Eden

Dylan stares at me, and the pain in his eyes is staggering.

“You were expecting me to say something like that.” It’s a statement, not a question. “You suspected I had something to do with it all along.”

I realize his bullshit theory about Je

He moves his head up and down. “Yeah. I thought you were so tightlipped not because you were protecting Je

I hold his gaze and ask, “So, what are you going to do now?”

He grits his teeth, his eyes flashing with irritation. “What do you think? Not a fucking thing. The girl I almost ruined my career over just confessed to killing my brother, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it without risking everyone finding out about our past relationship. Even Angelle wouldn’t be able to bail me out of that mess. You’d likely get a slap on the wrist, and I’d end up behind bars for the rest of my life.”

His words are like heavy fists against my chest.

“James’ death was an accident,” I whisper. “I had no idea he was there that day. You can’t compare—”

“Watch your mouth, you little bitch,” he snarls. “I didn’t hear you complaining when I fucked you.”

I want to wretch at the reminder, but I shake the nausea away.

His quick mention of Mr. Angelle sticks out in my mind, and I can’t help but ask, “D-do you still talk to Mr. Angelle?”

“Why the fuck would you care?”

“He’s invested in you, why wouldn’t I care?”

He glares at me, and for a moment I think he’s going to tell me to fuck off, but then he surprises me by answering, “I do still talk to him, actually, and you want to know the strange thing about all our conversations?”

“What?”

His eyes thin to slits. “He only ever wants to know about you. How you’re doing in school. How many friends you have. If his shit son hangs around you or not.”

“Oh.”

He appears almost amused when he replies, “You seem surprised. Here I was thinking you’d wrapped your nasty legs around another man to blackmail. You know, moving up the ladder from backwoods teacher to billionaire.”

I ignore his insult as my mind whirls with questions about Mr. Angelle. Though I’d known that he’d helped Dylan get his job back, the fact that they’re still in contact is stu

“You have to tell me everything Mr. Angelle has said to you,” I urge. “It’s important.”

He furrows his brows and gazes at me in disbelief as fury sparks in his eyes.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he growls. “You’ve got some balls asking me that after what you’ve done. I don’t have to tell you a fucking thing.”

Oh, shit. I didn’t mean to piss him off.

“Dylan, hold on, it’s not…”

“Get out!” he suddenly roars, startling me. “Just get the hell out of here, Mallory. I’m done with you, so just leave.”

His words are so angry and vehement, that I feel a jolt of fear and turn to run away without argument.