Page 57 of Better Run

I march back to his room, where I find my shirt has been destroyed. I yank my pants on. “I only had three, and now I have two. Cocksucker.”

He follows me, chuckling, “I’ll buy you more ‘cause I don’t plan on stopping.”

I march past him and upstairs to the loft to get another shirt. By the time I come back downstairs, Cole is dressed in only his pants, his muscled chest on display.

I’m starving. I go through the fridge to see what we have. I end up pouring myself a bowl of cereal and groan when I take the first bite. It has that perfect crunch, and none of it has gone soggy. The food is heaven.

Cole also pours himself a bowl, and we eat in silence. I finish my first and go for another.

“Who was Jayden looking for last night?” I pour my milk, and Cole snatches it from me before I can finish it. I glare at him. He uses the rest in his bowl.

“Not sure which one.”

“Which one?” I look at him.

He looks at me for a second, then tosses the empty milk container at the trash. It misses and clatters to the ground.

“Someone scared him. Hurt him.”

“Yes.” He looks into my eyes.

“What happened?”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Why don’t you ask him?”

I scoff, but Cole looks serious.

“Ask the man who kidnapped his ex, forced her to relapse, and snatched me up just to play games with her head?”

“There’s more than that.”

“Then tell me!”

He takes another bite and chews slowly. “Sage is not innocent, little one. Everything that goes around comes around.”

“Am I innocent?” The blood pounds in my ears.

He gives me a long look, staring into my soul. “Yes.”

“Then why am I here?”

“Because you got caught up in some shit that you shouldn’t have. And when you did, you caught his eye. And then you caught mine.”

I search his blue eyes. He doesn’t look away. My heart is racing. “Will you ever let me go?” All the other times, I knew what the answer to that question would be. This time, it feels like he’ll be honest with me. Which makes me want to throw up.

Cole doesn’t respond. Just stares. There’s heat and gentleness and…possession in his eyes.

Anger rolls through me. “Will you ever let me go, Cole? You said I’m innocent. You know I don’t belong here. You can make it right. Let me go home.”

He stands and walks slowly over to me. He tilts my chin up with his finger and drifts his lips down. They brush mine. “No, little one. No, I don’t think I will.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Jayden

I push Sage to her knees in the dirt. She hasn’t stopped crying since I drug her out into the woods. Probably thinks I’m going to kill her. I’ve thought about it. But not here.

“This is it,” I say, my voice monotone.