Текст книги "Fear me"

Автор книги: B. B. Reid

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Текущая страница: 22 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep until I woke up in a dark room again but this time there wasn’t any feeling of fear. I reluctantly rolled over to my back with a low groan.  I thought about the homework I needed to get done. Keiran was distracting me way too much. I had to keep a head start on my homework for good grades.

I rubbed the spot next to me where he’d been and found it cold. How long was I out for? I quickly left his room and heard the television downstairs so I followed the sound. When I reached the living room I saw only his uncle sitting on the leather sofa. He looked up at me seemingly sensing my presence. I couldn’t meet his eyes after what Keiran and I did upstairs. I’d forgotten that he was home. Sexual desire had once again clouded my judgment and I prayed that he didn’t hear us.

“They’re in the basement,” he offered. I would have said thanks but he’d already turned back to the television so I left.

When I opened the door I could hear a buzzing sound drift up from the bottom of the stairs and the low rumble of Keiran’s voice. I walked down and found Keiran sitting in a chair with a bottle of alcohol in his hands and Keenan sitting behind him holding a needle gun. They looked up and noticed me as I walked closer.

“What are you guys doing?”

“He finally let me work on him.” Keenan grinned and dipped the needle in ink and brought it to his back. I instinctively stretched my neck to see but couldn’t see what he was drawing from here.

“Keiran?”

“I’m forgiving myself,” he said with sarcasm, holding my gaze and bringing the bottle to his lips again. I didn’t know Keiran to drink heavily but then again I didn’t know much about him still.

“By getting a tattoo?”

“By confessing my sins the only way I can.”

That took me by surprise. “Oh.”

“Come here.” He patted his lap and Keenan scowled at his back.

“Be still, man.” Keenan looked up at me with a sly smile. “Hey, Lake, what’s with all the claw marks? You ruined my canvas.” I ignored Keiran’s offer and Keenan’s comment and pulled up a chair in front of him. As badly as I wanted to see what he was doing I ignored the temptation and rested my hands on my knees.

“Don’t you need a license to do that?” They both snorted and Keenan continued to work. “Is it because of what I said?” I went on, changing questions.

“No,” he answered without hesitation.

“Oh.” I wondered again what sins could an eight-year possibly commit and I once again thought about the girl in the photo. I didn’t know if it was wise to bring it up to him. It would open up a can of worms for sure and I still may not get any answers.

“How bad does it hurt?”

“I’ve felt worse.”

“I should get one –”

“No,” he said vehemently.  “I want your body just the way it is. And there is no way in hell anyone is getting their hands on you.”

“Be for real, Keiran.”

“I am. I said no.”

“Shelly’s got one,” Keenan piped in, interrupting our silent stare down.

“Where?” I asked. I haven’t seen one and she never mentioned getting one.

“On her ass. I put my name there a few months ago,” he said cockily.  Sheldon was still seventeen so I was sure her parents didn’t allow that.

“Let me guess…her parents don’t know?”

“Nope. Her dad would kill me.”

“So why do it?”

“We were drinking and –”

“Wait, you tattooed her while you guys were drunk?”

He shrugged. “It came out pretty good.”

“That’s not the point and you know it.”

“Ha, all four of us have been drinking since we were thirteen. We can handle our liquor.” I shook my head but didn’t say anything else. They were all crazy. “I promise not to tattoo your ass while I’m drunk.”

“You won’t go anywhere near her ass,” Keiran barked.

Keenan snorted and rolled his eyes. “Guy gets his first girlfriend and suddenly he thinks he’s the boss of everyone.”

“Keenan –” Keiran began.

As much screwing as he did I was sure there had to have been a girlfriend or two, or six so I asked, “What about Anya?”

“That crazy nut? No way! She isn’t even that good of a lay,” Keenan said before Keiran could respond.

“And how would you know? She was Keiran’s girlfriend. You already have a girlfriend.”

“She wasn’t my girlfriend.” Keiran finally answered, cutting Keenan off.

“That’s not what she said.” I crossed my arms over my chest and sat back in my seat.

“Are we really going to do this right now? I fucked her twice. The second time only happened because I was drunk and she hopped on my dick uninvited.”

“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes again. I seem to do that a lot around him. He narrowed his eyes at me and breathed through his nose and I could tell he was getting pissed.

