AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ASPEN
The sound of me gagging while Quinton fucks my face booms from the speakers, haunting me as I try my hardest to get out of here and away from this never-ending nightmare I’m trapped in.
Glares that held curiosity earlier are now filled with disgust. Snide comments about me being a rat turn into calling me a whore and slut as I pass them on my way out.
I want to cover my ears and hum just so I can drown them out, but if I don’t hold up this fucking dress, I’m going to be on my ass in no time. Is that why he made me wear this? Is it all part of his fucked-up plan to destroy me?
Of course, it is. I’m so fucking stupid to fall for this. To believe anything he says.
I finally make it out of the ballroom and into the corridor leading underground when I hear footsteps behind me.
My vision blurs, tears running down my face rapidly as I desperately try to get away from him. I move faster, though I know better than to run in these heels. As if the night couldn’t get any worse, my heel gets caught on a crack in the concrete floor, and I fall forward.
My knees hit the unforgiving ground and pain shoots up my legs. The urge to curl up in a ball and wallow in my own pity is strong, but my aversion to letting them win is stronger.
I push myself off the floor when a set of hands grab me to help me up. I immediately shake them off.
“I don’t need your help!” I spit, certain that Quinton came after me, but surprisingly, it’s not his face I see when I spin around.
“You might notneedit, but why refuse when it makes things easier?” Vito asks.
“Because in my experience, even the smallest amount ofhelpcomes with a price.” I run my palms down my dress, straightening the fabric as much as I can.
“That’s true for most of the people around here. I simply wanted to help you. I don’t want anything in return.” His voice is calm, sounding genuinely sincere.
I want to believe him. The thought of another friend in this hell beckons me like a moth to a flame. Quinton warned me to stay away from Vito, but why?
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” I admit. “Don’t take it personally. I don’t really trust anyone these days.”
“I’d say you have valid reasons after seeing that video.”
I wince at his words. The reminder that everyone saw me sucking Quinton’s dick. The memory fills my veins with anger and shame. Anger toward Q and his friends for what they have done, and shame for myself because I keep letting Quinton treat me this way. I let him in, let him slip through the cracks when I should build my walls higher. I let him comfort me when I should only count on myself.
“Don’t do that,” Vito says in an almost warning tone.
“Don’t do what?”
“Feel humiliated. You’re not the one who did this.”
“It’s easy to say, but I can’t help how I feel.”
“Ah, yes. Pesky feelings don’t always go in the direction you want them to.” Vito gives me a solace smile, and I wonder if we are still talking about the same thing. The way he is looking at me right now with puppy dog eyes makes me think he has some feelings on his own he can’t control.
“I guess I should go back to my room. Thanks for helping me up, even if I yelled at you at first. I do appreciate it.”
“Why don’t you let me walk you to your room?”
“I don’t know…” I chew on my bottom lip, torn by what to do. I wouldn’t mind someone walking me back to my room. I hate being out here on my own, but I still don’t know if I can trust Vito.
“I promise I won’t bite.” He smirks, his eyes gleaming with mischief, but he makes no move to touch me. His gaze flickers to something behind me. “Looks like Quinton decided to walk you home after all.”
I don’t turn around, but I can hear Quinton’s footsteps approaching. His feet pound against the ground like he is angry. As if he has a right to be upset. Fury builds inside me like lava inside a volcano, ready to spew hot molten rock and kill everything in my path.
All the anger and pain has made me bitter, and all I want to do is hurt Quinton the way he hurt me. I want to defy him, stand against him and do the opposite of what he is asking of me.
The small hairs on my neck stand and a shiver runs down my spine as I feel Quinton come closer, feel his presence, his glare boring into my back.
I look up at Vito, who is taking in my face like he is mapping out my features. He doesn’t seem the slightest bit bothered by Quinton, who is getting closer by the second. Instead, he is simply looking at me like I’m the only thing that matters.
