Hating You (Blackthorn Elite 1)

Shaking my head, I tell him, “No, I’m not coming back.”

That must strike a nerve because his grip on my hand turns painful, “Don’t be stupid, of course, you are.”

I don’t even wince. All I do is frown because that’s the only thing I can seem to get my lips to do. “The only reason I attended that school was so my dad would pay for Ashton to stay in a better rehab facility. He told me I needed to befriend people and get invited to functions so he could have access to his old business partners again. That is the one and only reason I agreed to go. Now that, that reason is gone…” I trail off, on the verge of crying again.

“What about me?”

A lump forms in my throat. “I was a means to an end for you. We’re even now.” The words hurt me as much to say as I know they hurt him to hear.

That perfect jawline of his flexes, “We aren’t even, not even close.”

Shaking my head, I dismiss his statement. I don’t have it in me to fight with him. Not right now. I’m not going back though. Not now, or ever.

Silence fills the room, and my stomach starts to grumble loudly.

“When was the last time you ate?”

I shrug, “I don’t know, a couple of days.”

“Jesus,” Parker shakes his head and then pulls his phone out. “I’m going to go downstairs and get something to eat from the restaurant. I’ll be right back. I need a minute to think anyway.” When he lets go of my hand, a coldness sweeps through me. I hate this rift that’s forming between us, but what am I supposed to do? How else should I feel?

He leaves the room, the sound of the door clicking as it closes startles me, and I look up and realize that Brett is still here. Leaning against the small desk, I can feel him watching me. The heat of his gaze penetrates through my skin. The predatory way he’s looking at me makes me want to get up and run out of the room, but I grip onto my knees and remain seated.

He’s just angry, upset over what happened.

“You are just as beautiful as your sister was, just as stupid too,” he grins, and I feel like the world has been turned upside down. I feel off-balance, confused, and scared, really scared. It’s not even his words that scare me, it’s the look in his eyes that has a shiver running down my spine. His eyes are cold and empty, completely void of all emotions. And no emotions is worse than anything, worse than anger. It means deep down he’s unreachable. It means I should run, scream.

He takes a step toward me, and I instinctively scoot back on the bed, trying to get away from him. Parker will be here any second… I tell myself.

“Too bad your sister killed herself before I could have a little fun with her again, you know, for old times sake.”

“B-but… Nate…” I stutter, confused, so very confused.

“Yeah, Nate was there too, he was just smarter than me and put on a condom. All I had to do was put on a fucking condom…” He takes another step closer, and again, I move further away. Or at least, I try to. “Her pussy was just too good, and I paid the price…”

With my pulse thundering in my ears, I shuffle closer to the edge of the bed. I prepare myself for my next move, taking my eyes off him for a fraction of a second. In that second, Brett lunges forward, his fingers digging into my ankle. A scream catches in my throat when, with a sharp tug, he pulls my body back toward him.

“This time, I’ll make sure I don’t leave any evidence, not even a body.”

I squeeze my eyes closed as he descends on me, his fingers sinking into my hips so harshly it feels like he’s crushing the bone. Pain radiates through me, and inside my head, I pray. Pray, that Parker returns before he gets the chance to end me. Then again…maybe Parker’s just as big of a monster as his brother. Perhaps he’s in on it.

20

Parker

I don’t know what the fuck I expected to find here. Did I really think she would come back just for me? Did I think she would jump into my arms and be happy to see me?

What about me?

It took a lot to even say those words, and her answer was nothing but a kick in the nut sack. My chest still hurts from that kick. I have to remind myself that this is partially my own fault. I should have taken better care of her. I should have figured out why Willow was in Blackthorn, and I should have known what was going on with Ashton.