“Why do girls always ask questions they don’t want to know the answer to?” Keenan asked. Keiran ignored him and continued to stare at me.

“They’re hardwired that way,” Dash said appearing from the stairs with Sheldon right behind him. “Aw man, you’re getting tatted? Me next.”

“I haven’t finished your design yet. Why do you have to be so complicated anyway?”

“I’m a deep man. What can I say? This one is special.” He then turned his gaze on me. “Hey, Lake. You talk to your girl yet?”

Shit, Willow! I’d forgotten about her because I was so wrapped up in Keiran. I am such a shitty friend. “No, actually, I haven’t. Excuse Me,” I said standing up and heading for the stairs.

“Hey, I’ll come with,” Sheldon said. I shrugged and made my way up the stairs. When I got to Keiran’s room I pulled my cell phone out of my bag and saw a missed call from her. I dialed Willow and waited for her to pick up.

“Thank God. I thought you abandoned me,” she sniffled.

“Do you have a cold?”

“No. My mom is home.” Willow and her mom didn’t usually get along well. She hated how independent and free Willow was. It only got worse when she found out about Dash. Now all they did was argue. Her mom was always pushing her past hang-ups on her. “Are you home? I want to come over.”

“I’m at Keiran’s but I’ll come now.”

She let out a dry laugh. “We both know that isn’t about to happen. When was the last time you slept in your own bed?”

“His uncle is home.”

“Oh snap. You met him? What’s he like?”

“Intense.”

“Maybe it runs in the family.”

“Yeah, maybe. Anyway I don’t think I’ll be staying over tonight. That would be too weird.” We talked for a few more minutes before I passed the phone to Sheldon who wanted to talk to her. I left the bedroom and went back to the basement. Their low voices instantly put me on alert and I paused on the stairs.

“Arizona, Kentucky, and Wisconsin are battling right now. They’re at the top of my list. I haven’t made a decision.”

“Because of Lake, right? Where is she going?”

“I don’t know. She hasn’t said.”

“So ask her.”

“I’m getting to it, moron. I had to take care of those other two.”

“What did Mario do with them?”

“He’s keeping them on ice for me.”

“He’s a scary motherfucker. How do you know that guy?”

“He used to be a partner with the people who owned me.”

“Shit.”

“Fuck.”

Owned him? Someone owned him? Oh hell no. I needed him to talk. “Who owned you?” I asked, walking the rest of the way down the stairs.

“Lake…”

“No, Keiran. You just said someone owned you.”

“Let it go,” he said through clenched teeth.

“I can’t just let it go. I have a right to know.”

He stomped over to me and pushed me against the wall by the staircase. “You don’t have the right to shit but what I tell you. My past is my own.”

“But you said –”

“I know what I said. It’s none of your business.”

“Why do Dash and Keenan get to know?”

“For fuck sake, girl—“

“Um, guys? As much as this turns me on to watch you fight, we need to go.” Keenan deadpanned.

“Go? Where are you going?”

“We are going to play laser tag,” Keiran emphasized.

“Yeah, it’s Monday Madness. All the food you can eat and my boy Teddy is working tonight so we get drinks too. Let’s roll!” He and Dash ran up the stairs tripping and shoving each other to get to the top first.

“I’ve never played laser tag.”

“No? Well then you can’t be on my team. I don’t lose,” he gloated. I hit him on the shoulder and his eyes danced with mischief.

“Can I see your tat?”

“It’s not finished.”

“Oh…later then?” As he stared down at me I could see the turmoil behind his eyes. He stepped away from me and jammed his fingers in his hair. Did he already regret getting the tattoo?

“We need to go,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me up the stairs. I heard Keenan creating a ruckus as soon as we reached the first floor.

“What are you pigs doing here? This isn’t the time we scheduled.”

“We’d just thought we’d come ask a few questions and maybe have a look around. We hope you don’t mind,” one of the suits said but his tone suggested he didn’t care otherwise.

“You can ask your questions from the doorstep because you aren’t stepping foot inside this house without a warrant.”

“Do we need one Mr. Masters?” the second detective asked in a gruff tone. “Is your father home by any chance? We’d really like to speak with him as well.”

“Don’t you guys have some donuts you need to suck back or was that just my cock?”

