Page 7 of Brutal Little Secrets

Nothing from Damon. I can imagine him standing there. The tic in his jaw when he doesn’t want to say anything twitching.

“First the accident, riding at night on a winding road, and now this.” Adam sounds almost sad. “I’m calling the therapist on Monday. You’re going to start weekly sessions again.”

“Whateveryouwant. It’s not like I have a choice in my own life.” Damon doesn’t raise his voice.

“I don’t know what to do with you. You need to take this seriously. You’re both eighteen. He could have filed assault charges.” Adam’s voice turns my blood cold. What did Damon do?

“He didn’t and he won’t.”

“Are you going to at least tell me why?” Adam sounds tired.

I hold my breath, waiting to hear the answer, but Damon remains silent.

“We’ll talk in the morning.” The door shuts and footsteps walk down the hallway away from us. A shiver goes through me, but I don’t take my eyes off the bathroom door. My heart throbs in my throat while my insides shrivel. Part of me wants to confront Damon, knowing he probably won’t tell me anything either. And the other part wants to sink into his arms and let him hold me.

Tonight was difficult.

He moves into the bathroom, and the shower turns on.

Damon

My jaw aches, and I just want to crash, but I turn on the water and see Evan’s clothes in the hamper. Her door is shut. I didn’t expect to find her in my bed, but when I opened the door and Dad followed me, I was worried she would be.

Soft and warm, waiting in my bed, because that’s where she belongs. My empty bed is a stark reminder that I fucked up. She never would have left with him if I hadn’t wanted to hurt her like she hurt me. Even though Evan wasn’t trying to hurt me, it didn’t sting any less.

My dad wasn’t happy to pick me up at the police station. He remained quiet until we came up here.

If it were only my father at home, he’d have kept me up to talk to me—or rather, at me. But now that he has Heather, he’s eager to return to bed. He’s not paying attention to what’s happening in his own house. They haven’t noticed Evan sleeps in my bed, and there are no locks on the doors to the bathroom.

Maybe my dad’s actually in love this time. Maybe she could be it for him, but she’s nothing like my mom. My mom was smart, beautiful, and kind. She was the partner my father needed. No woman could ever take her place, and I’ll see to it Heather never does.

I strip down but glance at Evan’s door. Is she awake still? Did she hear all that? I burn with the need to go in and claim her. Need to make sure that asshole didn’t do anything to her.

But Olivia wears this cloying perfume that clings to me. I need it off me. Fuck, I fucked up. What if Evan is done with me after tonight?

Will the blackmail hold her to me?

I step into the shower and long for her soft skin brushing mine. Those wide eyes looking up at me as she sinks to her knees for me. Fuck, I stroke my cock a few times, but I don’t want to come to my memory of her.

Instead, I wash my body. I didn’t notice the soft click of the bathroom door, but when I turn, I meet Evan’s stormy eyes. She’s in a nightgown, sitting on the counter watching me. Her face is expressionless.

Her legs dangle with her bare feet tucked together. I turn off the shower and grab a towel, never dropping her gaze. When I step out, I hang my towel and glance toward the open door. Hawk’s asleep in Evan’s bed.

He rescued her. She wouldn’t have been out there if it wasn’t for me.

Of course, he’s her hero. He’s lucky he wasn’t at the party when it got busted. He’s the straight-A student, the fucking golden boy, heading to Ivy League in the fall. The guy my dad wishes I was. Hawk is good at hockey. Might even be able to land a deal by playing in college, but he’s not me.

I live hockey. Before Evan. Before that fucking accident. I could have been signing a deal right now to start playing professionally. Instead, I’m here, starting fights and trying to get into this girl’s pussy.

My cock twitches. It’s hard for her, and I’m not about to hide it. This girl has me.

I walk over to my sink and turn on the faucet, grabbing my toothbrush. She releases her breath, but remains quiet, watching me as I brush my teeth. There are bruises forming on her arm that I didn’t put there. My grip tightens on my toothbrush. I should have broken his nose.

After I wipe my mouth, she brushes the backs of her fingers over the bruise forming on my jaw. Her gaze lingers on it. I want to ask her what happened, but I’m afraid her answer will have me flying out of here to find Chase and put him in the ground. If he hurt her...

“Explain tonight, please?” Her voice is quiet and steady.

I lean into her touch for a moment, savoring it. “I had to prove a point to Olivia.”