Die For Me (The Consumed Series Book 2)

Hana

Emily was silent on the walk back to the house. Maybe I shouldn’t have told her the truth about what Jack and Michael did to me. It wasn’t her burden to carry. It just felt imperative to reveal what led me to this, what had made me so desperate. I began to question if any of this was worth it. Michael kept pushing back against the entire situation. I knew it was unfair. I understood why he was so unwilling. He was so much more stubborn than Jack. Jack would die for me; I wasn’t sure if Michael would. Was that how I measured their love? It was twisted and toxic and wildly unhealthy, and isn’t that what led me to this entire situation? I was so far beyond having Stockholm Syndrome—I was fanatical. I drank the punch and jumped over the cliff with both of them.

When we walked into the house, Michael was sweeping up glass in the kitchen. The cabinet glass was shattered, and kitchenware was strewn everywhere.

“Where’s Jack?” I asked frantically.

As I walked closer to Michael, I realized he was sporting a swollen right eye. He looked up at me through his lashes, as if he were disappointed in me.

“He’s upstairs, probably icing the knuckles he used to punch me with.” His tone was understandably irritated and short.

I raised my eyebrows at him in shock. “He did all of this?” I pointed to the mess around us.

Michael set the broom aside and crossed his arms. “In part. Are you surprised? Aren’t you going to ask if I’m okay? Don’t you see this fucking bruised eye that I can barely see out of?”

I shook my head as I walked closer to him. I put my hand to his face and observed his swollen eye; even with the bruise he was still beautiful. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Emily cleared her throat. “I’ll give you guys some space.”

I turned as she walked out of the kitchen. Michael took my hand and kissed the top of my fingers, pulling me back into his gaze.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

He shook his head, disgust clear on his face. “He walked in here just to pick a fight with me. He sure does talk a lot of shit. I can see why he has such an extensive criminal history.” He twirled my hair casually as if we were talking about what we were making for dinner.

I scoffed. Would this be a common occurrence? Would I have to worry whenever I’m not in their presence? I told them not to touch each other if they were going to hurt each other; Jack had broken the rules.

“Well, what did he say?” I prodded.

Michael sighed. “Nothing you don’t already know.”

I sighed heavily as I shook my head. “I need to go talk to him.” I turned on my heels before Michael could respond, but I heard him muttering angrily under his breath.

I walked into our room to find Jack sitting on the bed, looking down at his phone. There was a hole in the wall next to the bathroom door—had he done that?

“Jack,” I said quietly as I shut the door behind me.

“I’m sorry, Hana. I’m sorry I hit him. I couldn’t help myself.” Jack looked up at me, his jaw clenched and his wide blue eyes full of regret. “Please don’t hurt yourself.”

He stood and wrapped his arms around me snugly, his chest heaving up and down as he started to cry. Fuck, this was taking a toll on everyone. Probably on Jack the most.

“I won’t, baby. I won’t,” I assured him, rubbing his back as I held him.

“I just need you, Hana. I need you, please don’t leave.” He sobbed.

I continued to calm him down, reassuring him that I forgave him and that I wouldn’t leave him. Of course I would never leave him; I already knew that he would die without me. If I took my own life, so would he. And I think it was the same for me.

We softly pressed our lips together just before there was a knock at the door. I sighed as we parted and opened the door. Emily looked concerned as she eyed both of us.

“Is everything okay?” she pried, clearly eyeing the hole in the wall.

I nodded. “Yeah. I think Michael is making dinner. Should we all go downstairs?” I glanced at Jack. His eyes hardened at Emily; he was probably upset at her interrupting us.

“Yes, let’s.” Jack suddenly smiled. Of course it wasn’t his real smile, it was a vicious smile he had saved for people he didn’t like. Emily gave him the very same one.

I grabbed Jack’s hand, and we all headed downstairs, the smell of something delicious filling the air. Michael had the table set, and the kitchen was now sparkly clean apart from the busted cabinets without glass in them. Emily sat at the table and pulled her phone out as Jack and I walked into the kitchen.

“Ah, there’s my love. And fucking Jack the ripper.” Michael glared at Jack as he held out a plate for me.

I cleared my throat. “Jack’s sorry he hit you. Right, babe?” I turned to Jack.

This felt so juvenile but it needed to be done.

Jack glared right back at Michael. “I sure am.” He smiled half-heartedly.

You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Ironically, I could see the butcher’s knife sitting on the counter near the fridge.

Michael clenched his jaw and turned to me. “Let’s eat.”

Dinner was awkward. Emily and I chatted, trying to drag Michael and Jack into the conversation, but they were quiet. Jack kept playing with his phone, and Michael finished eating quickly then went into the kitchen to start dishes.

Jack looked over at me and smiled once he was gone. “Do I get my hour soon?” he asked almost mockingly.

Emily turned and looked at me.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“I’m sure I don’t want to know.” She laughed to herself.

Jack kept his eyes on me then winked. My heart dropped to my knees. I was so in love with him. I was starting to wonder—but trying my best not to think of it—what if I loved him more than Michael?

* * *

Emily and I took another walk after dinner while the sun was setting. Jack went to turn in the rental car that he drove to Greenwich, so I wasn’t worried about them being alone again. I hugged myself as the air started to get crisp and looked down at the cement as we passed houses on the same route we took before.

“So,” Emily started. She seemed hesitant to speak. “You really think this is going to work out?”

I bit my lip as we continued to walk. I didn’t want to look at her—I wasn’t so certain anymore. How could they ever not hate each other? There was so much history, so much resentment. I was also scared of what Michael could do to Jack. Seeing Michael’s angry side frightened me, and I could tell he was holding back a lot of his enmity while we were all together. Would he snap? Would Jack? Jack was so passionate and impulsive—what if he threw another punch?

I sighed before I answered. “I don’t know. I’m hopeful, though.” I shrugged as I looked at her.

Emily eyed me warily. She looked terrified, like she wanted to tell me to run. She was holding back her true emotions as well, something she didn’t usually do.

“Well, you already know this is all fucking crazy,” she started. Ah, there she is. “But I want you to make your own decisions, Han. And please just…please be careful.” Her face was worried and torn.

I nodded. I knew what she meant. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? We can all go back in the morning.” I was trying to change the subject.

Emily laughed. “Yeah. It’s too fucking awkward being in that house. No offense.” She put her hand to my shoulder.

“As an outsider…I’m sure it is.”

We continued our walk until the stars were twinkling above us. We reminisced about our wild teenage years, roaming the streets of Greenwich, throwing crazy house parties that our parents somehow never found out about. I was laughing and starting to feel more like me again. And for the first time in a long time, I was starting to like myself.