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“You’re lucky I haven’t told anyone what I know about him. He’s getting off easy.”
Oh God. Oh God.
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“Oh Willow, so many lies.”
No. He can’t know. He must be referring to something else? Maybe he thinks Jesse hurt Jade.
As I internally spiral, Alex grabs my arm again and drags me toward the tree line. My heart races, and I pray with every step that a car comes past. Any car. I just need someone to see me.
We reach the sign for the lookout, and I grab the pole with my spare hand, hoping Alex will loosen his grip or let go, but it doesn’t work that way. Instead, he falls into me, knocking the back of my head against the metal with such a force that my entire body shakes.
I cry out as a sharp sting ripples through me but quickly bite down on my cheek, stopping the tears threatening to fall. A feeling of nausea hits next, forcing me to close my eyes and suck in a breath.I’m okay. I’m okay.
While I’m focused on staying upright, Alex pulls me through the trees, walking in the direction of the clearing, ruining any good memories I had there. The sound of an engine filters through the air, and I almost scream out, but it’s no use; they’d never hear me.
If I’d just delayed things for another few seconds.
By the time we get to the view, I’m struggling to stay upright. My head aches and I feel a little groggy, but I don’t let him see it. I can’t. “Why are we here?” I ask shakily when he finally comes to a stop.
“Privacy,” he responds as he types something out on his own phone.
“Why do we need privacy?”
Alex smiles at me, his gaze then traveling up the mountain. “To give you a chance to tell me the truth before I ruin your life like you ruined mine.”
What?“I didn’t know you. I didn’t even know that Jade knew you until you told me.”
“That's right. But I knew you. Jade always spoke about you. I would have come to visit sooner, but you couldn’t remember. So, what good would that have done me? And now I’m glad I waited; this is going to be so much more fun.”
With my mind stuck on Jade, I don’t answer.She didn’t tell me about him. Why?
“You really have nothing to say to that?” Alex demands, anger rising to the surface.
“I’ve got plenty to say, but I’d rather we just got this all over with,” I rush out, almost breathlessly. “I still don’t remember. I’m sorry Jade’s parents blamed you. But I can’t help you.”And God, I feel sick.
Alex smirks again, his gaze a little unhinged. “Oh, but you can help me. Just wait and see.”
All my common sense is screaming at me to stay quiet, but I can’t. I hate silence. “Stop speaking in riddles and just tell me…tell me what you want or how you’re going to ruin me.” My voice wavers as my head throbs, but I maintain my composure, refusing to let him see that I’m weak.
“Wow. Look at you.” Alex laughs. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Alex—"
“Because of Jade’s damn diary," he cuts me off, "because of her lies, I spent years behind bars.Years.” I stare at him blankly as he speaks, my mind struggling to keep up. I don’t even know if I’m hearing him correctly because…what? “I was officially convicted on drug charges after my apartment was raided,” he continues. “But they tried to get me for more than that; they just couldn’t make it stick.” My head spins as I stare his way, processing his words.Drugs. Oh God.Did he force her?
“I held on to a lot of anger after that, but my time behind bars pulled me out of it. I was lucky enough to meet some very influential people, and from the moment I was free, I was living the high life. I didn’t need revenge.”
He chuckles to himself as he wobbles slightly, but he doesn’t seem drunk.
“Of course, that life didn’t last long…” he continues. “And what goes up must come down, and on the way to hell, I met Tate.”
I want to ask him to speed up his story because I’m not feeling so good, but I hold back.
“We had fun,” he adds with another smirk. “But when I found out he knew you, it was like adding salt to an old wound. Until one day he gave me a gold mine.”
What the hell?
