Page 73 of Depraved

“Makes sense, doesn’t it?”

The wheels inside my head turned. Granite loved another girl with an eating disorder. Was that just coincidence? Was his obsession with me based on that—on the girl he loved who died in the end?

Neon leaned forward to grab my attention. “Swan Lake, don’t worry your pretty little head about it. She’s dead. You’re here now, and Granite clearly staked his claim. You’re his now. And believe me, these guys are like fucking dogs. If they could piss on you to mark you, they would.”

I smiled, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes. “I don’t think I belong here, Neon.”

She frowned. “Why? Because you wear ballet slippers? We’re all just people here, Swan Lake. Each carrying their own bag of shit. Don’t stereotype. You belong where you want to be.” Her heart-shaped lips painted with purple lipstick smiled warmly at me. “Besides, it’s going to be fun having you around. I’ve always hoped one of these assholes could find an old lady I actually like. Trick and Tanit ain’t exactly my type of girls.”

“Who are Trick and Tanit?”

She shrugged. “One’s a club widow, and the other a club slut. That’s all you need to know.”

Glancing down at the glass in my hand, I asked softly, “Was Kate a part of the club?”

“No. I think she was still young when she died. Not sure how old, though.”

“Sixteen.” Neon and I looked at Onyx standing by the door. “Kate was sixteen when she died.” The woeful look on his face was intense, and almost painful to witness. His sky-blue eyes had turned gray and cold, like the memory hardened him. Even Neon’s stubborn ass picked up on it, and she seemed pretty uncomfortable now that Onyx joined in on our conversation.

Onyx stepped inside. “Neon, would you give Alyx and me a few minutes alone?”

Neon crossed her arms. “I’m thinking that’s not a question, but a⁠—”

“Get the fuck out, would you?”

“Okay. Catch you later, Swan Lake.”

Before she could dart out of the room, I called, “Neon.”

“Yes?”

I clutched the sheet tighter. “Clothes. Please.”

She winked. “Sure thing.”

When she walked out, she left the door open, and I was silently grateful. With Onyx in the room, I was hyperaware of how fucking naked I was underneath the sheet, making me more nervous in his presence.

Cold eyes met mine. “Kate was sixteen when she died. She had anorexia.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“The day she died, there was barely anything left of her. I’m sure I could have carried her casket alone if I wanted to.”

“Onyx—”

“My brother knew she was sick.” The sound of contempt in his voice was deafening, and it caused me to clutch the sheet even tighter.

“Granite knew she had a problem but did nothing to help her, claiming he was just honoring a promise he made her.”

I started wrapping the sheet around me, wanting to cover every inch of skin. The atmosphere was thick and toxic, and I hated the way he looked at me as he spoke—as if he was trying to make me feel guilty over the death of a girl I didn’t even know.

Crossing his arms, he leaned against the doorframe. “He knew she had stopped eating but didn’t tell anyone because she asked him not to.” He bit out the words like they were coated in venom, corrupted by hate. “He was so selfishly in love with her, he would have done anything to keep her to himself. So, he kept his fucking mouth shut about her eating disorder, not telling a soul.”

I got off the bed, making sure I was covered. “Onyx, I’m not comfortable⁠—”

“That’s why you’re here, Alyx. That’s why my brother has this twisted fucking obsession with you.” He raised his voice, anger dripping from his mouth. “He thinks helping you will ease his own fucking regret. He thinks it will make him feel less responsible for Kate’s death.”

The fury in his eyes and the hard lines on his face were terrifying. Being alone with him while he acted this way scared me. He straightened as he looked down at the sheet around me. “Motherfucker.” He roughed his hands through his hair, and I glanced down, seeing the blood he noticed on the sheet. “So my brother ruined you as well.”