“You think we won’t call the police?” he threatened. “You should’ve run.”
“I’m not running,” Damon said, staring at the wall. “Call them.”
I swallowed, pain stretching my throat. I knew Kai was looking at me. What could I say? Please, don’t.
My father won’t let Damon go back to prison. He’ll send him somewhere where he can’t embarrass him again, and he’ll keep him there, out of sight, for however long it takes for Damon to get a hold of himself.
If I were Kai, I’d know Damon deserved to suffer. I’d know what I needed to do for the safety of my friends and family.
But I wasn’t Kai.
I closed my eyes, my chin trembling. I was too close to the situation. My heart couldn’t bear to see him suffer anymore.
“Rika?” Kai said, coming up to me and threading his fingers through mine. “Michael? Will? You guys do what you need to do. I can’t deal with this now.”
He pressed his lips into my temple. I couldn’t ask any of them to just let him go, but I was grateful Kai stood with me.
No one spoke, and I opened my eyes to see Rika look away from Damon. There was anger in her eyes, but also conflict.
And confusion. He had just saved her from getting hurt or worse.
And what had he whispered to her before the guys showed up?
“Don’t get confused,?
?? Damon told her. “I’m not a good guy. Call the police.”
Michael turned, looking ready to hit him, but Rika pulled him back. “Get the fuck out,” she growled to Damon. And then she turned away, breathing so hard her anger looked ready to spill over.
Damon cast me a look, and there was so much I wanted to say.
But we both knew he had to get out of here before she changed her mind.
He walked out, and I heard the front door swing open, the sound of the rain pouring in.
What if I never saw him again? Damon was all I had for so long. Everything was new now. My home, my days, even my clothes…I exhaled, pain twisting my stomach.
I ran out of the room and out the front door. “Damon!”
Tears streamed down my face, and I could barely see him through the blur in my eyes. But I saw his dark form stop and slowly turn around. Blood had dried around his eye, but the rain had washed most of it away.
“Did you ever love me?” I asked.
He slowly approached me, staring hard. “Love is pain, Nik,” he told me. “It’s never felt good.”
“Not even my love?”
He dropped his eyes, shaking his head. “I don’t want to hurt you. Anymore,” he added. “That’s all I know.”
He backed up slowly, finally turning around and walking down the long, dark driveway until he disappeared into the night.
I just stared after him, into the empty darkness. It’s never too late.
Banks
Present
The October wind howled outside, making the otherwise quiet house creak under the pressure. It had to be about three in the morning, but I wasn’t making any move to check my phone. Kai and I sat on the bed, me in between his legs and resting back into his chest as he sat propped up against the headboard. I fiddled with his fingers, threading mine in and out of his. Today was Halloween.