Page 31 of Deviant Reign (Knight's Ridge Empire 6)

“He just walked away, Stel. I have no idea what they did to find me, to get me out of there safely, but the second I walked out, he turned his back and left.”

Pain lashes at my insides as I replay the scene in my head.

He looked wrecked. His skin was pale, and there was a massive gash on the side of his head, dried blood still clinging to it.

Was that from the crash, or had something else happened that I have no idea about?

“What happened after you got suspended yesterday?” Stella asks, taking me right back to the beginning of this mess.

“After I let him screw me in an empty classroom and walked out on him, you mean?”

She clears her throat, and I don’t need to look to know she’s fighting a smile.

“Empty classroom, damn. Why haven’t Seb and I done that yet?”

“Focus,” I joke.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just… that’s hot.”

I scoff, unable to deny that it was exactly that.

“I told him we were done and I left.” When she stays quiet, I force myself to continue, reliving all my mistakes. “I went to Lovell. I just… I needed to get away. I needed space. Somewhere I could think and try to get my head around my mess of a life.

“A couple of old friends bunked off school and found me in the park we all used to hang out in. It was Misha’s birthday. They had alcohol and weed, and before long we were at a Wolves party.

“One thing led to another, and I found myself out the back with one of the guys.”

“Em,” Stella breathes, and I cringe.

“I know, I know. But his attention, having his hands on me… it all felt too good. I just wanted to lose myself, and he was offering that to me.”

“You don’t have to explain that, Em. I get it. I really, really do.”

“He offered me acid. I swear to fucking God, I’ve never had anything other than weed before, and I always said I wouldn’t, but…” I blow out a long, regretful sigh. “He stood there offering me oblivion, and I was so fucking broken, Stel. I so desperately needed it. So I took it.”

I pause, the weight of my stupid decision threatening to push me right under the water.

“Things with Dax—a guy from my past, a Wolf—got a little out of hand. I was tripping and I thought he was Theo so I let go. But then the door flew open and there was Theo with a gun in his hand and a murderous expression on his face.

“Theo shot him. Clipped me,” I add, nodding to my shoulder. It’s kinda scabbed over since it happened, but there’s no way she hasn’t seen it.

“You need that looking at.”

“I know,” I agree, looking at the angry wound. “Theo was taking me to Alex’s mum to get me cleaned up when we were run off the road.”

“By the Wolves?”

“That was who was holding me, but Dad and Cruz keep talking about Pops like he’s involved. I wouldn’t be surprised,” I sigh, sinking deeper under the water.

“But didn’t they… I dunno, like… get rid of him?”

“Fuck knows what they did with him,” I mutter as a soft knock sounds out on the door.

“It’s just me,” Calli says, inviting herself in. “And I’ve got hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. Whoa, we having a tub party?” she asks in amusement when she finds us both submerged.

“My hero,” I breathe, eyeing the mug happily.

“Just… letting Emmie get it all off her chest.”