His eyes sharpen, and his fists pump beside him, and when he steps closer toward the bed, I back up against the pillows because this is different. He’s different.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snap.Wrong response, Cassidy.
The atmosphere intensifies in the blink of an eye. The words between us hang in the air as he stares back at me. He stills, and something flashes in his eyes before he straightens his shoulders. “And you’re gonna fuckin’ tell me what it is you know. You’re a lying little bitch, and it’s time you learned your fuckin’ lesson.”
The callousness in his tone has a foreboding awareness running up my spine. His self-control is lost, his hatred now fully consuming him to the point of no return.
“You lied about Gavin, and you’re probably lyin’ about Alisha.”
“No!”
The veins on his neck protrude, and his eyes spark with outrage. “You’re a liar. A fuckin’ good one, I’ll give you that!” he bellows, and I wince at the spittle from his mouth landing on the floor, worried he’s going to wake Noah during this tirade. Darkness consumes him—the rage in his eyes, his hate for me has finally taken over, and I fear there’s no coming back from it.
“I deserve the truth, Cassidy!” He points toward his chest. “My sister could be hurtin’.”
My body quivers. “I know. I swear I don’t know anything.”
“Liar! You’re a fuckin’ liar!”
“I’m not!”
He takes a menacing step forward.
“Please, don’t.” I shake my head, not knowing what he has in store for me, but I know that feeling of dark uncertainty and what comes with it. “Please.” My bottom lip trembles.
He grabs me from under my arms, and I fight against him, hitting his solid, bare chest with my fists, and whenhe dumps me on the floor, I stare up at him with confusion. Was it really that easy? Has he changed his mind?
His eyes are cold and calculated, full of malice, a deranged look that causes a tight coiling in my belly.Oh, Jesus.Urgency grips me. I need him to understand.
“Kill—”
Metal clicking in place has me darting my head to the side, and the chill of something being attached to my scarred wrist causes me to jolt.
Oh God.
No.
Please no.
Pure panic hits me, and I can’t breathe.
He’s handcuffed me to the radiator.
I move my wrist, but the sound of it clanking against the radiator sends a wave of nausea rolling through me.
No.
Not again.
Please.
“Please. No,” I cry out, taking sharp gasps of breath until my lungs feel like they’re collapsing. “Please, Killa.”
He bends down, takes my chin between his fingers, and searches my eyes with his deranged ones. “You gonna tell me where my sister is? Who’s involved?”
“I-I don’t know.” Tears cloud my vision. “I swear it.” My eyes implore him, to no avail.
A cruel smile encompasses his face before he delivers a stream of spittle onto my face, shocking me. “Then you stay here until you give me answers.” The resolve in his tone sends my heart plummeting to my feet.
