Page 41 of Temptation
Shit, shit, shit.
I ran from the house last night and stole his car. I knew the guys were going to be at the riverbank, but I didn’t think. I didn’t think about the consequences, and I didn’t want to imagine what would happen once I got back home.
If I got back home.
“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll text him.”
From the corner of my eye, I could see a less-than-happy expression on Ash’s face, but there was nothing either of us could do now. If I wanted to survive this, I had to play Dylan’s game. Unless these three had a better plan.
* * *
No answer.
No fucking answer even though he read the message. I could see that he read the message, and that only meant one thing—there’d be hell to pay once I got back home. The night of the ritual or whatever the fuck that was, I was terrified, and seeing Dylan wearing that fucking mask didn’t help.
It also didn’t help that his behavior wasn’t anything I’d seen before from him, and it scared the ever-loving shit out of me. But then yesterday when he took me out for lunch, something changed. He was like a walking bipolar disorder and I couldn’t figure out if he wanted to hurt me or if he wanted to save me.
Maybe both?That inner bitch grinned, loving the prospect of us getting hurt at least a little bit.
Rowan, Kane, and Ash were talking, discussing the Church we were in, about their plans, but I couldn’t focus on them. I was an overthinker, and it was killing me right now.
I shouldn’t have run away yesterday. I should’ve stayed at home even though I hated every single part of that house of nightmares. The enormous staircase leading to the first floor was swept clean. The walls without peeling wallpapers, its ugly history was hidden by the fresh paint, but I could still see the depravity scratching against them, rearing its ugly head at me.
My memories, my sadness. My eternal pain.
It felt like an out-of-body experience, standing there, trying to listen to Dylan’s animated voice, while he went on and on and on about the renovations that took place, pretending as if he didn’t tear my chest apart. With his hand firmly clasping mine, I had no choice but to follow as he took us around the house, showing me the kitchen, the study, the library, smiling as if this was the best gift ever.
Maybe for him it was.
I couldn’t stop the assault of the memories, of the tragedies, of the blood and tears spilled. My wrists tingled from where he tied me. My skin still burned where Judah touched me. My lips still remembered what it felt like when his fist connected with my face.
A shudder ran through me when he pulled me upstairs, leading me toward the room I never even wanted to think about.
So I ran.
I ran once he left me alone, after he confirmed that he killed all those girls—that he killed Zane. I couldn’t stay there. I couldn’t stay in the same house where he was. I wasn’t afraid of him—I was afraid of myself.
I was afraid that instead of running, I would jump right into his arms, because the pain reflecting back at me from those blue eyes was piercing the tiny armor I placed around my heart. That pain was a tipping point, and I knew that no matter what I said, no matter how much I wanted to hate him and what he represented, I couldn’t.
But I had to go back and face the music soon. Dylan was many things, but he was stubborn as fuck, and he wouldn’t let go so easily. He might have stayed put so far, but he wouldn’t for too long. If I didn’t get my ass back home, who knew what he would do?
The last thing I wanted was for somebody else to get hurt because of me.
“I need to go home,” I mumbled, interrupting Rowan in the middle of his speech.
I looked up, my eyes clashing with Ash’s. The torment was evident in his own, but he didn’t move a muscle to stop me. And if that didn’t tell me that I didn’t belong here with him, at least not right now, then I didn’t know what would.
Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe it did start with revenge and ended up in love, but I still couldn’t shake this ugly feeling unfurling in my chest that he hurt me. He took my love for granted and instead of talking to me, he kept secrets.
“Home?” Ash asked, frowning the entire time. “You want to go home to that monster?” he gritted out.
“Yes.” I nodded. “I need to go home.”
I fucking hated the anguish clear on his face. I hated myself for putting us all in this position, but I wasn’t risking any of their lives if Dylan decided to come after me. I told him I’d be back soon, but who knew what he was capable of?
He killed Zane, and it wasn’t just because the Order asked him to do so. He always hated him. Always said that I deserved better. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to tell them that. I couldn’t betray Dylan, even though I knew it was the right thing to do.
“Unbelievable.” Ash scoffed and started walking between the rows of seats and all the way toward the tall, wooden door. A part of me wanted to stop him. That part wanted to beg him to take me far away from here, but the other part, the rational part of my brain, told me that I couldn’t leave.
