She shifts, jutting her chin higher, every next word like a bullet spinning from the barrel. “I know Alex worked as an undercover spy within your father’s ranks. He was in love with your sister who took her life when she found out about me. I know everyone thinks Alex told me where he hid the evidence. I also know you work for Dante Carrow, and you want the evidence to keep your father out of jail.”
“That was true when I arrived at Lakeside. It’s not anymore. I don’t need to keep Rhett out of jail.”
She lifts her eyes to me, a hint of cold curiosity in those steel-blue irises. “Fine. Tell me your version.”
“When Rhett told me Aalyiah was dead and explained why, I wantedyoudead.” I rise to my feet, annoyed for two different reasons: Hailey’s attitude, and the shit it’s forcing me to relive and confess. “You’re the only woman I ever considered hurting.”
By the look of her, she didn’t expect thattocome out of my mouth. I bet she thought I’d start with apologies or declarations of love, but buttering her up won’t win me any points.
I’ve been lying to her for weeks. The least she deserves is the truth, no matter how brutal. No matter how fucking ashamed I am that I ever considered hurting her.
“I blamed you and Alex equally,” I continue, every word pushed past clenched teeth. “When I enrolled at Lakeside, my task wasn’t finding the evidence. It was making sure you’d never remember where it was, Hailey. I was supposed to break you by any means necessary.”
She’s all ears now that this story isn’t going the way she must’ve assumed. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because instead of a self-centered mean girl, I met a girl full of hurt. I took one look at you in the cafeteria, and knew there was more to the story than Rhett had told me. You didn’t match the boyfriend-stealing bitch I’d envisioned.”
“I didn’t steal Alex from your sister,” she snaps, her defenses shooting up and taking my temper along for the ride. “She took him from me.”
“That worked out fuckinggreatfor her, didn’t it? You both got the short end of the stick with that scum.”
Hailey pinches her lips. She can’t argue, so she pivots. “So what?” She mocks. “You decided to let me live until I remember where the evidence is?”
It’s like she doesn’t hear what I say. She clings to whatever Blaze told her, focuses on my lies, and everything else I say flies over her head. It doesn’t stop her wanton eyes following my every move like she wants to rip my clothes off, though.
I can relate. My cock’s still hard, the desire so potent it pulses across my nerve endings.
“Yes,” I grit out. “I still need the evidence. Now more than ever, because once I have it, you’re safe. Whatever Alex has gathered won’t be about Rhett alone. It’ll implicate a lot of other people. Everyone who ever dealt with Rhett is after you now, so until you remember where Alex hid the files, we’re staying here.”
“I’ve only had one small flashback since Lakeside. What if that’s it? What if I don’t get anything else back? Are you going to hold me hostage forever?”
That tips the scales on my temper-marshaling skills the wrong way. My fist connects with the wall, pain screaming through my arm.
“You’renota hostage.” I turn to face her, the fear in her eyes quelling the anger scorching my veins. “I know you don’t trust me, but don’t act like you’d rather be with Noretto.”
I take a few deep breaths, re-establishing control over myself while she chews her cheek, little torches swimming in her eyes.
The lack of flashbacks doesn’t bode well, but there could be plenty of reasons for her history staying put.
“Maybe your mind was focused on surviving the present, rather than remembering the past. Give it a few days. Once your subconscious accepts you’re safe, I’m sure your memories will start coming back.”
“What if they don’t? What if this is it? What if I don’t remember anything else?”
“Then I’ll find another way to keep you safe.”
Her lips part and her eyes widen. That battle-ready posture melts away, revealing the feelings beneath. She’s torn. It’s fucking clear in her every gesture. Half of her wants to climb me like a tree while the other half holds back.
I can see the battle raging within her; there’s a similar one raging within me. I’m itching to pull her into me, kiss her head,lips, then latch onto her pussy and bask in her moans. I want her on me, under me, beside me. I want to hold her and never let go, but she needs time to process and realize I’m in way over my head with her. That I’d rather open a fucking vein than lose her.
“What else do you want to know? Ask me anything, Hailey.”
She rolls her eyes and this time, doesn’t shy away. She knows exactly what it does to me, and she’s using it as punishment.
My hands ball into fists to stop me grabbing her by the throat and kissing that attitude out of her.
“What’s the point of questions when you’ll just lie your way out of them?” she asks.
“I won’t lie to you again.”
