Real Girl (Aston Creek High 4)

I come to a startling halt, my hands up and raised as my eyes flick between Lucien and Skylah. As she scrambles to unlatch the window, someone steps in behind her, raising a gun to the back of her head.

Oh, no, no, no, baby. Don’t you fucking move.

I need to get her out of here.

Skylah pauses, not moving a single muscle in her body. We’re at a fucking loss here. I’m more than willing to risk my life to save hers. I would lay my life down for her any fucking day of the week, but I will not put her in harm’s way like this. I fucking refuse. If I knew she would have ended up with a gun at her head, I would have stayed at home. I would have found another way.

I don’t know what the fuck to do.

If I move, Lucien won’t hesitate to shoot me. If she moves, she dies and I can guarantee if she gets shot, I’ll end up dead because there’s no way in hell that I’ll have the strength to hold back from trying to kill these motherfuckers myself.

I meet Skylah’s eyes. They’re so fucking beautiful, so full of love, and the promise of an incredible future, but they’re also fucking terrified. For the first time, I’m starting to believe that I might never see her again.

All I know is that right now, we’re both fucked.

Chapter 6

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!

How did we get into this situation?

Why the hell would he be so stupid? Why did he come here?

I stand with my hands against the window and a gun trained at the back of my head, silently begging Slade to walk away. If he doesn’t move, if he just stops looking this way and promises to never come back, Lucien just might let him go.

He needs to let him go. I need him to let Slade go.

How am I ever supposed to go on knowing that Slade was killed here today? It’s one thing being able to survive knowing that he’s living a full and happy life. I could at least breathe knowing he was living his dreams, having all the babies in the world, and marrying a beautiful supermodel. Him not living at all? I couldn’t survive that. I couldn’t get up every day in a world that he didn’t exist in. I could never forgive myself for bringing him into this. Slade deserves so much better.

He should have just stayed at home. What did he think was going to happen when he walked in here? He came strutting in, jumping the fence like he’s broken into a million properties and started making his way around the place as though he owned it.

Maybe he was doing it on purpose, trying to draw Lucien out. If that was his plan, it worked like a fucking charm. Judging by the panic in his eyes though, I can assure you that he hadn’t planned this. I’d do anything to throw myself out of this window and run to him, but it’s never going to happen. I’ll be shot before I even get my fingers curled around the latch and Slade would be shot just for the sake of it. After all, there’s nothing quite like letting a loose end get away.

Keeping his gun held high, Lucien strides toward Slade and fuck, he looks absolutely thrilled to have him in this position.

He says something and I curse the stupid window for locking out their conversation but as Slade’s eyes come back to mine and his hands interlock behind his head, dread sinks heavily into my stomach.

‘I love you,’ Slade mouths, looking as though he’s saying goodbye. I shake my head despite the pain it brings from the gun at the back of it. I need to tell him this isn’t over. Why the fuck does he look like he’s giving up? What’s Lucien saying out there?

Lucien glances back, clearly knowing I’m watching. After all, he’s the one who wanted me to watch the show on the monitor. He’s probably loving the fact that now I get to see it up close and personal. He grins wickedly and I want nothing more than to steal the gun from the back of my head, knock this fucking guard out and then shoot Lucien right between is eyes.

What kind of monster has he turned me into?

Lucien’s head is thrown back in laughter and I watch as he looks back at Slade and indicates with the gun for him to get down on his knees.

My heart races.

There’s back and forth conversation and when Slade’s face breaks and his eyes come to me, I know that whatever was said couldn’t have been good.

Regret flashes in his beautiful eyes.

No, no. NO. Don’t you dare get on your knees before Lucien Valentine.

Slade begins lowering himself to his knees and a sob pulls at my throat. “NO,” I scream, slamming my hands against the glass. “Don’t you dare give up. Get up.”