Page 6 of When Darkness Calls

His hand runs down his face, and he releases a long sigh.

“No—”

“It sounds like it. It sounds like you’re blaming me for the fucking shitstorm I’ve gone through tonight.” My hands ball into fists at my side, my nails and Cade’s keys digging hard into my palms, trembling as all the emotions I have felt in the last few hours return in waves crashing into my mind. Dread, embarrassment, shame, frustration, annoyance, anxiety, fear, and rage. So much fucking rage.

“Like what? Like I was asking for those guys to treat me like a piece of fucking meat? I didn’t ask for that. I didn’t ask to even fucking be here tonight. And I absolutely did not fucking ask for you to do shit about it!” I screamed. Realization shot across his face. His eyes softened slightly, but his anger was still buried deep in the way his body was tense.

His silence was all the response I had needed.

“You fucking promised, Grayson. You promised not to be a dumbass and look what fucking happened. No. No, I blame them for being perverted assholes and I blame you for losing your shit.”

He steps away from the truck toward me. “They said disgusting things about you. To you.” He breathes harshly through his nose. Both hands coming up to grip his hair in tight fists.

“They fucking touched you, Dani.” He says each word slowly, as if it would give more meaning to them that I’m not understanding.

“Did you forget the part where I didn’t just let it happen? Did you completely ignore the fact I said I hit him myself? I’m not a fucking child. I can take care of myself.”

“Can you?”

His words hit me like a punch to the chest. My spine straightens, expression blanks. I move past him, wrenching open the passenger door, grabbing my phone and jacket.

Can you?

Can you?

Can I?

It echoes with each beat of my pulse in my ears.

Grayson opens the driver door looking around the cab, patting his pockets, and sweeping an arm beneath his seat.

Can you?

Can I?

I thought I could. I didn’t just let them say all of that shit to me. I reacted. I got away and called for someone to get me out of the situation. It was him who dragged me back in there. Him who put me right back in their line of sight.

“Did you see where I put the keys?”

And he doesn’t even realize.

“Fuck you,” I snarl.

“Huh?” Grayson’s head snapped up from where he was looking under the truck.

“Fuck. You.”

He rolls his eyes, leaning on his forearms in the door. “I’m serious, Dee Dee. Do you have the keys?”

“I’m serious, too. Fuck you. You want the keys?” I lift my hand shaking them in the cab between us. His hand raises to grab them, but I pull away, rearing my arm back and throwing them. “You can have them. Have fun. Don’t fucking follow me.”

I slam the door as I take off down the sidewalk in the opposite direction. Grayson curses under his breath.

“Where are you going, Dani?” He slams his door too.

I don’t turn around, instead, focusing on pushing my arms through the sleeves of my jacket and getting far away from here.

“I’m going home. I’ll walk back to East End if I have to.”