19. Zayne
CHAPTER 19
Zayne
I stand around the bonfire, a cup of alcohol in my hand, barely drinking it. All I can think about is Delaney.
She texted me earlier asking if I was coming to the bonfire. Even though I know it will be hell seeing her and not touching her, I readily agree. It’s the cross I bear since we are shunned in her father’s eyes.
But graduation is nearly upon us, and after that, all bets are off. I won’t stop until she’s mine, and every motherfucking person in this town knows it.
When I made love to her beneath the stars last weekend, something changed. We were in love before, but we went to an entirely different level. I’m firmly convinced that nothing can come between us.
My heart beats faster as I check the time on my phone again. It’s 9:30 p.m. Where the fuck is she? She said she’d be here over an hour ago.
Relief flows through me when I see her and Callie heading toward the bonfire. The automatic smile that curls my lips vanishes, and my brows furrow as I study her drawn face. Her posture is tense, and she’s not smiling.
I step toward her, but Tim approaches, throwing his arm over her shoulders and giving her a possessive squeeze. She freezes, looking like a scared deer in the headlights as she stares at him in horror.
Tim’s gaze locks with mine before he plants his lips on hers. A muffled protest comes from her as she struggles to free herself from his hold.
Rage pounds inside my temples, and everything turns red. I drop my cup, marching over to them. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Daniel and Aidan flanking Tim and Delaney, but I no longer give a shit.
“Leave her the fuck alone, asshole.” Before I can stop myself, I swing, my fist landing against Tim’s cheek. He staggers back, releasing Delaney.
I grab her arm and pull her against me. She’s trembling yet stiff as she looks up at me, the flames from the bonfire illuminating her pale face and terrified eyes. “What are you doing?”
My gaze locks and holds with hers, and for a moment, she softens.
“Removing the taste of him from your mouth.” I plant my lips against hers, relishing in the feel of her melting against me, surrendering to my kiss.
“Get the fuck off her, asshole. She’s not yours. She never was.” Tim grabs her other arm and tries tugging her from my hold.
I break the kiss, but I don’t release her. “The hell she’s not.” I tighten my hold on her, feeling her eyes on me as I glare at Tim.
Tim laughs, nudging Daniel’s arm. “Can you believe this delusional asshole? As if your sister would ever want him.”
Daniel howls with laughter. “You’re wrong, asshole. Delaney had her fun slumming it. But now she’s come to her senses.” His eyes burn into mine, the threat clear, before they drop to her. “Right, Delaney?”
She stiffens in my arms, her head turning to her brother. A whimper comes from her as she shakes uncontrollably, not uttering a word.
I’m more puzzled than I’ve ever been. Where is the strong, self-assured girl I’ve fallen for? Why isn’t she telling them to fuck off?
I know it’s premature to ask that of her. Next Friday is graduation, and I assume, from the things she’s said when we’re together, she’s going to leave her father’s house. Technically, she could do it now since she’s eighteen. But she doesn’t have a job and can’t financially afford it, so she’s temporarily stuck.
“Delaney?” There’s a warning in Daniel’s eyes as he frowns at her. “Remember what you said earlier?”
They engage in a silent stare-down. My muscles tense as she slowly straightens. A thrill of elation goes through me as I envision my fiery girl telling them to fuck off and leave us alone.
But that’s not what happens.
She turns to me, her eyes full of remorse. “I’m sorry, Zayne. I can’t do this anymore.”
My heart feels like it’s plummeting from a cliff. Any moment, it will hit the ground and shatter into a million pieces. My ears buzz like a bomb detonated beside me and clogged them, and I temporarily lose the ability to hear.
I stare at her in disbelief, feeling disconnected from her even though she’s still in my arms. There’s a distance between us I’ve never felt before. It’s fucking terrifying, but I refuse to give in to the fear.
“You don’t mean that, minx. You can’t leave me. Not after all we’ve shared.”
Tears fill her eyes, and I see the silent plea in them. But I don’t know what she’s asking or why she’s apologizing and telling me she can’t do this anymore. It’s as if the love we share is something she can easily quit, like a board game she grew tired of.
My mind races over everything that has happened between us, reviewing and analyzing every detail, searching for a clue.
The only difference was the text message she sent me earlier. It was short and brisk, unlike the ones I’m used to her sending. When I asked if she was okay, she told me she was spending time with her mom before Callie picked her up to take her to the bonfire.
“Delaney. Get the fuck away from him .” Tim’s loud, demanding tone silences the people talking and laughing around the bonfire.
All eyes are on us now.
I’m enraged at the way he spoke to my girl. After what he did at the prom, I’ve had it with his shit.
I shove her behind me before tackling Tim. I knock him on the ground, my weight crushing him before I pull my arm back and let my fist fly. I’ve smashed it into his face a good five or six times before Aidan or Daniel grab my arm.
But I shake whoever it is off like they’re a bug. The rage has descended over me, consuming me like the bonfire burning behind me.
