“That’s why she’s an ex.” Alex laughs, playing along. “Always pissing me off.”
Raylee nods once. “Yeah, I was going to call Raven yesterday before …” Nate kidnapped and raped her. “To check in. I’m worried about her.”
Alex sits up straighter, placing his forearms on the table. “Worried how?”
She shrugs. “Could be nothing, but Rick gave me the creeps. Tatum too.”
“Who the fuck is Rick?” Alex snaps.
“Uh…” She nibbles nervously on her busted bottom lip. “He was at Mitch’s party with her…”
“Goddammit,” he growls, snatching his phone off the table and storming out of the kitchen.
“How’s she doing?” Finn asks, getting my attention.
I sigh. How do I respond to that? She’s the same but different. She’s been starting fights with me over the past week. Often. I see them coming a mile away. She starts to shut down before my eyes. Then the next thing I know, she’s yelling at me, wanting a fight. Physically pushing me to the point I have to remind her whose name is carved into her ass.
She wants our sex rough. More than it ever has been, which is hard, considering she’s still healing. Every time, she cries during, sobs afterward, and then she’s better. It’s almost as if the sex is therapeutic for her. Her way of coping. I hate it, but I’d do anything for her. We fucked three times just yesterday alone.
“Good,” I finally say.
“It’ll get better.” He slaps my back as if he doesn’t believe my answer.
I don’t pretend to understand what she went through but watching the video gave me a better idea as to why she wanted me to fuck her. Why she needed me to remind her she belonged to me. Nate took something from her that she’s trying to get back. Raylee is stubborn, and she’s going to do whatever has to be done to prove to herself that she’s still the same Raylee. Even if that means pushing herself past her own limits.
She says something to Jenks, and my eyes fall on her once again. She’s dressed in one of my black hoodies, black skinny jeans, and black boots. Her bleach-blond hair is up in a messy bun, and she’s pushed her sunglasses to sit on top of her head.
We’re having dinner at our parents’ house next weekend. Raylee said by then she should be able to cover up what’s left of the bruising with makeup. I’ve decided I’m going to tell them about us. She doesn’t know it, and she may get mad at me, but I don’t care. I’ve kept her a secret long enough. I want to be the man she deserves, and that’s someone who is proud to love her. And if anyone disagrees with us being together, then fuck them. Her feelings are the only ones that matter to me.
RAYLEE
I TURN, LOOKING over my shoulder to see Colt talking to Finn. They look to be in a deep conversation. Their words are too hushed for me to hear what it’s about.
I’ve been pushing him more and more every day over the past week. More so than I ever have before. I think he really wants to kill me, but I’m not going to let up on him.
I love him, and he loves me.
I never expected my love to match my hatred for him. I thought the game of who can destroy the other was what would do us in. But love? That’s the deadliest kind of drug. I realized that day in his room after we got back from the Cathedral that his love for me can force him to do things against his will.
It gives me more power than I ever had.
Apart, we were our own worst enemy, but together? We’re explosive. An unbeatable team.
I haven’t apologized for setting his car on fire, and I never will. The stupid bastard should have never recorded us, let alone shared it on social media. Plus, I’m sure he’ll piss me off at some point, and I’ll set something else of his on fire.
“Have you spoken to Raven?” I ask Alex, placing my attention back on him.
He shakes his head. “Nope. She won’t answer my phone calls or return my texts.”
I’ll text her tomorrow. I’ve stayed hidden at the house with Colt. I haven’t even seen Tatum. Not until the stitches are out of my face and the bruises are faded more. Not wanting to have to talk about what happened. I want to move on. And it’ll be harder if I have to talk about it every day.
I feel a set of hands on my shoulders, and I jump. “Ready?” Colt whispers in my ear from behind me.
I nod, thankful he doesn’t acknowledge my unease. What Nate took from me isn’t going to return overnight, but I’m determined to move on and not let that fucker control my life. Right now, I feel good. It’s been a long week, but I’m healing. Like Colt said—one day at a time.