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Chapter Nine
Logan
“She’s kinda skittish, isn’t she,” Caden states, motioning up to the window where the bane of my existence is perched. She must’ve showered or something, she’s changed her clothes, and her hair is done up in the cute little buns that look like teddy bear ears. I need to stop thinking anything about her is cute. She is the enemy here.
She is completely oblivious to what’s happening under her window, but standing there on full display makes it easy for everyone to know who she is.
“Don’t let that fool you, man, you know what she did,” I groan, still watching her. “Our issue is what we’re going to do about Masters. He’s too close already, the way he was with her in the kitchen, all protective like.”
“I told you upstairs, man, if she’s already in his sights, it’ll be hard to get to her. Those Breakout kids stick together; they’ll have her back,” Ricky warns. “I’m only telling you this because I love you like a brother, man. Whatever you are planning, you’re going to need to make sure it can never be traced back to us at school while he and his crew are around her; they don’t mess around. They may be dancers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have skill and aren’t ready to throw down.”
She turns her head and scopes out the back yard before landing her eyes on us, putting her headphones on, turning away in disinterest. She looks like she’s reading. “Well, we’ll have to be careful, just make sure everyone knows she is persona non grata by Monday. I want her to have the first day from hell, and just so you know, I’m not scared of Masters. I’ve been waiting years for this; he can take a fucking seat.”
Pushing off the rail, I toss my can into the bin and grab another before heading inside. It’s time for her to know who she’s going to be answering to for the foreseeable future. If she thinks she’ll be leaving in a year, then she has another thing coming. I own her now, and I’ll dish out my punishment as I see fit.
I don’t even bother knocking before I throw open her door and barge in. She doesn’t even notice my intrusion, and I can hear her music from the door. Growling, I stalk over to her, wrapping my hand around her upper arm and yanking her up from her perch.
A piercing scream ricochets through the room as she whips her book around and smacks me in the face with it. “FUCK. GODDAMNIT,” I yell, rage starting to rise inside me as I grab both her arms. I force her back until she hits the wall, her head bouncing off it with a loud thump.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing in my room?” When realization hits her face, there’s a new fire blazing behind her eyes, something I didn’t see downstairs. This girl is going to fight me every fucking painful step of the way; I can feel it. “Get. The. Fuck. Out.” She snarls at me, struggling against my strength. I have to admire her moxie.
Yeah right, nice try tiny dancer. You keep struggling; I have you right where I want you. Moving one of my hands, I wrap it around her throat and lean closer to her ear. The smell of honeysuckle and vanilla has my system going into overdrive; I struggle a moment to regain my composure. This is twice now I’ve had this happen. When she’s around, my body and mind fight for control. I don’t like it.
“Listen here, tiny dancer, and listen closely,” I ground out through gritted teeth, leaning closer to her face so that she is caged with no escape. I tighten my grip on her delicate throat. “You’re on my turf now, I know that you lied all those years ago, and Kyle is dead because of you. You’re going to do as you’re told, speak when allowed, and fall in line. I don’t care about your bullshit excuses, and I don’t care about you. You don’t get to live a happy fucking life when Kyle doesn’t.”
The next thing I know, I’m howling in pain on the floor, withering around while it feels like someone is taking a white-hot poker to my junk. The fucking bitch got me good.
Phoenix
I can’t believe this is happening right now. To say I am scared out of my mind is an understatement, but I won’t let him see that. Who the hell does he think he is putting his hands on me? My body reacts all on its own accord, ramming my knee into his groin. When he doubles over, I shove him off, and he collapses to the ground just as his friends burst through my bedroom door.
“DO NOT put your hands on me EVER again, Logan, next time you do you’ll fucking regret it.” I stand over him as he withers on my bedroom floor in pain. Taking my leg, I swing it back and land a kick in the stomach for good measure. That will fucking teach the douche canoe.
“I don’t know what you think happened back then, but I can assure you, you’ve got it wrong. If you really knew what I’d been through, you wouldn’t be here with your hands all over me acting like an asshole.” I turn to his friends, anger pouring from me, “that goes for you three too. I’m not some meek girl from across the ditch that you can harass and intimidate. You want to bully me? Well, bring it the fuck on. I’ve seen more than your worst nightmares could have ever envisioned, and I won’t let you undo all the progress I’ve made. Get your piece of shit friend out of my fucking room and stay the fuck away from me.”
The atmosphere in this room was palpable now. I brace my arms across my chest to hide my shaking hands, fear, and anger pulsing through me. Picking up my phone, I call the one person in this town that has made me feel safe. “Jonah ... I need you to come pick me up ... yeah, I’m fine. I just need a lift somewhere ...” I glare at the back of Logan’s head as his friends are pulling him to his feet. “Cool, no worries. See you in ten.”
All eyes are on me as I hang up the phone and grab my bag from the end of my bed. I’m going to get a lock for this door, and I’m getting it tonight. There’s no way that I’ll feel safe without one, and right now, feeling safe in my own space is paramount. Shit like this can trigger the nightmares I’ve spent years burying. I don’t need to revisit those sleepless nights again.
“Listen, I don’t know what went on just now, but that was a stupid move you just made.” Stryker edges toward me, but I don’t retreat this time.
“Yeah, seems to be a lot of ‘not knowing’ going on around here.” I let my bag fall from my shoulder, thinking about using it as a weapon, but he stops when he sees my fist tighten around the strap. “What you fuckers can do, is back the fuck up, walk back out of here, and stay out of my life.”
Putting up his hands in surrender, he sighs as he backs away to the door. “He’s been drinking. He wasn’t in the right mind to come up here, but do yourself a favor, don’t antagonize him. Being drunk is no excuse, though. He shouldn’t have touched you.” It’s all he says as he exits my room.
It’s as if he could see inside me, see the scared, jaded little girl I’m hiding away behind my tough exterior. As if he could feel the pain that I’m in—that I’m always in because of what I have been through. He almost came across as remorseful. Like he didn’t want to be a part of what Logan has planned for me, but I can’t afford to be complacent.
From now on, I’m going to be on my guard because there is no escaping what Logan has planned, not when I live here with him. Just 364 more days to go. I can do this.
