I’m disturbed that Nick would so blatantly put it out there, but it fuels me. I summon every ounce of strength I have. “If you think something like that matters to them, you’re dead fucking wrong. What you did to me is about your controlling, pathological,pervertedneed to keep me, even though there’s no way we’ll ever be together again, you sick fucking psycho.” I don’t know what possesses me in that moment, but I look directly into his hateful eyes and spit in his face. “You’re certifiably crazy if you believe your initial cut into my skin makes me yours, sofuck you.”
There’s an audible gasp from Dane behind me, and I don’t know if he’s surprised by my revelations or fucking terrified that I’m poking the monster. Either way, it’s too late to take it back now.
Nick shakes his head, swiping the wetness from his face. “You shouldn’t have done that, Ellie.” Cocking his head like he hears something upstairs, he lifts a dirty-blond brow. “Time to deal with this, wouldn’t you say?” He brings his gaze back to his accomplice, so mine follows, and even through the mask, I can see the guy’s jaw working like he’s mentally sorting through the entire situation and looking for the best outcome for himself. Tricky guy. But probably should have thought twice before getting involved with Nick.
My gut tells me who the masked brother is, but I don’t want to believe it to be true because he’s never done a damn thing to me until now. Not that I’m aware. He’s always just seemed a little quirky and quiet. Of course, maybe that was all part of his plan. Because I’m beginning to see this is a sinfully deceitful web he and Nick have woven. The only question iswhy.
“No, man.” He holds his hands up, giving a vehement shake of his head. “This isn’t going to go down like last time. I got her down here, like you asked. You said one last thing, then I’d be out from under your fucking thumb.”
Nick pulls a face, then snickers, turning his head. His gaze on me narrows with lethal intent, even though he’s clearly still speaking to his accomplice. “I don’t believe we’re done here. Not at all.”
“Thefuckwe’re not, Nick.” He throws his hands up in the air, his irritation coming quickly to a full boil, focusing solely on my ex. “You can’t keep doing this to me. If I’m going to be your little bitch the rest of my goddamn life, I may as well turn myself in. You keep saying just one more thing and you’ll forget everything you know about the hit-and-run, but then it’s not.Youwere hammered out of your mind in that car right beside me,youtold me to keep driving when I hit the kid. Yet you’re always fucking holding it over my head and making me do your dirty work with the promise that you won’t tell.Take care of Will, make him want to leave. Make sure someone messes with Ellie like those dickheads did to Will last year. Make her want to give up. Plant the cell phone in Kingston's room. Make the senior trio look guilty. But don't get caught.Why? Because you have more plans for me later. Goddammit, Nick, I’m not your puppet. I’m fucking sick of this!” He throws one arm up in the air, and I don’t miss the way his other hand is resting on the butt of the gun sticking out of the waistband of his pants.
My heart rate ratchets higher and higher with their heated exchange, and Nick’s jaw tightens in a way that makes me nervous as hell. He’s trying to maintain an air of composure… but it’s beginning to slip. And that puts all of us in dangerous territory. He steps forward and jabs this guy in the chest and gets in his face. “First, Will didn’t fuckingbelonghere. I deserved his invitation last year, and you know it. Or yours, even. You mowed down a freaking kid while you were driving drunk. Underage. You think the committee would have given you an invitation if I hadn’t helped you cover that shit up? And second, you’ve gotten those homophobic, entitled morons to do half your dirty work, anyway. Way to keep your hands clean. But that’s how you’ve always operated, ever since we were boys getting into trouble together every summer.” He tilts his head to the side, then grips the back of his neck as he stares down someone he’s known a very fucking long time.
The masked brother shoves Nick away from him, then jabs a finger toward his face. “Shut the fuck up. I’m warning you.”
I blink, eyes widening at their verbal battle. My head can hardly keep up with the back and forth, with the shit they are spilling about each other. My palms go clammy with nerves. The homophobic, entitled morons that Nick referred to have to be this year’s juniors—Alec, Joel, and Stuart.
Fuck. It’s Zeke.It has to be. My mind spins, then races a million miles a minute, connecting the dots. Nick’s been using his unsavory past as blackmail…
I shove aside the bit about Zeke’s hit-and-run, even though that’s startling in and of itself, in favor of Nick’s revelation that he submitted a letter of recommendation to pledge Hawthorne Hall. I had no idea he was eligible. He never once told me anyone in his family was connected to the brotherhood. But, of course, he wouldn’t have said a word to me. Not if Will got an invitation, and he didn’t. And then, it would have been a blow to have Zeke get one, too.
