Chapter 5
EVERLEIGH
Scott places his hand on my mid-back as he eases me down the hall, away from Mira and Jensen.
As much as I hate to leave her side, I’m only here to find out what happened to the girl from the last party.
My father made it clear he wants me to find out whatever I can.
It shouldn’t be too difficult. Scott’s always been a flirt, and an annoying one too.
But aggressive? That doesn’t line up with the version of him I know.
Maybe the other girl misunderstood.
It might not have been him.
Scott is a common name, after all.
I know I’m going to find out soon as he eases me directly into one of the many bedrooms in the house.
After I walk through the threshold, the door clicks shut behind me. I turn, eyes dropping to the knob just as his hand twists the lock.
My stomach tightens. “What’re you doing?”
He looks up, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Just giving us some privacy.”
I take a few steps back, instinctively putting distance between us. “Privacy for what?”
He doesn’t say anything as he saunters toward me.
I retreat until the backs of my legs hit the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping slightly beneath me.
“Scott, are you drunk?” I laugh softly, even though nothing about this feels funny.
He shakes his head. “Nope.” He smiles. “I like to be fully aware for this kind of thing.”
His eyes flick to my cup, then back to my face. “You, on the other hand.. I gave you a little boost.”
The edges of the room blur, colors bleeding into one another.
“That’s.. not funny,” I manage to speak, but the words sound off when they come out.
I always watch my drink. Every damn time.
Not this time.
As he steps closer, I begin to feel dizzy and bile creeps up my throat.
One second there’s distance between us.
The next, there’s none at all.
Scott looms over me, my back already pressing into the mattress. “You’re so fucking hot,” he murmurs into my ear.
I try to push him away, but my arms fall limp.
“It’s easier this way. Otherwise, I would’ve had to suck up to you all night.”
His mouth drags down my neck.
“Don’t touch me.” I squeak.
I weakly fight him as his hands slip beneath my shirt, fingers digging into my waist.
“Mira,” I try to call out, but it barely leaves my lips.
He trails his tongue back up my throat until his face hovers inches from mine. “You don’t need Mira right now.”
“I didn’t come in here for this,” I choke out, the words breaking as a quiet, shaky sob slips through.
He leans in anyway, teeth sinking into my lip, biting hard enough to draw blood.
A broken whimper escapes me.
His breath smells strongly of alcohol as he whispers, “But I did.”
His hand leaves my waist, sliding downward inch by inch before pushing inside the waistband of my jeans.
“Don’t.” I beg.
I was hit with sensory deprivation from every angle. My vision blurs further and my limbs stop feeling like mine.
Panic consumes me. But I can’t move.
I can’t fight.
I can’t escape.
I’m screaming for him to stop inside my own head, but nothing makes it past my lips.
I can barely make him out through the blur, but I can feel his hands clumsily working at my jeans, popping the button and tugging them downward.
A few tears stray down the sides of my face, soaking into my hair as the truth settles in.
He isn’t going to stop.
I’m going to be assaulted.
For the first time, my father’s advice rings loud and clear in my head.
Trust no one. Everyone wears a mask to conceal their true-selves. Even a child who looks innocent can be a monster behind closed doors.
He’s right.
I trusted too easily.
And now I’m about to have what little innocence I had left torn from me.
I came in here with a plan.
To be smart. To be careful.
To figure out who he really is.
And I am.. Just not in the way I expected.
His body then hovers over mine again. His hand slides lower, and something hard rubs between my sensitive folds.
I know what it is.
I just refuse to let myself think about it.
Instead, I do my best to pretend it isn’t happening.
But it is.
For the first time in my life.. I’m the victim.