Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

“Bianca, put the gun down. Please.” Haze tries to take a step toward her.

“Not another step.” She shouts so loud he freezes in place.

“We both know you don’t want to shoot me,” Haze says.

I scowl at him. Damn it, Haze. This is exactly what not to say to her. Now is not the time to test how far she’s willing to go.

“I had Blake put a bomb into your car just to get rid of her. I knew there was a risk it’d kill you, too. You really think I won’t shoot?”

Comprehension hits Haze and me. It was her, working with Blake. They are the people Tanner said were after Haze. Blake was the one asking around the community. Seriously? That old “If I can’t have him, no one can”?

“Do you know how many times I cried for you? Every single night when you showed up to my house, used me, and then left without a goodbye when you were done.” She’s hyperventilating at this point. My heart aches at the way she talks about him. Haze really was an entirely different person back then.

I know he’d say that he told her what he wanted from the start, that he never lied to her or slept with her under false pretenses, but we both know he should’ve stopped this relationship the second she caught feelings. Haze said they were friends with benefits for six months. To an unstable girl like her, that’s a lifetime.

“But her…” she says through the sobs. “She’s got the kisses, the I love yous, the promises. You’re even considering moving to another fucking country for her.” She makes herself angrier with every word.

Realization flashes in her eyes.

“You. This is all your fault.” She jolts around abruptly and points the gun in my direction. Haze immediately steps in front of me, his hands still up in the air.

“Haze, don’t!” I cry.

“You’re right, Bianca. You’re right. I’m an asshole. It was me. Not her. Me.” A bunch of words tumble out of his mouth. I know he’d say just about anything to calm her down and get her attention off me.

Her sobs grow louder. “Why can’t you see that no one will ever love you like I do? I’m so much better than this skank. Deep down, you know that, don’t you? I’d do anything for you. Haze, I love you.”

He doesn’t reply, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. He seems to be ready to pounce, to take any bullet coming my way, and it terrifies me.

“But you don’t.” Her voice is quieter. “You don’t love me because of her.”

“Bianca, please,” he begs.

“Admit it!” she shouts.

Haze

“But I do,” I say and look her right in the eyes. “I love you, Bianca.”

“What?” she chokes, her sobs reducing in intensity as the fire decreases in her stare.

“I love you. I was just… lying to myself.” I take a step toward her, which she allows. That’s a good sign.

“What about her?”

“She’s nothing to me. She’s a distraction.” I keep stepping forward. I’m getting closer. I can take the gun away from her if I act fast. From there, all I have to do is knock her out.

No, Haze, you have to at least try and get her to give it up by herself. You know what could happen if you fail. You can’t risk it.

You can’t risk Winter.

“You love me?” she repeats again, disbelief spreading across her features as she starts crying hysterically like she can’t believe that her dream is coming true.

“Yes, I promise.”

Just one more step.

One more and I’ll knock her out.