And if I know Nick, that’s all it took to set him off. He hated Will. Used to complain when I’d spend time with him. And then Will got something he felt like he deserved? Nope. I bet he was pissy about Zeke also getting an invitation and decided to use him in his sick and twisted plans.
There’s a long list of things Nick can’t stand, being the narcissist that he is. But to be passed over for an invitation to initiate at Hawthorne Hall? He’s not dumb. Brothers are set for life, reaping all sorts of benefits. That would’ve definitely made him angry.
And then I show up at Hawthorne Hall… could Zeke have figured out who I was? Shit, with a name like Elliot, I do stick out like a sore thumb. I have a feeling that’s all it took to set Nick off again. Zeke makes mention to Nick that his girl is here andboom.
With a disturbing laugh, Nick steps close again, getting back in Zeke’s face. “If those asshats ever find out you’ve pinned Will’s death on them, that youplayedthem and fuckin’ tricked them into thinking their little stunt in the woods was what killed their initiate? Shit, you let them believe they murdered him and didn’t say a goddamn word as you watched them freak out before getting rid of him. Seriously, your ass is grass. You’re toast. They’ll riot. It’ll be pure chaos. You’ve got yourself in so deep, you may as well stick with me or you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison, Zeke.”
“Oh my fucking god,” Dane breathes out on an exhale.
An awful sinking feeling seeps into my bones. There’s only one reason why they’d be talking so freely in front of us… Nick doesn’t mean for meorDane to make it out of here alive.
Zeke’s fists clench once again, his words biting out in fury. “The fuck. She didn’t know it was me.” He reaches up and whips off the mask, staring coldly at Nick. His jaw twitches with a vengeance.
“It doesn’t fucking matter. Neither one will have a chance to say anything.” Nick squints angrily back at him. “And you’re going to fucking help me.”
I can’t comprehend how many twists and turns we’re taking. Nick’s saying Alec, Joel, and Stuart believe they killed Will… but they didn’t? Zeke did. And now Nick wants him to help get rid of me, too.Oh, fuck.
My heart weeps for Will. For Dane. And for myself. The room seems to close in around me. I can’t breathe. I knew there was no way Will was alive, but facing the awful truth that he likely suffered at the hands of those who hurt him? And Dane, how has he lived here this entire time?Fuck. I guess that might be partly why he kept disappearing on us. His words from earlier ring in my ears.Will and I were in love.
“The hell I am!” Zeke snarls back, rage turning his face red. “I can’t be part of this. Elliot is all you, man. I’m not doing it. And the brothers will notice if I disappear to help you get rid of her. Not to mention, what the fuck do we do about Dane?”
Dane jerks behind me and barks, “Untie me and make it a fair fight, motherfuckers.”
“He’s disposable.” My asshole ex smiles and shrugs nonchalantly as my stomach twists and turns at his words. “And your issues are not my fucking problem, Zeke. Now, what do you think? Do we strangle them?” There’s an insane twinkle to his eye that scares the shit out of me.
He’s going to do it. He’s really going to kill me. My lungs squeeze like there’s something sitting on my chest as my eyes flick back and forth between them.
I’m never going to get to tell Archer, Kingston, and Cannon how I feel. Never going to feel their touch, hear their voices, or look into their eyes again. Never going to get to tell them I love them. I can’t make myself comprehend it. I look into Nick’s eyes, regretting ever having met him.
He’s ruined my entire life. And now he’s going to end it.
Nick laughs softly as he pivots and leans in face-to-face with me, “Sorry, Ellie. But it all boils down to this:You’re mine. Always have been. You don’t get to have friends who take you away from me. Not Will. Not anyone else. And you sure as fuck don’t get to havemultipleboyfriends.” He inches closer so that I can feel his breath on my lips, and I shudder in response. “Where’re your boyfriends now, Ellie? Huh? They don't even care enough about you to come to your rescue this time. I told you I'd be the only one who would ever love you. If I can’t have you, no one can. And I’ll make goddamn sure of it.”
He straightens himself, then takes a step back, leering at me. “Time’s up. Zeke… the gun.”
