Hate me

Blowing out a breath, he hangs his head. It’s clear my response didn’t satisfy him.  “Where is this thing going between us?” 

Oh, boy. This is so not the conversation I want to be having at two in the morning when I’m so exhausted I can barely stand and my head is pounding thanks to the music at the club. 

“I like things the way they are,” I whisper, hoping that puts an end to it. 

Another sigh. “Well, I don’t.” 

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him to man up and end it then, but then he says, “I want more.” 

“More…meaning—”

“Just more.” He pounds the steering wheel with his fist. “I want you to want me to leave my wife. I want you to ask me how my day is going because you care about me. I want you to let me take care of you.” His voice lowers a fraction. “I’m in love with you, Aspen.”

I feel many things for Leo, but love will never be one of them. 

Love is bullshit. 

Love is nothing but lies and hurt concealed in the notion of a fairytale we’re all forced to believe is vital to our wellbeing. 

Love always leads to pain. 

However, it’s still nice to hear that someone is capable of feeling that for me. 

Leaning over the center console, I press my lips to his. I might not be able to tell him the same, but I can still make him feel good. 

Leo groans when I brush my tongue against his and climb over the console to straddle him. 

Reaching between us, I tug his zipper down and move my underwear to the side. 

“Honey,” he whispers between short, frenzied kisses. “Sweetheart, I can’t.” 

I rub him through his pants, hoping he’ll get nice and hard for me. “It’ll be quick. You can go back home to your wife right after.”

“It’s not that.” His eyes squeeze shut, and he groans. “I’m tapped out, honey.” 

Disappointment blooms in my chest. “Oh.” 

Talk about a buzzkill. 

Trying to conceal my frustration, I climb off his lap. “It’s late. I should probably head inside.” 

His forehead creases. “Yeah.” 

I gather my things, intending to get out, but then I remember. 

“Why did you tell Trent that Knox was bothering me?” 

 He looks like a deer caught in headlights before his expression turns serious. “Because I don’t want him anywhere near you. I told you, he’s dangerous.” 

That may be true, but I still don’t like him talking to his brother about me. Especially when I asked him not to. 

“I can handle Knox myself.”

He snorts. “Honey, no one can handle Knox. My nephew is a psychopath. I’m ashamed we share the same blood.” Reaching over, he tips my chin. “Promise me you’ll stay out of his path.” 

“I promise,” I utter, not because I take orders from him, but because I’m so tired of arguing about this. 

He gives me a quick peck on the lips. “Good girl.” 

Normally I love when he says that, but a weird sensation crawls up my spine. 

I open the door and step out of the car. “Goodnight.” 

He starts the engine. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” 

Rubbing my temples, I amble up the walkway to the house. 

I seriously hate that Leo went behind my back like that. I get that he’s worried about me, but I can’t help but think that Knox…

My thoughts flitter away when a tiny figure with bright blue hair flies past me before collapsing on the lawn in a fit of tears. 

What the hell? 

Upon closer inspection, I realize it’s Shadow. 

I approach her as one would approach a bomb. “Are you okay?”

She whips her head around to look at me, and the fear in her tear-stained eyes steals my breath. I assumed she and Knox had another fight, but I’ve seen them argue before. 

Shadow’s usually the instigator, and Knox doesn’t care enough to fight back. 

However, right now…she looks utterly petrified. Like a kid who finally saw the monster lurking under their bed. 

And I can only think of one reason that might be. 

I look at the red mark around her neck. “Did Knox hurt you?” 

Without warning, she staggers to her feet and runs off to her car that’s parked across the street. 

Shit. 

Despite the alarm bells going off in my head telling me not to get involved, I walk around to the back of the house, swing open the basement door, and march down the stairs. 

I find Knox sitting shirtless on his bed, smoking a cigarette in the dimly lit room. 

“What the fuck did you do to Shadow?” 

For a fraction of a second he looks confused, but then he scowls and stands. My eyes take in the fresh scratch marks on his chest and abs. 

She must have been fighting him off. 

He walks toward me with a resolve that’s akin to a vulture circling its prey. “What the fuck are you doing in my room uninvited?” 

I don’t want to make things worse for Shadow, but I don’t want Knox thinking he can get away with this shit either. 

Someone has to put him in his place. 

“Shadow ran past me when I came home. She was crying and clearly upset.” I swallow hard. “She also had a red mark around her neck.” I fold my arms across my chest. “You obviously hurt her.” 

His eyes narrow as he studies me, an unreadable expression on his face. 

Suddenly, he moves, closing in on me like an eclipse as he backs me into the wall, caging me in with his body.

Those piercing eyes of his are harsher than I’ve ever seen before as he brings his fingers up to my nose. 

Embarrassment mixed with fury floods my cheeks when I inhale. 

“I didn’t do anything she didn’t ask for.”

I want to wipe the smug smirk off his face more than I want to take my next breath. 

Instead, I bring my knee up, striking him in the balls so I can get away. “Touch me again and I’ll tell your dad.” 

He lets out a deep grunt as he bends over.

I’m aware that I sound like a five-year-old, but it’s the only thing that seems to get a rise out of him. 

I’m almost to the staircase when his arms wrap around me from behind. “What did I tell you about threatening me, Stray?” 

I struggle against him. “Go to hell, asshole.” 

 “I warned you there would be consequences for your actions.” His teeth scrape the nape of my neck and he inhales me. “And since you can’t keep your nose out of my business, you’ve given me no choice but to return the favor.” 

With that, he releases his hold on me. I dash up the stairs and to my room.