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The walls had never seemed so high before, so daunting. The urge to run away was an itch on my skin I couldn’t control. I needed to leave this damn school—leave the demons that haunted me. Moving briskly, I made my way to the sun-bleached shed, dwarfed by the trees.
Fucking Beau.
Fucking Maria.
She was probably one of those people who clapped when the plane landed.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn’t see Dylan until I ran straight into his chest. I stumbled, grabbing a tree branch to right myself, as he placed his hands on my shoulders. I grimaced at the contact, immediately pulling myself away.
“What the fuck do you want?” I asked harshly through my tears. His smile was cold, predatory, as he gave me a once-over. Knowing Dylan, he relished in my pain. The tears dripping down my cheeks. My puffy eyes. My teeth nibbling on my lower lip until it drew blood. The bastard probably was orgasming at that moment.
Fuming with irritation at being caught in such a vulnerable state, I placed my hands on my hips and canted one to the side. Dylan watched me with amused eyes.
“Where are you off to, little sister?” His mere voice sent pinpricks of terror skating down my spine. How could one person do that to me? How could one insignificant bug demote me to a weak, simpering, fearful little girl?
“None of your damn business,” I hissed. My jaw hurt from how tightly I clenched my teeth.
I couldn’t deal with Dylan today. Not with my pain so raw.
I made a move to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. I blanched.
“What’s in the shed?” he whispered darkly.
“What?”
“The shed.” He gave my arm a shake to emphasize his point. “You and those little boyfriends of yours have been going there a lot. What’s in there?”
“Fuck off.”
My show of courage dimmed slightly when his fingernails dug into my skin. No doubt, it would leave a nasty bruise.
“Are you going to ignore your brother, little sister?” he mocked darkly, leaning forward. My stomach curdled as his lips brushed my neck, inching higher until he could nibble on my ear. Tears burned my eyes at the unwanted contact.
Please, just let me go. Please.
I didn’t know if someone heard my pleas or if Dylan was just tired of fucking with me. Either way, he released my arm and shoved me. The momentum propelled me forward, and I landed on the ground with a cry.
“Stupid, clumsy bitch,” Dylan muttered. He glanced quickly from side to side, ensuring no one was in the proximity, before pulling his leg back and kicking me squarely in the stomach. I let out a gasp, tears stinging my eyes at the pain.
“I hate you,” I whispered.
Dylan knelt beside me with a small chuckle. His hand fisted in my hair, pulling my head back to stare at him directly in the eyes. I resisted the urge to spit in his smug face. At the moment, I was vulnerable. The last thing I wanted to do was antagonize the beast.
“Love and hate are so close together, little sister. It becomes hard to tell one from the other.”
With that ominous statement, he released my hair and sauntered away, whistling beneath his breath.
Only when he was gone did a sob break free. And then another one. And then another. Soon, I was lying on the forest floor, tears cascading down my cheeks and hideous sounds escaping my mouth.
It was only five minutes later when he, of all people, found me, still on the ground and still sobbing. He didn’t say anything as he sat down beside me, his hand going to the small of my back and rubbing soothing circles. He didn’t speak, didn’t ask me what was wrong, just comforted me.
It took awhile for my sobbing to subside. Sniffling, I pulled myself into a sitting position and threw myself into his arms. He caught me, holding me to him and rocking me side to side. Once more, he didn’t speak. He was content with holding me, being there for me, and allowing the rest of the world to fade away.
“Do you want to talk about?” he asked, his tone dark as he brushed my hair away from my face. I knew he saw the bruises on my arm from Dylan’s grip. I knew he saw me wince when I moved, the pain in my stomach not unbearable but definitely not comfortable.
“No,” I whispered.
Tanner nodded once before wrapping me back up in his arms.
