Page 127 of Dead Pretty

I just went in blindly. Trustingly. Letting my feelings for him lead me. I stopped listening to my own rules.

I deserve everything that is happening to me right now.

I stare across the room at him. “Ho-how … wh-why …” I don’t even know what I’m asking. What I actually want answers to.

Does it really matter?

No.

He’s Tobias’s brother, and that is all I need to know.

Which means, I need to get out of here. Away from him.

My keys to my apartment are in my bag. As are my rape alarm and mace.

Which is on the floor, next to the sofa. Behind where Jack is standing.

Fuck.

“Are you going to hurt me?”

He looks stunned. Like I’m the one who just dropped the mother of all bombs in here. “Of course not. No. I never could. Audrey—”

“I’m leaving,” I cut him off before he can say any more. “I am going to walk past you and get my bag. And then I’m leaving.”

“No. Audrey, please. We need to talk about this—”

“No!” A burst of anger flies out of me. “What I need to do is get far away from you.”

“You have to let me explain.”

“I don’t need to do a single thing! Except for get out of here.”

Jack stares at me for what feels like forever.

I can see guilt in his eyes. But that guilt means nothing.

Nothing.

Because I know he would do it to me all over again. Use me again like he has been doing.

He is only feeling guilty because he got caught.

Jesus. How long would he have kept lying to me? Sleeping with me?

I feel sick.

Jack turns away from me and picks up my bag from the floor.

I watch his every move, ready to attack or flee, whichever becomes necessary.

He takes a couple of steps toward me. I tense up.

Then, he stretches his arm out, holding my bag out to me.

I swallow hard. Forcing my feet to move, I quickly step forward, getting only as close to him as necessary. The man I could never seem to get close enough to, and now, I want to be as far away from him as humanly possible.

Reaching out, I snatch my bag from him and clutch it to my chest.