“Please say something,” he begs. When my silence lingers, he breaks down like a fucking chick. “I’m sorry,” He sobs. “They have a video of me and Hayden … you know that can’t get out, Demi. It can’t …” He sniffs. “Please tell me that you forgive me.”
“If you’re afraid of a video getting out, wait until I’m done with you.”
He gasps. “Wait … What? Deke, is that you?”
I don’t answer.
“I didn’t …”
“But you tried,” I shout, interrupting him, knowing where he is going. I can literally see the evidence on her body as she stands in front of me. He tried to drug her!
“She has to understand,” He growls, no longer begging for forgiveness since he knows I’m not Demi on the phone. “I helped her out when she wanted to fuck you. Putting on that fake fight for you to sweep in and feel like a fucking man trying to save her. The least she could have done was let me do what I needed to do to save my ass. It’s not like she was still a virgin anymore.”
My eyes swing to Demi’s at his confession, and I take a step toward her. “You’re dead.”
DEMI
You’re dead?
He still holds the phone to his ear, but his eyes are on mine. I’m not sure if he meant that for me or for Seth, but my heart pounds in my chest, nonetheless.
He pulls the phone from his ear, holds down the button to turn it off, and then throws it across the room. I hear it slide on the tile hallway that leads out of the living room. His eyes never leave mine. “Cole, take Austin—”
“No.” She interrupts him, coming to stand beside me.
My eyes shoot to Cole. He looks like he’s debating on staying. As if he wants to have a hand in whatever Deke plans on doing to me. Why do they think I’ve somehow betrayed them? I haven’t done shit to Cole.
“Now!” Deke shouts, making me jump.
Cole steps up to us, grabs Austin by the arm, and pulls her away from me. “Don’t you fucking hurt her, Deke!” she screams at Deke as Cole drags her out of the room. The front door slams shut moments later.
We stand in silence, facing one another with only a few feet separating us. He stands, shoulders pulled back, and he’s breathing heavily. He looks like a storm about to drown me before carrying me out to sea to never be found.
I swallow nervously. “I don’t know what he said …”
“Enough,” he says in a clipped voice.
“Deke, let me explain,” I growl, tired of this shit.
“How you played me?” He quirks a brow.
My jaw tightens. “This has nothing to do with you.”
“Bullshit!” he shouts.
I step into him. If I’m going to go out, I’m going to go out with some fucking balls. Men aren’t the only ones who can have them. “I did what …”
“Needed to be done.” He nods. “You said that before. And Seth obviously feels the same.”
I slam my fist in his hard chest. He doesn’t budge, but he grabs my wrist, and I whimper when he squeezes it tightly. “I never did anything to you against your will,” I shout, feeling the tears begin to burn my eyes. Once again, my sister wins. She fucked me over. I tried to do something to piss her off, and it burned me. I should have never let Deke touch me.
I hit him with my other fist, and he grabs that one too. I cry out when he holds them both captive. His long and strong fingers digging into my bony wrists.
He leans down, placing his face in front of mine, and whispers, “Two can play that game.”
“Deke … what …?”
“Seth told me that he helped you set me up. That first night I fucked you.”
My eyes widen. That sorry little bastard. I will out him. I will no longer keep his fucking secret.
“I’m guessing this is just another game you two are playing.” He spins around, drops my wrists and grips my neck, slamming my back into the wall by the TV. My vision blurs for a second from his force. When it clears, I see his murderous eyes stare into mine. “You asked me before if I wanted to hurt you.” He growls, tightening his hand.
I try to shove it away, but he’s too strong.
“The answer is that I want to fucking kill you, Demi. You’re a fucking pain in my ass. Your sister may be a fucking slut, but you are nothing to me. Do you understand that?” He shakes me and dots take over my vision. “Nothing.”
Panic sits in my bones as my body screams for a breath. To survive. I kick my feet, but all I hit is air. I slap at his face, but I don’t think he even feels it. My already bruised cheek throbs, and my head pounds. When that gets me nowhere, I scratch at his arm and try to shove his wrist away, but he’s just too strong. Tears run down my face, and he watches them as if fascinated. I’ve heard of the sharks and how ruthless they can be, but I’ve never seen one firsthand. Until now. He doesn’t care about me or my life. I’m a problem for him, and he’s going to make me go away. My lips move, but nothing comes out. I try to beg him to stop, but it’s pointless. My head pounds so hard it feels like it’s about to explode. I’m losing mobility, my body becomes heavy.