“You fucking destroyed her, man. She’s a wreck.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“Do you love her? Jensen claims you do but said you’re afraid of getting played again. I think you’re just a fucking scumbag. Which is it?”
“I’m just a fucking scumbag.”
“Maybe I’ll ask her out and show her how a real man treats a woman.”
“If we weren’t in our parents’ home, I’d knock you the fuck out.”
“Did I hit a nerve?” he asks, smirking.
“Go near her and I’ll rip your spleen from your body.”
“Another man will tap that, eventually. Why can’t it be me?”
“Shut your mouth,” I seethe, ready to throttle the motherfucker.
“Her phat ass is fucking ripe.” He licks his lips.
In an instant, I have Drew pinned to the wall by his shirt collar. “Touch her and you’re dead.”
“What the hell?” Jensen asks.
“Whoa, boys.” Dad hops up and separates us. “Stop this before your mother sees.”
“You’re making a mistake, and when you realize that, it’ll be too late,” Drew says.
I let Drew go and storm outside to calm my tumultuous temper. Pepper is my tormentor. My desire for her far surpasses what I’ve ever felt for any woman. A passion this intense can only lead to a fatal conclusion. I had to end it to save her and myself, because if she were to betray me, I would kill her.
One month later
“In ten minutes, I’m gone, Pepper,” Patrick grumbles from the driver’s seat. “I shouldn’t even be here. I’m missing a friend’s party tonight to see this asshole.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Hey, you just ran that stop sign.”
“Sorry, didn’t see it.”
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
Patrick won’t admit it, but he’s nervous about seeing our father, and so am I. We haven’t seen or spoken to him in several weeks. He called me the other day and asked to see us. It took some convincing, but Patrick agreed to drive down from school to support me.
“Russell should be in jail for the things he did to you.”
“I shouldn’t have told you.”
“I’m glad you did. He needs to hang.”
“Promise me you’ll try to be receptive to whatever he has to say.”
“You’re asking for a lot.”