All I see is red as I beat the hell out of the bastard who has mistreated my girl, making her feel unsafe. The one who talked to her so disrespectfully tonight, as if she’s his property.
She’s no one’s property. I’ll be damn if I’m going to let some cocky rich motherfucker disrespect her and tell the world she’s his.
She’s mine. Every piece of her fucking belongs to me.
Someone hits me, but I barely feel it. The second time his fist hits me in the back, I turn and slam my fist into Aidan’s stomach. He doubles over, gasping for air, before falling to his knees.
I get to my feet, leaving Tim moaning and crying on the sand as Daniel throws a punch. I shake it off, a smile crossing my face. “I let you hit me. Now it’s my turn.”
My next punch packs some serious power. The crunch of the bone breaking in his nose beneath my fist makes me feral, activating the part of me thirsting for blood. The part of me I discovered after being bullied by these rich punks.
But that part is gone. Dead and buried. And in his place is a strong, confident guy who lifts weights daily and knows how to fight.
The rage consumes me, overriding Delaney’s pleas for me to stop. I hear the din of noise of those gathered around the bonfire, some cheering me and some booing. It nearly drowns out Tim and Adian’s whimpers and moans of pain from where they lie on the sand.
“Stop, Zayne.” Her voice sinks through the haze. I look up, my gaze locking with Delaney’s. She stands in front of me, tears streaking her cheeks. She looks so fucking pretty when she cries… but not over these assholes. I want her tears to be from pleasure, not pain.
Delaney sucks in a shaky breath. “Please stop.”
I release Daniel, getting to my feet and stalking toward her. I grab her arms, and she gasps, terror contorting her face. “Minx, what’s wrong? You know I’d never hurt you. Why are you flinching?”
Her eyes search mine before the tension drains from her. We silently stare at one another before my fingers wipe away her tears.
Everything fades away as I lose myself in her green irises. There’s something there I’ve never seen before. Her shoulders slump, and a dejected sigh blows a warm puff of air against my face.
Tearing her gaze away from mine, she looks over my shoulder. Whatever she sees causes her expression to harden.
Her gaze moves back to mine, only this time, it’s devoid of emotion. “I can’t do this anymore, Zayne. T-Tim’s right. S-So is my brother. I-I was going through a phase. Your bad boy nature appalled to my rebellious side.”
“What? Are you fucking kidding me?” I release her, stepping back as her words penetrate my thick skull.
Anger, heavy like the lake waters behind us, rises inside me.
My fingers make air quotes as I parrot her words back to her. “What do you mean, your rebellious side? Are you saying you fucked me because you were rebelling against your father and every other rich, entitled asshole here? That you played me, and none of this was real?”
And there it is . The second I spit those words out, my heart shattered into pieces, even as the rage continued rising.
She can’t be serious. This was real. It can’t be a joke….
Delaney was the girl who stood up for me when no one else did. She was my first and only friend for the longest time. She was the only one I trusted and relied on.
Right now, she’s the only one with the power to save us.
To admit that what she said was a lie. That she was somehow forced to say it by one of the jackasses still moaning in pain behind me.
All she has to do is deny her words and tell me what she said isn’t true. That she loves me as much as I love her.
Instead, she shrugs. “I was tired of being the good little girl who obeyed everyone. You were fun and exciting.” Tears roll down her cheeks. The sadness in her eyes contradicts her words. “I was going through a rebellious phase.”
None of this makes any goddamn sense.
I’m processing, trying to make sense of the senseless, when Delaney screams and jumps out of the way. Something slams against my back, knocking me down.
The pain is so intense from whatever just hit me, sucking all the air from my lungs and laying me flat on my stomach.
“Come on, Delaney. I’m taking you out of here.” Tim grabs Delaney’s hand, pulling her against him. He stares down at me with a smug expression as oxygen finally fills my lungs. The pain makes my breathing shallow, and my vision blackens at the edges.
Even though it fucking hurts, I reach my hand out for hers, silently asking her to stay with me.
She silently stares at me, and I swear, I see her heartbreak before she turns away.
I’m stunned, but I’m determined not to give her up without a fight.
I try to move, willing my legs to cooperate. As soon as I move, the pain hits like a massive wave. My vision swims like I’m drowning.
Her pretty feet and red toenails come into focus. I stare at them, giving my body a minute before I try to get up again.
Then her black sandals turn, moving in the opposite direction from me.
I lift my head in time to see her walking away from me. “M-Minx. P-Please.”
But she keeps moving, not even sparing me a backward glance.
She walks away from me, abandoning me. Leaving me lying on the sand, broken and beaten.
Left in the dark, utterly alone.
I squeeze my eyes closed, unable to believe she’d leave me. Especially not like this.
Opening my eyes, I see the dock where I danced with her after the prom. My heart beats sluggishly as those memories course through my head.
“Delaney,” I croak, my voice thick from pain and impending tears.
But she doesn’t answer.
I look around me, the realization hitting me like a train.
She’s gone. And she left my broken heart in pieces.