Page 8 of Break Me Gently

I didn’t even look at the nerd sitting on the edge of the couch.

❧ ❧ ❧

I ripped the meat off the leg bone. My eyes bored into Luke’s. I swallowed the succulent meat before glancing at Amber.

“You won’t change your name, will you?” I asked her.

“Why would I change my name?”

“You went from Sinclair to Rayne.” I shrugged.

“That was different,” Isabella said. “Amber is an adult now. It’s up to her.”

My eyes dropped to the reindeer. She certainly was an adult.

“Dinner is lovely, Mrs. Rayne,” Nolan the nerd said, suitably sucking up.

“So tell us, Zach, when do you finish your course?” Luke asked.

“June.”

“Ah, the same time as Amber’s exams,” Isabella said.

“What do you plan to do afterwards?”

I stared at Luke. Held his gaze. Raised the turkey leg and ripped another mouthful of meat. I chewed, chomping with an open mouth, feeling bits fall from my lips.

“I think I will come home.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You’re always welcome home, Zach,” Isabella said, and I smirked at Luke.

Yeah, fuck you, old man. I’m here to stay.

❧ ❧ ❧

I lay on my old bed, thinking about what Amber said about my dad earlier. For a moment, I remembered what Alisha did to Amber and pushed the thought away. Amber had been a silly little girl at the time. It was a tough lesson. Alisha probably did her a favour.

I sat up, running a hand through my hair.

The way she’d looked at me with those big blue eyes, expecting me to take her side over the girl who gave the best head in sixth form.

Stupid girl.

I shoved the covers back and tiptoed across my room. From memory of sneaking in and out of the house, I knew which floorboards to avoid. The hinges squeaked, but I persevered.

I paused at the sound of voices.

Then a dull, repetitive thud against a wall made me frown.

“That’s my good girl, Bella. You take my cock,” Luke growled.

I gagged.

Then gagged again.

What the fuck was wrong with that old man?