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That’s all it said, four simple words. The message was short, but ominous. I didn’t like it.
There was no way in hell I was calling him though. No way I even responding to—
WE NEED TO TALK RIGHT NOW
A photo appeared, right after the second message. It was dark, and not entirely in focus. Pinching the screen with my fingers, I zoomed in on it.
I gasped as all the blood in my veins turned to ice.
It was a picture of me. Of us. The four of us, to be more exact. A photo taken at night, from somewhere in my backyard.
A photo of us in the hot tub.
Oh my God…
My phone buzzed as another photo popped up. Then another, and another. In each of them, I was naked and wet… and in various stages of having sex with my boyfriends.
My chest felt like it was collapsing. I tried to draw breath, but suddenly couldn’t.
There was me on Brandon, riding him. A photo of Colin gripping my hips, pushing into me from behind. There was one of Hunter too, and then more of all four of us...
This can’t be happening!
Everything was exposed, everything laid out for all to see. And I could make out our faces. I could zoom in and see them, plain as day.
Holy shit…
I tried to stand but my legs wouldn’t work. Tried to hammer out a response, but it felt like my thumbs weren’t even attached to my hands. Besides, I didn’t know what to say! What to do!
Panic gripped me, and I dug deep trying to maintain control. Why would he do this?
I had no idea. But then an even more sinister thought occurred to me.
What does he want?
My fingers trembled so hard, it took me five tries to swipe the message screen closed. I was crying now. Openly. Tears streaming down my cheeks, obliterating my vision. Making it almost impossible to call up my ex’s contact info.
Eventually I did. Hands still shaking, I reached down and pressed the CALL button.
I was absolutely stricken with terror as the phone started ringing on the other end…
Thirty-Seven
BRANDON
She was white as a ghost, and crying hysterically. Claudia flung herself bodily into my arms, and for the first minute all I could do was hold her while she wailed into my chest.
“What’s wrong?” I kept repeating. Her body was wracked with shuddering sobs. She was scaring me, now. I’d never seen anyone this upset in my life.
“Are you okay?” I asked, prying her face upward so I could see her. “Did you get in an accident? Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, but still couldn’t talk. Relief flowed through me. At least she was alright.
“Colin!” I shouted. “Hunter!”
My voice was loud enough and serious enough that they knew I meant business. Colin came first, bounding quickly down
the stairs.