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I’m hyperventilating, anger and humiliation making me shake. “Caden, stop,” I plead.
“You don’t want to do what I tell you, little Scott?” I don’t know what it is tonight, but he’sangry. This morning he fixed my car and told me he’d make an exception if I wanted to be his girlfriend. Insane, yes, but at least he wasn’t hurting or humiliating me.
Tonight, his wicked side is out to play, and I don’t know what to do to escape him alive.
“I’m just…” I take a deep breath. “I’m just trying to make you see sense right now.”
“I don’t want to see sense. I want to see you on all fours. Do you prefer here or inside the house?”
“Caden!” I rage. “Just drop it. It was a long time ago. Get over it.”
“You want me to get over it?” he scoffs. He grabs the bag of money and straightens up before his hand shoots to my ponytail. “I tried to keep this between us, Billie.” He’s close enough this time that I can feel his breath, and there’s no mistaking what’s happening.
He’s drunk.
“Let go,” I shriek as he starts walking and dragging me along.
“I do love that hairstyle for you. It’s a nice little leash.”
He pushes his front door open and brings me inside with him.
As I assumed, it’s not a party. It’s worse. They’re having some sort of small get-together with their closest friends, and all their heads turn to me as we cross the threshold of his house.
“Everyone,” he exclaims. “You know Billie Scott.”
“What the damn hell are you doing, Caden,” his dad scolds as the son drags me into their living area.
“Getting over some stuff.” He drops the money in the corner of the room and drags me with him to the middle. “Billie said I should get over what she did in the past. I thought, hey, why not all do it together, right?”
Caden’s sister, Kayla, looks right at me, her hatred for me buzzing in the air. I can’t talk anymore at this point. Any begging or pleading is a weakness not only for me but for my entire crew. Fighting is stupid and will make my situation worse.
I’m stuck.
I’m stuck with ten or so people looking at me, sharing a need to make me hurt.
Still holding my ponytail, Caden grabs a beer on the table and downs it. “Kay,” he slurs. “Wanna remind us of what happened that time you went to the Scott’s house to ask for a truce.”
“No, Cade,” his sister huffs. “I don’t want to get into the details, thank you.” I notice she’s the only one not drinking. Could she help me?
She smiles at me, obviously seeing the hope in my eyes. “But I will very much enjoy you teaching the bitch a lesson or two.”
“Okay, well, whatever.” He waves a hand in the air. “I know how we found you. No one is allowed to beat up Billie, though, ‘cause she moves shit for me. Need the girl alive and all. But we can find other stuff, don’t worry.”
I shift on my feet when he turns to Jade, and I have to turn with him. “Jade. We’re gonna get you settled, too, okay? I remember how she treated you in high school. Don’t worry.”
Jade smirks and relaxes in her seat. “I knew this evening was going to be good.”
He smiles at everyone, like a ringmaster about to present his circus. Ethan and Elliot are sitting on either side of Jade, taking in the situation with surprised yet happy expressions. There are a few other people, but I don’t know them.
“Well,” Caden nods to himself. “Billie, here, said we have to get over it. And I thought, why don’t we show her what she did and then see howshegets over it, huh?” In one sudden movement, he pushes me to the floor and I’m forced to catch myself on my hands and knees.
I attempt a deep breath that falls short and stare at my hands on their rundown carpet. If I do this in front of them, they will never let me forget it.
If I don’t…I don’t want to know.
My heart is beating loudly in my ears, pounding in my head, and shortening my thoughts. So much so that Caden’s voice is barely a ringing sound in my ears when he talks again.
“Come on, little Scott.Crawl.” Trying not to explode into tears or pass out, I take a tentative tread, glaring at the floor. “That’s it,” he says, satisfied. “All the way to Jade.”
