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Clearly, Brie wasn’t that girl anymore, and if I were smart, I would mourn the person I used to know and get the fuck on with my life. It would be simpler if I could forget about her, but there was no way because she had to pay for what happened. I had to get rid of her.
Over the next several hours, Mom, Dad, and Alexandria chatted about school, work, and everything except football. Dad and I had agreed that we could discuss it briefly, but family dinners weren’t about sports.
For just a little while, I was able to forget about the girl pretending to be someone she wasn’t, but as soon as I left and returned to my car, the burning desire to destroy her rushed in with a vengeance. I couldn’t lose my family or the potential NFL contract. I’d given up everything before, and it had almost cost me my life. Never again. Betrayal was a bitch, and I was about to return the favor.
* * *
Mom and Dad probably knew and just hadn’t ever mentioned it, but there was a back way to enter the property they were renting to Brie. I’d discovered it one day on my way to drop off paint for the house a few years ago and had basically forgotten about it … until now.
I parked the car, then closed the door softly and locked it manually. I’d swapped my light-blue button-down for a black hoodie, then grabbed my mask I used in the society from my trunk.
The alley that led to the backyard was dark, but I’d counted on the cover of the night to hide me. My throat suddenly grew dry, and I swallowed hard when images of my past slammed into me, making it difficult to breathe. The last time I’d depended on the darkness to protect me, it had failed … horribly.
Jogging through the alley, I hopped over the six-and-a-half-foot tall white picket fence, then crouched in Brie’s backyard. It was after midnight, but I wasn’t sure if she would be asleep or not. I quickly moved until I pressed my body against the back wall of the house, where the sliding glass door to her master was located. The television was on, but Brie was sprawled out on her back in the middle of the bed, her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted.Perfect.
Cautiously, I made my way to the front entrance, then used the key to let myself in. I pulled on the white mask with the voice disguiser and adjusted it. If she woke up, I couldn’t risk her seeing who I was. Sliding on my leather gloves, I realized that it would be seriously fucked-up if she discovered that I was also connected to the society. That fact, coupled with a long list of reasons why she had to leave Whitmore, scrolled through my mind as I made my way down the hall. I paused at her doorway, my gaze landing on her perky breasts. Her nipples pushed against the white material of the sleep shirt, and I fought the urge to touch them. The cream-colored bedsheet had been tossed to the side, revealing her toned legs in her pajama shorts. I might hate her for what she did, but Jesus, she was beautiful. My breath snagged in my throat, and my cock begged to be inside her.
Spotting a chair in front of the slider, I frowned. It hadn’t been there last night. Not that it meant anything, but it was just strange. Was this her lame attempt to keep me out?
Brie released a soft moan as I sank into the chair, watching her sleep. I gripped the arms of my seat, my eyes narrowing on the handcuff fastened around one of her wrists. What the fuck was that all about? I spotted the prescription bottle on her nightstand and grinned. It had been another stroke of luck that I’d been in Walgreens when she was picking up her order. The pharmacist had no clue what it meant to talk in a discreet voice, so I heard what the medicine was for—a sleeping pill.
Brie rolled her head from one side to the other, her hand landing on her lower belly. My cock and emotions played a brutal game of tug of war. I studied her—her curvy hips, flat stomach, and toned thighs. The first time we’d had sex wasn’t long before she ran for her life. I had thought I was in love, but I’d been so wrong. People in love didn’t lie and manipulate the person they swore their future to.
Anger simmered beneath my skin, gaining momentum like an avalanche. My brain skipped down a memory lane of our stolen moments together before my world had been ripped apart. My heart slammed against my ribs, my fury roiling to a full boil. I rose from the seat, then strolled over to the bed. I suspected she’d taken another sleeping pill, but it didn’t matter. I would make sure she was awake for this.
I crawled onto the mattress and settled next to her, my fingertips skimming her cheek and down to her collarbone. I wrapped my fingers around her pretty little neck, then applied pressure slowly until her blue eyes popped open, and she clawed at my gloved hand.