“Keenan, let those officers in and stop being a pain in my ass,” his father ordered from somewhere in the house. Keenan sucked his teeth but didn’t budge. Keiran went straight to the door and I followed behind. I don’t know why but I felt the need to stand between Keiran and trouble. Someone had to be the voice of reason.

“We aren’t interested in whatever the fuck you think you know,” he said without preamble.

“You know why we are here son. We just want to ask some questions about Ms. Risdell and Officer Reynolds’s son’s disappearance. “

“So ask them.” He crossed his arm over his chest and stood next to Keenan who now wore a cocky expression on his face.

“This is hardly the way to conduct an interview.” The officer appeared flustered and angry and I tried to stifle my laugh but they must have heard when their gazes landed on me.

“Ah, Ms. Monroe. How convenient. We were planning to pay you a visit next. Do invite us in.”

“Not my house,” I said and walked up to Keiran, molding myself against his back. My touch seemed to relax him as I felt the tension in his back fade.

“How cute,” the officer mocked, noticing our embrace.

“We’ll be back,” his partner warned as they retreated to their car.

“Dude, you sound like a Terminator reject.”

“I loved that movie,” Keiran commented.

Ha! A fact about Keiran. I was getting somewhere. “Me three,” I piped. They turned to grin at me.

“Thanks for sending those pigs squealing,” Keenan grinned. “One for all…”

“And all for one.” I bumped fists with him when he held his out.

“I hated that movie,” Keiran added.

“Only because it had a happy ending.”

“I hated that movie too, actually.”

“You two lovebirds make me sick.”

“Jealous?”

He snorted. “No. Dating Sheldon is like dating a guy and a girl at the same time. It’s awesome. Although I do wonder sometimes…”

“Where is Sheldon,” I asked, looking around.

“She and Dash went ahead. I hung back for you guys. Took long enough.”

“Shut up.” Keiran cuffed Keenan on the back of his head. Just then their uncle came out of the living room.

“Where are you boys going?”

“Laser tag,” Keenan answered shortly. Keiran barely spared him a glance.

“Well stay out of trouble and get this girl home at a decent hour. Don’t make me come looking for you,” he warned.

“Sure thing pops,” Keenan agreed, halfheartedly. John grunted and went back into the living room.

Keiran pulled me by the hand and we left out of the house. “Oh, wait. My phone.” I turned to go back inside for it when Keenan stopped me.

“Shelly gave it to me to give to you.” Keenan handed me my phone.

“Hey, do you think Willow could come?”

“I don’t mind, but you do know Dash will be there right?”

“Yes I know. It won’t hurt to ask.” Once we got into Keiran’s car I dialed Willow who answered on the first ring.

“Please tell me you’re home,” she breathed into the phone.

“No but I have something better. Come play laser tag with us.”

“Us?”

“Yeah. Keiran, Keenan, Sheldon, and…”

“And Dash?” she guessed.

“Yeah, but –”

“I’ll come,” she cut in. “But I’m bringing Buddy as reinforcement.”

* * *

“You can’t wear bright colors to laser tag! Dude,” Keenan looked at Dash, “tell her she can’t wear bright clothes to laser tag.” Willow had just met us outside of the arena appearing as flamboyant as usual despite her earlier mood. She’d dressed in only jeans and T-shirt that showed off her figure but her jeans were pink and shirt was purple.

“I tried to tell her,” Buddy said walking up to slap hands with the guys.

“Suck it, morons. I’ll wear what I want.”

“She’s on your team,” Keenan whined to Dash.

Dash ignored him and continued to stare at Willow while Willow looked everywhere but at him. After a few moments of tense silence he smirked and walked over to Keiran and began whispering low to him. I knew they were up to something.

“Alright,” Keiran spoke up. “We aren’t pairing up. This is a free for all.”

Willow then flipped off Keenan who smiled and blew kisses at her. Sheldon caught them and hit his arm, growling, “she’s mine.” I laughed at the little competition they seemed to have over her.  Sometimes I think Sheldon really did have a crush on Willow.

“Thank fuck! I love you sis but you’ll get me killed.” Buddy had his war face on as if this was real. Boys.

“You guys are ridiculous.” She snatched the gear he offered to her and huffed.

