Zach raised his hands, but didn't move out of the way. "Don't do this, man. We need you. The guys will get over it. We can tell them everything once this is done."
"AJ has never spoken to me like that before. Did you not see the look on this face? I have to make this right." He shoved Zach out of the way, but not enough to stop Zach coming after him. Yanking on his shirt, my boyfriend spun Elliot away from the stairs. He crashed into the table, knocking a mug to the side. A splash of coffee dregs landed on the wood before the mug rolled onto the floor.
With an irate yell, Elliot spun back and launched himself at Zach, pushing him against the bookshelf.
"Stop it!" I raced around the counter as they grunted and shoved each other, their fists clutching handfuls of shirt as they swung each other around. I nearly got squashed as they fell to the floor and continued tussling. I grabbed at Elliot's shirt and heaved him off Zach. The fabric began to tear.
"Enough!" I screamed right into his ear, pinching it with my fingers.
He jumped off my boyfriend, flicking my hand away and rubbing his ear with an indignant cry.
I stood back puffing, my decision final as I watched the two best friends stand next to each other on the edge of an all out brawl.
"Elliot's right, Zach," I finally said. "I am hurting them. I'm hurting everybody and I don't want to do this anymore. When I first met you guys, you were this tight group, and I loved that. But now you're fighting like parents getting ready for a divorce! I can’t come between you...this isn't worth it."
"So we can tell them?" Zach's hopeful gaze made my heart bleed.
"Once I'm gone."
"What?" Zach accentuated the T, clipping out the word harshly.
"Come on you guys, what the hell were we thinking? We're seriously gonna drug some fifteen-year-old kid, so we can sneak into his father's office? Break into a safe...which, yeah Shorty showed me how to do once, but I've never actually done it! This is insane! It's a flawed plan that will not work. I should never have put it into motion. We're going to get busted by the FBI and then we're dead. If Tenner thinks you're linked to me in anyway, he'll go after you and all your friends. I'm not gonna let that happen. Let's just forget the whole thing."
"We can't, Lucy. What about the FBI in L.A.? They might still be out there looking for us. We have to get something. You can't just walk away." He sounded pissed and I didn't blame him. I'd already bailed on him once, but this was the last time.
"I have to. I can't let you be involved anymore. I can deal with this on my own."
"I want to be involved." Zach jerked towards me. "This is your life we're talking about."
"Yes. My life and I'll be doing you all a huge favor if I just walk away." Saying the words physically hurt. Each syllable punching out of my mouth felt like a bullet wound.
"No, you won't. Don't you get that?" Zach closed his eyes, his jaw clenching.
"I am destroying your future, Zach. You are blind and stupid to think otherwise!"
"I'm not letting you walking out on me again!" He pointed to the ground. "We are finishing this."
"Yeah, we are." I pressed my lips together. "Right now."
His gaze hit me; hurt and anger radiated towards me like a nuclear blast. It was an effort to remain standing.
"Lucy, don't you dare walk out that door. You want justice for your parents, you can't just walk away from this!"
"Justice isn't going to bring them back! And do you honestly think I can live with myself if one of you got hurt or dead because of me?"
He just didn't get it!
"I'm not letting this go."
"You don't have a choice, because I am. This is over, Zach." I wished my voice wasn't shaking. It was obvious to the world that it was the last thing I wanted to say to him, but I had to be strong. "Please, just let me live on my own terms. I should never have come back and dragged you into this. I'm sorry."
Zach’s teeth ground together, I could practically hear the enamel chipping. His hard gaze made it just a little easier to turn away. I didn't want to have to face it anymore. As much as it tore me in two, I spun on the top stair and quickly descended. Wrenching open the front door, I took off down the street, my legs moving double time before I could change my mind or he could catch me.
Chapter 21
ZACH
The only thing to break the awkward silence between Elliot and Zach was the slamming of the door. Zach flinched, but kept his eyes on the floor, his jaw aching from being so tense.
"How the hell is she planning on dealing with the L.A. Feds on her own?" Elliot finally muttered.
"Damned if I know." Zach shook his head. "Shit!" Punching the air, he let out another curse. "She can't do this to me again. Come on, let's go get her."
Elliot hesitated before reluctantly closing his laptop and packing up his stuff. His movements were slow and infuriating. Zach was still fired up after their scuffle. The urge to hit and throw made his muscles twitch, but he contained himself by clenching his fists.
"Any chance you can go a little faster?"