“Hello, Brie. I have a message for you.” She stiffened, her face turning red.
I loosened my hold just enough for her to breathe. “You don’t belong here. Go back to Tennessee as fast as your perky ass can pack, and don’t ever return. If you’re not gone by the end of the week, I will fucking ruin you. Those pretty little lips of yours will be begging and pleading for mercy, and I’ll laugh as I destroy you.”
She attempted to nod. I held her for another moment, then released her and climbed off the bed. I took my time walking down the hall, grinning beneath my mask. Goddamn, it felt good to scare the shit out of her. Brie had been terrified, and I would be back to my car in the alley before she stopped shaking and could locate the key to remove the handcuff. If she were smart, she would be gone by this weekend.
ChapterEleven
Brie
Life had been hell, but at least it was a bye week for the football team. I had stayed at Gabby and Everlee’s house, afraid to stay alone at mine. I’d barely slept, debating if I should give in to the threat and leave or hold my ground. That wasn’t the only thing bugging me. I didn’t know many people here, so who in the hell wanted me gone? The intruder was definitely a guy from the masculine build, but who would threaten me like that? I’d almost driven myself nuts speculating who he was, but I was coming up with a big, fat blank.
At least it had provided me with a good reason to explain my lack of sleep, which was true, but that situation was also because I couldn’t handcuff my wrist to the bed while sharing a room with someone. Hell, I hadn’t even told Gabby the real reason why I needed to stay at her place at first. I’d finally told her I’d seen a prowler and was scared to stay by myself.
Worse than that, I’d only taken a fourth of the sleeping pill that night the masked intruder threatened me, and I remembered every word that monster had said.Leave by this weekend or I will ruin you.A part of me debated whether to pack up, but the other was fucking pissed and didn't want to give in. I’d lost everything, and I was bound and determined to build a future here while I finished college. I’d even considered waiting for him next time … with a loaded pistol in my lap. As tempting as it sounded, going to court and possibly prison for murder wasn’t on my bucket list. After a lot of back and forth, I finally made up my mind.
“Are you sure you want to go back to your place?” Gabby asked, concern in her expression.
“Yeah. I’m sure I made a big deal out of nothing. I’m not used to all the shadows at night. It would probably help if I turned off the television before I went to sleep.” I shifted on the couch and looked at the floor. My palms slickened with sweat, and I wiped them on my skinny jeans. No matter how much I wanted to tell her that a masked man had threatened me, I couldn’t. Although lying to her felt like shit, I had to be careful. I didn’t want to risk putting her in danger. I glanced over, realizing that while I might be keeping that secret, there was one I felt safe sharing, and I urged myself forward.
“Can I tell you something super personal?”
Gabby twirled her brown hair around her finger, then pinned me with an intense stare. “Girl, yes. Anything.”
“Okay, but you can’t tell anyone. Like ever. Please.” I hated sounding desperate, but I was terrified of trusting anyone other than my family with this information. My leg bounced as I searched for the words. “I have night terrors,” I whispered, looking away from her. “I’ve had them for years, and … and I have to handcuff myself to the bed, so I don’t hurt myself while I’m sleeping.”
Gabby’s eyes widened, then filled with compassion. “Brie, that’s awful that you have to live like that.” Understanding slipped over her expression. “That’s why you hadn’t wanted to sleep here until you got spooked?”
I nodded, willing my leg to be still even though my nerves were full-on yelling for me to move. “When I was in high school, one night I …” The walls I’d built around me shivered with fear. “I have no idea how it happened, but my parents said they heard a window shatter and ran into my room. I woke up, hanging onto the ledge of my window on the outside of the house. I was screaming my head off and crying hysterically.”
“Holy shit. That’s intense.” Silence filled the space between us. “But Brie, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Your real friends would understand. If the handcuff keeps you safe, then fucking bring it over, and you and I will just share my bed. If you have a night terror, I’ll beat you with my pillow until you wake up. It’s that simple.”
