Faint red scratches score across his cheekbone while he glares down at me, his nostrils flaring, expression twisted with irritation.
I can only stare up at him with wide eyes, my chest heaving, mouth parted, chunks of hair plastered to my face.
A range of emotions spirals through my system, a tornado filled with relief, fury, and shock. It wreaks havoc on my organs, rendering me completely paralyzed.
Clenching his jaw, Dread straightens, swiping a few strands of black hair from his eyes.
And I… I burst into tears.
CHAPTER 13
DREAD
I’ve seen Reverie Adams have just about every reaction known to man after I’ve done something to hurt her.
But I’ve never seen her cry like this.
Not in the four years I’ve made her life hell has she ever sobbed so hard, she stopped breathing.
In a matter of seconds, her brown eyes filled with tears, her chin trembled, and her hands flew to cover her face just as the first sob burst free.
And there’s a single millisecond in time when I almost feel guilty. A minuscule lapse in judgment, yet the effect is staggering. My muscles tighten, and I bristle with unease, as if someone dragged a nail against a chalkboard.
But then, logic returns, and anger pushes its way back in. After nearly destroying my career and ruining my lifeagain, she sits here, and she fuckingcries.
My upper lip curls as I lower to my haunches, leaning myelbows on my spread knees.
She deserves nothing from me.
Not my guilt, my forgiveness, nor my mercy.
Which is exactly why I brought her here to begin with—an indoor pool one town over from Hollow Canyon. The owner, Martin, gave me the keys to it my freshman year so I can train after hours without onlookers. While I have access to the pool in the sports center, I’m still limited to the center’s general operating hours, as it’s the only way to access it. Because of that, there are always students standing outside the windows, watching me practice or waiting for me to come out so they can talk to me.
This place offers me a reprieve from campus and complete, utter solitude.
Perfect for what I have planned for Reverie.
“Are you done?” I ask, my tone as devoid of compassion as the cold press of a barrel to one’s temple.
Her hands drop suddenly, and she gives me those reddened, fiery eyes.
Fuck, she’s so pretty when she cries.
“I thought you were my father, you fucking asshole!” Her hands fly out as she shouts. “You have no idea—God, you’re such an idiot!” She fights for her words while I fight to process what the fuck she just said to me. “This entire fucking time, you?—”
My arm snaps out, my hand closing around her throat and silencing her instantly. Black spots swim in my vision, and my blood is ice cold.
The corners of her eyes round with terror, freezing in my hold.
“I want you to explain to me really fucking carefully why you think your father would have the ability to kidnap you while locked in a fucking prison over a thousand miles away,” I snarl through gritted teeth, inching my face closer to hers.
What was once a tomato red face now bleaches of color, dried tears streaking down ghost-white cheeks. She looks like a child caught drawing on the wall with a Sharpie. Her throat bobs beneath my hand, struggling to swallow as she drops her gaze. It better be to find her voice again, because if she’s searching for a lie, it’ll be the last thing she does.
“Reverie,” I bark impatiently, flexing my fist.
She winces and reluctantly lifts her stare back to mine. This time, she appears guilty.
Butwhy?