Dash explained the rules and we activated our sensors. Just before we started, I noticed Dash lean in behind Willow and whisper something in her ear with an evil look on his face. Her face paled and her eyes widened and suddenly she took off in the darkness of the arena. He chuckled and followed after her but it didn’t seem as if he was in a hurry. Sheldon, Buddy, and Keenan all ran into the arena and I could immediately hear the sound of lasers firing.

“Standing there is a good way to lose,” Keiran said.  “It’s okay. I always save the best for last.” He disappeared inside the arena, the dark swallowing him up.

I clutched my weapon and slowly walked in. As soon as I did, my sensor beeped and I looked over to see Keenan bouncing up and down in victory. On his second bounce he was tagged in mid-air by Keiran who turned and winked in at me. Another series of shots were fired so I ducked for cover behind a low wall near the entrance. My blood was already pumping with excitement. Keeping low I moved cautiously around the arena, which had grown quiet so I knew the guys were on the hunt. I wondered how Sheldon and Willow were fairing.

“Ah babe, you got me! How could you?” I heard Keenan yell somewhere in the distance.

I looked over the wall and saw a flash of blonde hair a few feet in front of me. It was Buddy with his back turned but he looked like he was concentrating on something and that’s when I noticed Keiran. He was about to catch him unaware. I knew we technically weren’t on the same team but he fierce need to protect him even in a silly game overrode my common sense. I shot up and tagged Buddy from behind just as Keiran turned and tagged Buddy from the front. He knew he was there all along!

Buddy spun around and looked at us both in shock before running off, leaving Keiran and me to face off. He stared at me and I stared back while he seemed to be praising and challenging me with his eyes. I quickly fired a shot but missed and as I ran off I could hear him say, “I’m hurt baby but still you have to actually aim the gun at me.”

Cocky bastard. As I maneuvered throughout the arena I realized it was built like a maze with a few good hiding spots but I was now too in to the game to hide as I searched for my next target.

I quickly rounded the corner and bumped into a hard chest that knocked me down on my ass. “Well, well, well. Look who I have here. Tell you what sweetheart. Say you’ll leave my cousin for me and I might consider letting you live.”

I plastered a thoughtful look on my face while he stared down at me. “Not a chance,” I said and fired off two shots to his chest. I rolled away like they did in the movies and ducked behind another wall, escaping his return fire.

I stalked around the arena looking for my next victim. Jeez, Lake you’re having way too much fun with this. “Pssst.” I looked around for the source of the sound but didn’t see anyone. “Up here, girl.” I looked up and saw Sheldon sitting on one the walls.

“How did you get up there?”

“Being a cheerleader has its perks.” She jumped down in front of me with a wily grin on her face. “Want to form a secret alliance and take these douche bags down?”

I didn’t even have to think about it. “Sure.”

“Sweet.”

“Wait, where is Willow?”

She shrugged and said, “Don’t know—haven’t seen her.” Dash probably got his paws on her.

“Where is your brother?”

“I don’t know that either.” She smirked and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. “We got to move. I’ll take right, you take left.” She was gone again before I could respond.

“Consorting with the enemy?” I whirled around and found Keiran lounging against the wall.

“Are you following me?”

“Yes,” he answered shamelessly.

“Why?”

“It’s laser tag, babe.”

“Well stop it anyway.” He didn’t respond but continued to watch me. “Are you going to shoot me?”

“You mean like you tried to shoot me?”

“Well do it already.”

He shook his head and stood up straight. “I told you I was saving the best for last.”

“I could shoot you.”

“You could. But you won’t.”

I aimed the laser gun at him. “I won’t?” Oh shit, will I? Keiran was watching me intensely so he didn’t see the dot on his chest until it was too late. He’d been tagged.

“Score for the Dream Team, yeah baby!” Sheldon burst around the corner and shuffled her feet around. “I got the big bad Keiran!” She blew imaginary smoke from her weapon.

Keiran watched me with a small smile on his face. “You’re going to pay for that later,” he promised me even though Sheldon had been the one to tag him. A shiver of anticipation ran through me.

“Don’t make promises you probably shouldn’t keep.” His smile spread wider at my challenge.

“Will you two stop eye fucking each other? We have a war to finish!” Sheldon dragged me off and Keiran once again disappeared from sight but I knew he was still stalking me around the arena.

