Broken kingdom

“But nothing,” he roars. “What part of I don’t ever want to see you again don’t you fucking understand?” 

All of it. Because there’s no way in hell I’m ever going to let him sever what we have. 

I messed up. I’ll own that. But I’ll do whatever it takes to earn his trust again. 

Grabbing his hand, I place it over my heart. “I know you’re angry. You’re entitled to it. But this belongs to you, Oakley.” 

He snatches his hand away like he’s been burned. “I don’t fucking want it.” Inclining his head, his lips brush the tip of my ear. “My gut told me not to trust you because sooner or later you’d fuck me over. I wish I fucking listened.” 

His words are like a fist to the face. 

“What does your heart tell you?” I choke out. “Because mine is telling me that what we have is real. And even though I screwed up so fucking bad…we can still fix this.” 

“No, we can’t.” 

He tries to push past me, but I lock my knees and stand my ground. “Look me in the eyes and tell me this isn’t real.” 

 “It’s not real.” His expression contorts into something cold and vicious. “I just wanted to fuck you. And now that I got what I wanted…we’re done.” He holds my gaze. “Thanks for the mediocre lay.” 

Any other girl would crawl into a ball and cry her eyes out. 

But I know exactly what he’s doing. Because I’ve done it most of my life. 

He’s hurting me with cruel insults in hopes it will push me away. 

But it won’t work. 

I peer up at him. “You don’t mean that.” 

He bashes his fist against the wall beside my head. “Goddammit. What will it take for you to leave me the fuck alone?”

I tell him the truth. “Death.” 

And even then, I’m sure I’d find my way back to him. 

“Trust me, I want to fucking kill you right now. The only reason I’m not is because I care about Jace and Cole.” 

Yeah, that hurts. However, I’m still not letting him go. 

“Then don’t leave. Call my brothers and let them talk you off the ledge since it’s obvious I can’t.” 

He snatches his second duffle bag off the floor. “Loki needs me to be in New York by Thursday.” Reaching in his pocket, he throws his house key at me. “It’s time to get the fuck out of this town for good.” 

My chest fills with dread as he trudges past me. 

He’s leaving…permanently? 

To what? Sell drugs in New York.

Not only does that have bad idea written all over it…it’s straight-up reckless. 

If he doesn’t want to be with me, fine. But I’m not go

I care about him too much. 

I chase after him as he hightails it over the lawn, walks past the gate, and continues down the driveway. 

While he loads up his trunk, I block his driver’s side door so he can’t get inside. 

However, he’s a lot stronger than I am and he simply yanks me away like I’m nothing more than a feather. 

My chest recoils the second I hear his car roar to life. 

Heart lodged in my throat, I run around to the passenger side door.

But it’s locked. 

I grab the handle as Oakley starts backing out of the driveway. 

He slams the steering wheel with his fist. “Let go of the goddamn door, Bianca.” 

I shake my head. “No.”

“Fine.” 

I tighten my hold as the car gathers speed. 

Oakley punches the horn. “Let go. Now.” 

“No!” 

He accelerates and the motion is enough to bring me to my knees. 

But I don’t care. I’m never letting go of this door. 

Never letting go of him. 

The car comes to a stop and he rolls the passenger window down. “Jesus Christ. What the fuck are you doing? You’re go

I don’t waste the opportunity. I wiggle my body through the now open window. “I thought you wanted me to die?” 

Oakley slams on the gas. “You’re fucking insane, you know that?” 

I’ve been called worse. 

Catching my breath, I situate myself in the seat. “You can’t leave me.” 

He clutches the steering wheel as we start cruising down Royal Manor Road. “There’s nothing left for me here.” He glares at me. “I’m turning back around and dropping you off at your house.” 

I secure my seatbelt. “I won’t get out.” 

 “Then I’ll call Jace to come remove you from my car,” he grits through his teeth. 

“No, you won’t.”

Because he cares about me. Even through all his anger I still feel it. 

A muscle in his jaw bunches. “Don’t fucking test me, Bianca.” 

“I’m not testing you,” I tell him. “I’m fighting for you.” The tears I was holding back spill over, streaming down my cheeks. “Because I love yo—”

The car swerves with a startling lurch. When I look over, I see Oakley shaking uncontrollably. 

Oh, shit. 

I go to grab the wheel, but a violent force propels me out of my seat…

And then everything goes black. 

He left me. 

I was fighting for him with everything I had…and he left me. 

Because of her. 

I can feel the ball of anger tightening inside me like a gigantic knot. 

Before I can stop myself, I launch my fist into her face. 

“You’re a fucking pedophile,” I scream at the top of my lungs, because I want people to know the truth. 

Hell, I want everyone around to know just how venomous this woman really is. 

She yelps when I go to punch her again, but a strong pair of arms wrap around my waist and tug me back. 

“Enough,” Oakley grunts. “She’s not worth it.” 

That might be true, but it sure feels good letting her have it. 

Crystal’s hand flies up to her face, and I notice the bruise forming under her eye. Good. 

“I should have you arrested.” 

“And I should have punched you harder, bitch.” 

I squirm and kick, trying my hardest to get out of Oakley’s grasp, but he tightens his hold on me. 

“Get the fuck out of here before I let her go,” Oakley threatens. 

“Pedophile,” I yell and point as she walks away. “That woman is a pedophile.” 

A few people gasp and I can feel Dylan and Sawyer staring at me in shock the entire time, but I don’t care.

Watching Crystal hang her head in shame as she quickly scurries to the exit fills me with such a rush of satisfaction, I can’t help but beam. 

Jace and Cole start walking over, but Oakley shakes his head. “I got this.” 

Before I can protest, he’s walking us into an empty hospital room. 

“I hate her,” I yell, wishing he didn’t stop me from beating her ass. “She’s the reason you got drunk and high before the accident.”

She’s the reason for all of it. 

“No, she’s not,” Oakley argues as he puts me down. “Yeah, Crystal was a bitch, but getting wasted was on me.” 

I hate that he’s right. 

I hate that I can’t blame everything on Crystal because it would be so much easier that way. 

“You abandoned me,” I whisper. “I was fighting for you to stay…fighting for us…but you left.” 

So many things pass through his expression in that moment. Sadness, guilt…regret. 

“I know.” 

He cups my face, studying me for several lengthy beats, before his lips are on mine. 

Only his kiss isn’t desperate and greedy like it usually is. 

It’s soft and gentle…almost like an apology. 

Uneasiness twists my stomach. 

Almost like he’s saying goodbye.