking as she put the keys in the ignition. Turning on her car without using her headlights, she then drove out of the parking lot, heading down the mountain. She only turned the beams on after the car was away from the house.
She had been trying to gain more freedom from her brothers, but she hadn’t really wanted to leave; she loved Treepoint and the mountains. It was like her heart was being ripped out the farther she drove away from home. She had never realized her freedom would come at the cost of losing her family.
*
“What have you done?” Winter asked, her stricken gaze watching Rachel and her brothers leave.
Cash ran his hand through his hair. “I lost my temper,” he admitted, remorse making his voice come out thick. Clearing his throat, he saw the angry glares of all the women. “I know I fucked up.”
“You more than fucked up,” Beth said, stepping forward, her voice low and controlled. “You humiliated her in front of the church congregation. The whole town will be gossiping about her, and they won’t be kind. You of all people know what kind of damage you just did.
“Now, this is Mrs. Langley’s party, and I suggest we get through the next thirty minutes until we can leave.” Beth stormed away with the rest of the women following her.
Cash was angry at himself for losing his temper and running his mouth. When Tate had jerked Rachel’s arm, Viper had been forced to hold him back, or he would have beaten the shit out of him. Her brothers had confirmed tonight what he already had been saying to himself.
Any relationship between Rachel and him was impossible because of her brothers’ hatred of him. He had tried to protect her from him; instead, he had let them goad him into losing his temper.
It was a good thing he had forced himself to stay away from her. From their reactions, it couldn’t have been worse if they had discovered she had murdered someone.
Cash ignored the sinking feeling in his gut that he had hurt the very woman he had tried to protect, choosing to believe it would all blow over in a week or two.
Chapter 10
“Can you hand me the wrench?” Rider asked.