Chapter 44 #2
Leaves crunch underfoot nearby, and I hurry to swipe the tears away before someone sees. I worry Blayne has tracked my location yet again, but I’m relieved when Eve breaks through the brush a few feet away.
“Over here,” I say with a wave, and she jerks her head and places her hand on her chest.
“Scared the shit out of me,” she whispers. “What are you doing in the dark all by yourself? I saw you headed this way, so I figured I’d come check on you.”
I glance around. “Did anyone else notice?”
“No, but why are you worried about that?” She cocks her hip and places her hand there. “Do we have a shitbag in our midst? Because I’m itching to kill, honey. Just point me in the right direction.”
Blayne’s warning blares in my head. King still has a chance, and I can’t fuck this up.
“No, nothing like that. I just . . . With everything happening tomorrow, I’m just nervous for everyone.”
Eve comes closer. She folds her arms over her chest and studies me. “You sure that’s all this is? My bullshit-o-meter is wiggling a bit.”
I hate lying to her. But I have to.
“I’m sure, Eve.” I pat the tree. “Want to take a seat?”
She shakes her head. “Nah, I can see that you need to think. I just wanted to check on you, that’s all. Just know that if you need to talk, I’m happy to listen.”
“Thanks. It means a lot.”
“Don’t mention it.” She starts to walk away, then stops. “And don’t sweat tomorrow. Aven and Bennett have something special up their sleeves for when they meet their dad. They’ll make him regret missing out on their lives. Then everyone can start to heal. Trust me, okay?”
Yeah, that’s what I’m fucking afraid of.
But I just nod, and she walks away.
I’ve barely had time to start crying again when more footsteps approach. Can’t a girl prematurely grieve her boyfriend in peace? I’m about to swipe my tears away and just give up when Blayne steps into the clearing. The white-hot rage is enough to dry my tears right up.
“What the fuck do you want?” I whisper.
He strolls closer and kicks a rock close to my log. It skitters deeper into the woods. “When did you plan to tell me that Jim moved the days around?”
“Never.”
“Oh, that’s not nice. That’s not nice at all.
” He comes close enough that I can smell the barbecue sauce he must have spilled on his shirt.
His fingers land under my chin, and he tries to raise my face, but I pull away from him.
“Maybe I don’t want to give you more time with him after all.
Maybe I should just go tell everyone now. ”
“What is your fucking problem?” I don’t look at him when I speak. I won’t give him the satisfaction.
“You’ll know soon enough.” He shrugs. “Right now, I’ve decided to have a little change in plans. I want you to hurt him. I want him to know you’ll be mine before he’s dead.”
“I won’t.” I stand and look at him now. He needs to see the truth in my eyes. “You can have me after he’s told his children who he is, and not a second before.”
“I’ll have you right now if I want you.”
He grabs my hair and pulls me toward his face. Panic rises like a blaze in my abdomen, consuming my extremities until I’m sure I’ll combust right here.
Because it’s about to be taken from me.
I’ve held on to it for so long, and he’s about to steal it.
All because I still haven’t given this piece of myself to the only man who deserves it. I’ve been a fucking fool. It doesn’t matter if King is set to die. He’s the only man I ever want to share this part of myself with.
He’s the only man I want to kiss. Ever.
Blayne’s head dips toward mine, and I turn my face away.
Each time he renews his advances, I fight harder.
I can’t scream for fear of him making good on his promise to tell everyone everything, but he must realize we’re in a stalemate.
He only has me in check until Aven and Bennett know everything, and then it’s up to them to decide his fate, but for now, we’re deadlocked in a battle of wills.
He bends one more time, and his lips nearly brush mine.
In an anxiety-induced stupor, I fight with the only weapon I have left.
My arms and legs haven’t worked, so I open my mouth and aim for that dimple in his chin.
I bite down until blood runs onto my tongue, and it seems he’s just as nervous to have secrets out as I am, because he lets out a very silent scream.
Leaning back, I spit blood into his face, and he finally releases me. He grips his wounded chin and glares.
“How the fuck do I explain this?” he snarls.
I shrug. “Tell them you tried to kiss a wolverine. I don’t fucking care. But I am not yours until after tomorrow, and I will not hurt King.”
“We’ll see about that,” he whispers as I push past him.
I’m feigning the hell out of this confidence. My legs are made of waterbeds, and my insides are tangled wires. He knows that the big event is tomorrow, so whatever he’s planned, he’ll still have a chance to act it out.
If anything, he’ll be more desperate now.
There’s no time left. If I want to keep King safe, I’ll need to tell him about my deal with Blayne so that he has a chance to protect himself from whatever is coming next. He just has to promise he won’t act before Blayne does, which would blow everything else out of the water.
Before I tell him, though, there’s just one other thing I have to do.