I walk back into the room, straightening my posture as everyone looks at me.
In front of me, Ares still sits at that table, taking a big whiff from his vape and blowing out the smoke in my direction. The crowd has already continued dancing and fucking around, and the music blasts through the house like nothing ever happened.
But we stripped Crystal bare and used her in front of everyone.
And all he does is smirk.
“Did you have to go that hard on her?” I ask as I step up on the stage.
His left brow rises. “Back so soon?”
I avert my eyes. “She didn’t want to talk to me.”
Fuck knows, I tried.
But when Blaine and I put her in her room, she lay down on the bed and refused to open her mouth, let alone allow us a simple look. It’s like we no longer existed to her.
And for some reason, that stung more than having Blaine’s dick up my ass.
Ares smiles at me. “Of course not. She hates you.”
Fuck.
Does she really hate me?
Did I want her to?
I sigh out loud and grab the chair beside him.
“What? Are you regretting your choice now?” he asks.
“No. I still don’t want her mother with my father …” I mumble. “But it doesn’t feel right either.”
He snorts. “Since when do you have a conscience?” He slides his vape my way across the table. “Take it. You need it more than I do.”
I grab it and take a big whiff before sitting down in the chair, but fuck me, my ass feels like it’s on fire. “Fuck, my ass hurts.”
“Good,” Ares says. “If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be a good lesson, would it?”
My nostrils flare as I look his way, but I can’t say the multitude of unspoken words between us out loud.
I know what he’s insinuating.
What I’ve been wondering about all this time too …
But if I were to admit to the truth, what would happen to me? To us?
The way he looks at me makes my skin crawl. He always sees right through my veil of lies.
My lips curl around the vape, and he blows out a circle of smoke in my direction with raised eyebrows, taunting me.
“You don’t just want to get rid of her mother for the sake of your dad, do you?”
Fuck.
I pull the vape from my mouth and put it back on the table, keeping my hand there.
“I’ve seen the way you look at her,” he says.
“Stop,” I growl.
His wicked smile makes me want to chuck this vape into the bin.
“Admit it,” he says, leaning in to whisper. “You desire her.”
“Shut up,” I hiss through gritted teeth.
He leans back, laughing. “You can’t even face the truth.”
“I enjoy fucking her mouth and sucking those tits, but that does not make me in lo—”
I cut myself off before I say something I’ll definitely regret.
“Hmm?” Ares muses.
I know he heard.
Fuck.
“Forget it. I’m done with this conversation.” I shove the vape back in his direction. “You know, I’m not the only one who can’t face his own feelings.”
He clutches the vape too tightly with his fist. “I’m more than just rage.”
I get up. “Then why are you so angry with both me and her? I’m not the only one who won’t say the truth out loud either.”
Something in his amused face breaks, leaving space for silence and disgust, but I still walk off. I have enough on my plate as it is. I can’t carry his emotions for him too.
Blaine
I stay in her room and wait until she opens her eyes again before I approach to put the blanket over her body.
“I’m so … tired …” she murmurs.
“I know. You need to sleep,” I say, shushing her when she tries to get up. “Rest now, darling. You’ll need the energy.”
I fish into her pocket and take out her phone when she isn’t looking, then back away slowly as her eyes start to close.
Even though the music continues to blast downstairs, it doesn’t wake her, as it barely penetrates these walls.
I swallow and grab the door handle, looking at her blink one last time before I close the door and swipe the card along the lock, sealing her in, along with my own damn heart.
Crystal
The next day
When my eyes burst open, I panic and sit up straight.
I don’t know how much time has passed or how long I’ve been asleep.
It feels as though I simply passed out and woke up here in this room.
All I remember is Blaine carrying me upstairs, his gentle hum lulling me into a deep trance.
And then I was here.
I throw the blanket off me and make my way to the door, but when I jiggle it, it doesn’t budge. It’s locked.
Fuck.
I’m trapped.
“Let me out!” I yell. “Hello? Can anyone hear me?”
When there’s no response, I slam the door with my fists.
“Let me out, goddammit!”
After a while, I hear footsteps and stop moving.
They’re getting closer.
I back away from the door.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
I crawl back onto the bed as the handle opens, and a hand slowly pushes open the door.
My heart is racing in my throat.
Long black hair followed by a familiar handsome face peeks inside.
“Are you awake, darling?”
Blaine
I bring a bowl filled with strawberries and whipped cream inside. I’m not a great cook, but it’ll be a nice treat for her.
She’s huddled up on the bed like a scared animal hiding in plain sight.
“What do you want?”
I put down the bowl and say, “Brought you some strawberries.”
She swallows.
“Not interested.”
I make a face. “But you haven’t eaten since you arrived here.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Don’t lie to me, please,” I say. I approach the bed, but she backs away so much that I stop. “I know you’re mad at me.”
“Don’t.”
I frown. Her eyes are laced with fear, and it makes me apprehensive.
She glances at the locked door, and I step back, guarding it.
“Where is my phone?” she grits.
“I took it,” I say. “But it’s safe. I promise.”
“Lies,” she spits back.
“You won’t get it back. Ares’s orders.”
She rolls her eyes like she knew I was going to say that.
But I cannot let her out of this house. No matter how badly she wants to.
Ares’s wishes are my commands. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how it’ll be.
But perhaps …
I clear my throat and place something down on the cabinet, setting the strawberries on top. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
She ignores me completely, wistfully staring out the window like I mean nothing to her. And it hurts.
I throw her a glance and watch her sparkling green eyes with keen interest as they home in on my hand diving into my pocket. “I can’t kill him for you, if that’s what you want …” I take out her knife and place it on the cabinet next to the door, knowing the weight of the burden I’m placing on her. But I know she can take it. After all, she’s the one who’s slowly been wrapping three demons around that cute little finger of hers.
“Now be a good girl, darling, and eat those strawberries.”
