I glared at him as his jaw worked furiously, torn between saying more and maybe punching me in the face.
“You really do think that makes you some kind of hero? Breaking her heart to save the day, whether she wants it or not?”
He flicked his gaze over me, sneering like I was dirt. “It beats the alternative.”
“Yeah. I’m such an asshole. I tried—I did what you couldn’t, too. I fucking tried! But somehow, you know who I really am, right?”
“I do know who you are, Golden Boy.” He pushed back into the space I’d crowded, his chest knocking into mine. I refused to budge. “I know exactly what you’ve given up—whoyou’ve sacrificed to get what you want.”
“You know jack shit, asshole,” I growled. “But if youeverhurt her like that, I’ll be exactly who you think I am. I’ll kill you. Or hold you down so she can do it herself. She doesn’t need a goddamn hero, because she’s strong enough to save herself.”
He sneered down at me from an inch away, and my chest heaved with rage, refusing to budge.
“Is that what you told yourself about your mother, too?”
Max Dread
Was I supposed to mention that? No.
But did I fucking care?
Landon’s face drained of color, going white as a ghost as soon as the words left my mouth, and regret hit me before I blocked it out.
I should have kept the damn thing shut, but the call had been fucking with my head.
That bastard’s call had been the catalyst, and I’d barely been able to look at Quinn at first, grateful for the distraction of the escape room to keep her from, well, not noticing. She’d certainly done that, but it had given me a reprieve to sort out the bullshit in my head.
Not that I’d succeeded.
And then she’d come into the bathroom like the goddamn Queen she was and brought me to my knees. For one brief moment, I’d thought it would all be okay.
That the mistakes I’d made, the choices…
Except suddenly tonight, everyone was concerned about my goddamn feelings. Ben was on his usual shit. Peter was trying to ease what had to come next. Of course, Golden Boy had noticed.And he had to bring up shit neither of us needed to think about. Like what I’d do to save her life.
Because the answer to that was worse than he thought.
I didn’t want the truth this time. Not from him. Not if it drove home that I’d fucked this all up before I’d even met her. Before I’d gotten to know her. Before I’d fallen for her.
Tying myself to those two assholes had already brought up questions about what I’d thought my whole life. It had already poked holes in the anger, the resentment I’d held onto like a pitchfork as I’d made a deal to ruin them. For what they’d done last year. For what they’d done when we were kids.
No, I didn’t want the truth.
Because if I didn’t hate them? I’d only hate myself more.
I deserved it. I’d made mistakes I couldn’t take back. But I hadn’t meant for this.
I’d never meant for this.
As Landon stumbled backward, he gripped his head like he was in pain, and the familiar sting of nails dragging down the back of my neck lanced through me. Rage boiled inside me, but at the same time, I watched it bleed out of him, one hand clutching his throat as he tried to breathe.
But all that came out was a tight, pained gasp.
My eyes narrowed. Heart jackhammering in my chest, I forced away the two worst memories of my life.
Landon’s hands shook as the need for air became desperate, and I had to accept this wasn’t some bullshit act.
I didn’t fucking care. Not about him. Not about Kingston. I didn’t fucking care about them.
