“Tough shit, sweetie. All you’ve accomplished here is getting yourself put on suicide watch. You’re going to have eyes on you every second of every day.”
She starts quietly crying then, just as the clearing comes into view. Finally. As soon as I see the flicker of the bonfire, my whole body weakens. Adrenaline trickles out of me, rendering every muscle in my body sore and aching.
“You make me sick,” she whispers it so quietly, but somehow it carries the volume of a siren through my ears.
“Yeah, well, we’re a good match then, ‘cause I can’t fucking stand the sight of you either.”
I get through the clearing and drop her down to her feet. She’s a fucking mess, the tussle on the ground has ripped my clothes on her body, there’s small blood smears everywhere I look.
“Go get yourself cleaned up. And eat something. You’ll be famished once the adrenaline fully wears off.”
“Fuck you,” she spits, but turns on her heels and walks away towards the house.
I roll my eyes and go over to the few boys left around the bonfire. “What’s happened, where is everyone?”
Milo slaps me on the shoulder, and I can just feel the belittling sympathy rolling off him. “It’s nearly midnight, man. It’s all done with.”
It took me that long to catch Elodie? “It’s all done?”
“Yeah,” Milo says, moving his arm around my neck and guiding me back to the house. I must look awful if he feels the need to help me. “All done and dusted.”
“Fiz and Alf catch anyone?”
He nods. “First ones back, then me, and then two driver boys caught the other two. Should’ve seen Fiz’s face, being the first one back since you weren’t there.”
I laugh despite the cauldron of mixed physical and mental feelings I’m currently drowning in. “I bet he’s basking in all the glory. They’re celebrating already, I’m guessing.”
We climb the few steps to the front doors. “Well, in their own rooms, yeah.”
“Already?”
Milo arches a brow at me. “You’re the only mad one who isn’t. I saw that sweet piece of Valor pussy you got there. I’m surprised you’re not balls-deep yourself. Or did you already do that in the woods?”
I can’t help the irritation twisting in my gut. His face has suddenly become very punch-able. “Nah. Can’t bear touching her right now.”
“I get it. I still don’t know why she’s the one your dad wants you to marry,” Milo says, finally releasing me as we enter the house, the party in full force. “But you already know how good this will be for the business. Her skills will come in handy. You just need to swallow your pride. Listen, it’ll be even more satisfying destroying that little body and owning it rather than just letting it sit there.”
I’ve already thought about this a thousand times. How much sweeter it’d taste knowing I own her than leaving her there to rot. But I can’t do it.
“I’m gonna get cleaned up, my body’s fighting every step I take right now. I’ll shower and be back down.”
“Alright, man, take it easy.” Milo offers me a sad smile.
Jesus, how bad do I look? This is what a woman does to me. Breaks me down, makes me weak. Now it’s time to change that.
CHAPTER 40
ELODIE
Ishove my way through the party downstairs on shaking legs. The adrenaline dribbling out of my body, replaced by agony, the rest of my body heavy with defeat. Through my haze, I notice how not a single man in the house looks at me. If they catch my eye, they instantly look the other way. Not that I care. I don’t care about any of these people.
My legs are killing me. Stupid Fiz ruined me yesterday, I can’t believe I didn’t see what he was doing. When I’d woken this morning, my legs were so stiff and sore I could have cried. I’m surprised how long I was able to run for tonight, fuelled by nothing but sheer will, determination and adrenaline. And Caden’s injury, I guess. I knew he was lying to me. When Alfie was telling me the story yesterday in the gym, he outed Caden, telling me he’s always been the fastest. I let it go, thinking the hole in his stomach would surely hinder him and give me an advantage. But all it did was prolong the inevitable. He was always going to catch me. He’s never letting me go.
I’m on my way to Caden’s bedroom to wash off this dirt and mud and nurse my wounds, internal and external. The dread ofwhat’s to come for me is threatening to swallow me whole when a distinct sound rattles through me.
I pause, listening. It’s the unmistakable sound of skin slapping on wet skin. My blood fills with fresh hot adrenaline as my trembling legs carry me closer to the sound. It’s a couple doors down from Caden’s room, and the door’s slightly ajar. I know I shouldn’t, but sick curiosity always wins.
I lean in to the open slit, and my stomach drops.
