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“I want to tell him I’m his little pain slut,” I whisper in Liberato’s ear. “And I want to beg him not to let me come.”
He takes a step back, already shaking his head at me. I can tell this conversation alone has him worried, and from his expression, I’m guessing he will never do what I’ve asked. I pout, angry that I’m not getting what I want.
“I told you he’d like it.”
“Not if he found out where you learned it.”
“He’s not that jealous, Liberato.”
“You don’t know half of it.”
“What? I know he overreacted at the Serpent’s den thing, but-”
“That’s fucking nothing,” Liberato mutters. “What about the guard he killed for hurting you? What do you think he’ll do to me, Rain?”
“You’re like his brother,” I insist. “You know he’d never hurt you.”
“No, actually I don’t.”
He groans, running his fingers over his shaved head.
“You don’t understand, Rain. Have you seen him using powders? Needles? Anything like that?”
Shamefully, I think back to all the things I’ve seen—and done—with Heath.
“Yes,” I mutter.
“Those are hard drugs. They make him… unlike himself. When I first met him, he wasn’t addicted. I could see the real Heath. But now… those drugs are washing away who he is, and there’s less and less of Heath left every day.”
“Don’t say that.”
I look away, unable to bear the weight of Liberato’s gaze. He’s right and we both know it. Heath’s been overdoing it with the drugs, probably since before I came back into his life. If he continues on this path, he risks losing his life.
“You know it’s true, Rain. You want to please him? Be a good girl?” He smiles weakly. “You should think about getting him to quit that shit. He won’t do it for himself, but he might do it for you.”
I nod silently, knowing I shouldn’t disagree.
“How about I teach you one phrase I shouldn’t,” Liberato proposes. “And one I think would mean a lot to Heath. Can we do that?”
“Okay.”
“The first phrase I want you to learn is, Please get better for me.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat and repeating after him as he guides me through the pronunciation of the phrase.
Once I can say it with confidence, Liberato teaches me how to beg in Spanish as well. I pick up a few phrases, and just as I’m repeating one, I see a hand wrap around Liberato’s neck and yank him forward.
“No!” I screech, coming face to face with Heath, who’s already in a death grip with his friend. “Don’t hurt him, Heath. He was teaching me things to say to you.”
This doesn’t stop him. But Liberato is just as strong as Heath. The moment one of them takes control, the other beats him, looping them into an endless cycle. I scream for help until several guards finally sprint over, forcing the two apart.
“Get the fuck inside, Rain,” Heath snarls without so much as looking at me.
“No,” I shake my head. “I’m not leaving until you promise you won’t hurt him.”
“Not happening,” Heath growls, still glaring at his friend who looks none too pleased, either. “What the fuck do you have to say for yourself, hermano?”
“You really think I’m fucking her, is that it?” Liberato asks with a scowl. “You got bigger problems than that, man. And you know I wouldn’t touch what’s yours.”
“Problems?” Heath narrows his eyes at Liberato. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I mean, brother.”
“Why don’t you spell it out for me, L.”
Heath’s tone is bitter. My nails dig into my palms as I anxiously await the ending of this conversation. The tension is thick in the air and there are shivers going down my spine. I’m ready to scream and claw either of them.
“I mean the fucking drugs, Heath,” Liberato slips now, unable to bear the elephant in the room any longer. “I mean the fucking shit you put into your system so often, and we’re not even supposed to fucking mention it, hermano! You need to stop that before it kills you. You need to stop, not for me, but for Rain.”
Heath’s gaze snaps in my direction. “You got a problem with me, Sunshine?”
I swallow and shake my head. I’m too numb to word an answer.
“Then why are you talking for my woman?” Heath hisses at Liberato. “Did she ask you to speak on her behalf?”
“No, I-”
“I don’t need to hear more. Just shut the fuck up for a second so I can think.”
Seconds tick by excruciatingly slowly. My heart beats faster than ever, sending fear into my veins every time it flutters in my chest.
“I don’t give a shit anymore,” Liberato sighs. “I’m done helping you, Rain. I’m sorry.”
“But I don’t know how to shoot properly!” I speak out before Heath’s icy glare cuts me off.
“As if I’d let you anywhere near her after this,” he hisses. “You’re never to see her again, Liberato.”