We played non-stop after that. Buddy, Keenan, and Sheldon were tagged out, ending our secret alliance. That left Keiran and me. Oh and Dash and Willow – if anyone could find them.

The arena was silent as I moved through it. Keiran and I seemed to be evading each other pretty well…unless he already knew where I was. I quickly looked behind me but didn’t see any sign of him. I was hunting him just as much as he was hunting me but that didn’t stop me from feeling like the prey. I stopped by one of the high walls and took out the map the officials gave us. Where the hell was he?

“You never were good at hiding from me.” I heard him behind me, and spun around to find him moving out the shadows. I tried to run but he was too fast as he hit me twice in the chest. I was tagged out. “I win.”

* * *

We left the arena with my hand swallowed up by his larger one. I lost but it wasn’t surprising. Buddy, Sheldon, and Keenan were waiting nearby, their gear already shed.

“Where is Dash and Willow?” They all shrugged and I immediately looked up at the Keiran. When he quickly averted his gaze, I narrowed my eyes.

“Buddy could you please go see where you sister is?” Keiran’s hand squeezed mine in warning but I ignored him.

“Why?” he asked and stayed seated.

“Remember that time in the fifth grade…”

“I’m going.” He shot up from his seat and disappeared back inside the arena.

“What happened in the fifth grade?” Keenan asked.

“A lady never tells.” Sheldon answered for me.

He looked at her with his eyebrows raised. “You’re a lady?” She slapped his arm and he stole a deep kiss from her. In no time she was in his lap and they were making out.

Keiran and I were shedding our gear when Buddy came out of the arena with a disturbed look on his face. “Buddy?” I asked concerned.

“There are just some things a brother should never see.” He shook his head and walked past us and into the main lobby.

“Come on. I want to feed you,” Keiran said and took my hand.

“But we have to wait for Dash and Willow.” He ignored me and continued pulling me into the dining area. Buddy was already seated at a large booth so we slid in with him.

“Buddy, what did you see?” Instead of answering me he looked at Keiran and then back at me and shook his head.

“I’d rather not relive that thank you very much.”

“Hey, did you order already?” Dash asked as he sat down and pulled Willow in after him. I stared at Willow, willing her to look at me but she avoided my gaze and looked down at her hands so I kicked her under the table.

“Oww!” She finally looked at me and I gave her a pointed look, which she ignored.

“Dude, what the fuck?” Buddy asked Dash.

He grinned at him. “You’ll thank me later, youngin.”

“But that’s my sister! Besides…I’ve been dancing that dance since I was thirteen.”

“Ewww, Buddy!”

He cut his eye at her. “Do you really want to go there after what I just saw?” Her cheeks colored and she looked back down.

“Keiran let me out. I have to pee,” I huffed when he didn’t budge. When he finally moved I raced to the bathroom. I didn’t realize I’d been holding it but when the excitement of the game died I felt the need to pee. I used the bathroom and looked in the mirror. For some reason, I found myself freeing my hair from the band and letting it fall around my shoulders and down my back.

For fuck sake! When did I start caring about how my hair looked? I left the bathroom, annoyed with myself. Next I would be wearing five-inch pumps to school. I once again thought about Anya and Trevor’s disappearance. I have to get Keiran to talk.

“You should be more careful of the company you keep.”

“Mr. Martin?” He was standing near the back exit. What was he doing here?

“Yes, dear.”

“Sorry. I didn’t think this would be your type of place.”

“There is a lot you don’t know about me, young lady.”

Whoa. Because that didn’t sound creepy… “Well, it was nice seeing you,” I replied feeling awkward and creeped out.

He quickly approached me with his hand reached out as if he would grab me. “Before you go –

“Come here, Lake.” Dash appeared behind me and was standing near the men’s bathroom. The look he gave Mr. Martin was chilling. I walked over to him and he grabbed my hand. I was secretly grateful for his sudden appearance. I didn’t like the vibes I was getting from him.

“I was only talking to her, young man.”

“Yeah? Well you’re done talking.”

The hard look that appeared on Mr. Martin’s face scared me. I’d never seen him be anything other than charming and polite. But as soon as the look appeared it was gone again. He gave us a polite smile and excused himself, leaving out the back door.

“Who was that guy?” Dash asked while frowning at the door Mr. Martin disappeared through.

