Breaking You (Blackthorn Elite 2)

He’s not wrong, but just because someone does something bad doesn’t mean that they automatically should die or go missing. If that were the case, the world would be a much better place.

“I’m just worried. I thought maybe you guys did something, but now that I know you didn’t, I wonder if something else happened to him. I know what he did was fucked up, but that doesn’t mean we have to be as ruthless as he was.”

“If there is anything to be found, the police will find it. No point in worrying over nothing.” Parker shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“You should eat something,” Warren says, and I nod in agreement. I should, but I’m not sure I could stomach any food right now. I’ve been feeling nauseous all day long, and now the worrying is making it even worse.

“I’ll grab something,” I say just to appease him. Leaving my backpack on the chair, I get up and walk over to the line. Grabbing a tray, I place a slice of pizza, an apple, and a bottle of water down on it and move to the front of the line to pay.

When I return to my seat, it’s just Parker and Warren sitting there. I place the tray on the table and pick the pizza slice up to take a bite, but my stomach clenches so badly it feels like all of its contents are going to come flying out of it.

Dropping the slice back down on the tray, I stare at the apple. Should I even try?

“Are you okay?” Warren asks, concern etched into his features.

“Yeah, just a stomach bug, I think. Maybe I’ll go home and try and sleep it off.”

“That sounds good. I’ll come with you and keep you company.” He wiggles his eyebrows, but I shake my head because there will be none of that. I feel like I’m going to barf all over the place.

“I’m sure that’s what you’ll do,” Parker snorts, “keep her vagina company, more like.”

Warren shrugs, “So, she’s mine, and so is her pussy. I’ll do with it as I please.”

“Can we please go,” I interrupt them before they can get into a full-on conversation about vaginas, something neither of them has.

“Yes,” Warren sighs, and we get up and dump our trays. Parker says goodbye and runs off, probably to meet up with Willow.

By the time we reach the car, I’m so exhausted, I sag into my seat and let my eyes drift closed. Sleep comes to me far easier than expected, and I pray that when I wake up, this illness will be over with.

I wake completely disoriented, my eyes scanning the nearly dark room, while the familiar scent of Warren fills my nostrils. The soft mattress cradles my body, and I lie there for a long second. The last thing I remember is falling asleep in the car. I must’ve really been out of it if I didn’t wake up when he carried me in?

Before I can draw up a conclusion, I’m rushing from the bed, my feet sliding across the floor as I barely make it to the toilet in time to vomit. My eyes water and my throat burns as my fingers curl around the toilet bowl, while my stomach empties itself.

After a few minutes, I stop vomiting and manage to push away from the toilet. My eyes move over the contents that line the back of it, and dread consumes me when I notice the not even open box of tampons.

They sit there, taunting me while I try and do the math inside of my head. I can’t be, there isn’t any way. I’m on birth control…

“Oh, god…” I whisper in horror. Whirling around, I run from the bathroom and back into the bedroom. Warren isn’t anywhere to be seen, and that only leaves me feeling more panicked. Walking out into the living room, I find him sitting on the couch. My heart clenches in my chest when I see his half-shadowed face.

He looks broken, shattered, and I know instantly that something is wrong.

As I pad across the floor toward him, his eyes shoot up and land on mine.

“And the queen finally wakes up.” He smiles, but it’s not full of joy or sunshine. It’s cruel and angry. I swallow thickly and stop in my tracks, wondering if I should really tell him right now. He looks like he might kill someone, me included.

“Is everything okay?” I croak.

“Of course, come here. I’ve missed you. Are you feeling better?” His eyes soften, and the tension in the room eases.

“Well, actually no,” I whisper. When I reach him, he circles my waist with his hands and buries his face in my chest. He inhales deeply like I’m oxygen, and he needs me to breathe.

My heart thuds so loudly in my chest that I wonder if he can tell how scared I am right now. The pungent smell of whiskey tickles my nostrils and my stomach rolls. Oh, god, not again.