“You embarrassed me tonight,” he says as I stare out the window.
“How?”
“You checked out halfway through the night.” His voice sharpens. “And that guy clearly knew you.”
“I told you. He just gave me back my phone.”
Wrong answer.
His jaw flexes. “Don’t fucking lie to me,” he spits as fear flickers low in my stomach.
Not because I love Brayden. Never that, but because I know exactly how quickly his moods turn. One second charming, the next terrifying.
“I’m not lying.”
“You looked at him like you wanted him to bend you over the fucking balcony.”
“Brayden—” I gasp.
“Was it Marks?” he asks, and ice floods my veins instantly.
“What?”
His grip tightens on the steering wheel. “The guy from school. Was it Hayden fucking Marks?” he grits.
How the fuck does he know about Hayden?
“No.”
Lie. Lie. Lie.Because if Brayden finds out Hayden’s alive before Hayden’s ready?Someone dies. Maybe all of us.
Brayden suddenly jerks the car hard into an empty parking lot overlooking the water. My pulse spikes instantly as the Mercedes slams into park.
“Look at me,” he commands, but I don’t.
Big mistake.
He grabs my jaw roughly, forcing my face toward him. “I said look at me,” he growls as pain shoots through my cheeks. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately,” he snarls. “But I’m getting real fucking tired of your attitude.”
I shove his hand away. “Stop touching me,” I shout, and his eyes darken.
“What did you just say?”
“I said stop touching me.” My voice shakes despite trying to stay calm. “You're hurting me.”
He laughs softly but there’s nothing normal in the sound. “You know what your problem is?” he mutters. “You keep forgetting who you belong to.”
Rage flashes through my fear instantly.
“I don’t belong to anyone,” I say, and the slap comes so fast I barely process it. Pain explodes across my face while my head whips sideways violently. For one stunned second everything goes quiet, then he grabs my throat.
“You are my property,” he hisses. “Do you understand me?”
Tears instantly sting my eyes. Not from heartbreak but from pure fury.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I choke out as his grip tightens slightly.
“Careful,” he warns.