“Mr. Martin. He comes by my job – excuse me – my old job, a lot. Why?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

I shrugged his suspicion off. “Six Forks isn’t all that small.”

“Still, you should stay away from him.”

“He’s harmless, Dash. Charlie thinks he has a crush on me. He’s actually very polite and a gentleman,” I argued.

“Would you rather hear this from me or Keiran?” He raised an eyebrow and looked down at me.

“Good point,” I grumbled then thought better of it. “Despite what you or anyone else thinks. Keiran isn’t my father. I had a father and he left.”

“Keiran wants to control you but he also wants to keep you safe. I can understand that need.”

“You know…you may have a shot again if you stop trying to manipulate her.”

“Oh yeah? How?” He raised an eyebrow and looked at me skeptically.

“Be the guy she fell in love with.”

* * *

A couple of hours later, Keiran was parking his car in my driveway and I finally admitted I had a fun night. My aunt would be pissed if she found out I stayed out this late on a Monday night. I leaned over to kiss him goodnight and couldn’t deny how natural it felt but when he leaned away from me and shut off his engine, the feeling faded away fast.

“Who is Mr. Martin?”

“No need to be jealous babe, he’s like fifty.” I smiled at him, but he didn’t reciprocate. When he continued to stare me down, I sighed and sat back in the seat. “I don’t know really. He’s some guy that comes around the gym. I met him about a year ago.”

He shook his head and took his gaze off of me to stare out the windshield. “You continue to test my patience,” he whispered and I got the feeling he wasn’t really talking to me.

“How am I testing you?”

“Stay away from him.”

“He’s harmless.”

“Lake!”

“Don’t raise your voice at me, Keiran. I can hear you just fine.”

“You’re a pain in my ass,” he gritted.

“Ditto.” We sat in silence for a moment, each in our own thoughts. “What did you do with Anya and Trevor?”

“What makes you think I did something to them?”

“Maybe because I saw Dash and Keenan take off with them and maybe because I overheard you tell them that Mario has them. Tell me the truth.”

He sat for so long not saying anything that I almost gave up on it. “I’m setting them up to be given to the same people who kept me for seven years.”

“Kept you?”

He looked reluctant to go on before he answered. “Yes. Before I came here I worked for some bad people at a very young age.”

“But I thought you were with your mother?” Keiran’s past was puzzling. I struggled to put the pieces together with the little I had. Nothing made sense.

“She’s the reason I had to work for those people.”

“Don’t you know who they are?”

“No.”

“So how will you know who to give Trevor and Anya to?”

“Mario will handle that. I don’t know because I don’t want to know. The less that connects me to them, the less chance I have of getting caught.”

“So what will he do with them?”

“They’ll disappear. They won’t be killed…as long as they do what they are told.” Keiran’s explanation was sketchy at best and it all sounded horrible. As much as I hated Anya and Trevor for what they did and all that they planned I didn’t think I could live with it on my conscience.

“Get them back.” I stated, holding my voice firm.

His head whipped around, his gaze burning hot over me. “What?”

“I want you to bring them back.”

“No.” His jaw hardened and I could see the muscles within his cheekbone clench.

“We can’t do this to them. Look at what it did to you.”

He shrugged. “I survived.”

“Did you?”

“Doesn’t matter. They don’t come back. Ever.”

“Then I want nothing to do with you. Stay away from me.” I threw open the passenger door and slammed it shut. Keiran was out and around my side before I could move two steps. He grabbed me up by my upper arms and forced me up against the side of the car.

“If you have any idea of what they were planning for you, you wouldn’t be spouting this bullshit out of your mouth. I don’t give a fuck if you like how I protect you but I will protect you. It’s my burden to bear.”

“And mine!” I cried.

He released a ragged breath and looked as if he wanted to strangle me. “Lake…”

“I’m serious. Get them back or stay away from me. I won’t let you make my soul as ugly as yours.” When he flinched my hand flew to my mouth, muffling my horrified gasp. I realized what I just said at the same time my heart crashed and shattered at my feet.  The look on his face broke my heart. I did that. I knew I hurt him worse then he’d ever hurt me.

“Keiran, I –” I was cut off when he shoved away from me and looked down at me with a deeper hatred than I’ve ever seen in his eyes before. It was suddenly over as abruptly as it started and then he was gone.

I could only assume that he would walk out of my life now.