Page 93 of Twisted Fate

I snorted, already knowing the truth in those words.

“Bad things already happened.”

“Like what?”

I hesitated, sitting down next to him and glancing up to watch his face.

“You really don’t know the story about Tristan Holloway?”

He shrugged, lighting two cigarettes and handing one to me.

“Just that he was killed by the Psychos, then obviously I was filled in that you did it. I was expecting it, he’s a piece of fucking shit. Isn’t he Caden’s old man?”

“Yep. He’s the monster from my early teen years. I didn’t know it was Caden’s dad until Caden told me in front of the whole school to hurt me when he used to bully me.”

His usual playful eyes softened and turned sad as he moved closer so that his thigh bumped against mine.

“What did Tristan do to you?”

“My dad, Max, sold my virginity to him when I was thirteen as payment. He raped me for a couple of years, then kidnapped me and raped me for a week when I was first dating Skeet. Caden found me in his father’s basement.”

“Your fucking dad really did that? What a piece of shit,” he growled, making me nod and down a healthy amount of beer before answering.

“He’s the one who got Tristan to kidnap me too. I saved Max for last, so he knew it was fucking coming.”

“Your mother? You said she took off?” He asked, sipping his beer and giving me his full attention.

It was weird how chilled out we were.

He was easy to talk to.

“He got her killed. I’ve been looking for her for nine years, but Skeet found out she’d been killed a year after she left. She was coming back for me, and he couldn’t take the thought of losing his only bargaining chip.”

He hesitated before putting an arm out, and I curled up under it and snuggled into him without him even asking.

I really had to stop trusting so easily, but I needed the comfort in that moment.

He smelled fucking amazing too, and I couldn’t help but burrow deeper into him like a weirdo.

He spoke gently as his fingers trailed up and down my arm in a soothing motion.

“Sounds like you did the right thing. Now I get why you don’t trust people.”

“Everyone fucks me over one way or another, it’s just a waiting game,” I mumbled, causing him to peer down at me with genuine curiosity in his pretty brown eyes.

“How did Skeet fuck you over?”

“He didn’t exactly fuck me over, but he and the others all of a sudden started telling me what to do and getting upset because they didn’t like the person I’d become, even though they helped make me.”

“So, who’s the real Rory Donovan?” He murmured, making me smile softly.

“The only one you know,” I replied, noticing him go quiet.

I flinched when his fingers tucked my hair behind my ear, before he moved his hand back slowly to show me he’d meant no harm.

“I might be leading the Devils and came across as a piece of shit towards women when we met, but I won’t hurt you. I run my crew like Slash runs his.”

“Psychos still rape and kill people, you know,” I forced out bitterly, a sigh pushing past his lips.