Page 46 of Die for You

I’m about to round the corner of the music building to the parking lot when a crackle behind me makes me freeze.

My head swivels over my shoulder, searching the darkness with only the dim lighting from the lamppost to help me survey whatever lingers in the shadows. But there’s no one behind me.

Calm down.

When I drag my eyes forward again, the monster in the dark launches at me.

He slams me against the rough brick wall before I have a chance to scream.

My heart is in my throat, pulse pounding.

I was right. I wasright. He hit and punched and broke everything around me—it was only a matter of time before I was next.

I’m next.

“What thefuck, Rora?” he seethes. “You took out a fuckingrestraining orderagainst me?”

Even in the darkness, I can make out every furious line etched into his face. The face of my nightmares. “You need to leave me alone, Jeremiah.”

My breath rattles, teeth chattering, but it’s not from the cold anymore.

“You think you can just walk away from me?” Rage churns in his eyes, the crease between his brows deepening. “After everything I’ve done for you?”

Despite the fear racing through my veins, I grit my teeth. Jeremiah never did anything for me. Every gift he bought, every bill he paid, he did so to hold it over my head. To make sure I owed him. In his twisted mind, if I owed him, I could never leave. Couldn’t possibly choose to be single over being with a man who would pull out his wallet for me.

So much of our relationship had nothing to do with me. I could’ve been anyone else, a girl by any other name, and he would’ve treated her exactly the same. Because he doesn’t want a girlfriend or a wife—he wants an object to use as he sees fit.

“Get off me.” I shove at his chest, but he doesn’t budge.

So I use the final weapon in my arsenal. As loud as I can, I scream.

His hand clamps over my mouth, silencing me. “Rora, stop! I just want to talk.”

No one comes running. I’m completely alone out here with no one but him. The last person I ever wanted to be alone with again.

No, no, no?—

“Is everything okay?” A light, airy voice calls out. Something about it is vaguely familiar.

Heels click toward us in the darkness and Jeremiah jumps back from me, stuffing his hands in his pockets and actually ducking his head like he’s capable of feeling shame.

The relief from the absence of his hands on me is like being yanked out of an ice bath.

“What’s going on here?” A girl with wavy brown hair that cascades past her shoulders stops a few feet from us. Long nails, dark liner, wolfish eyes.

Monica. Jesus, I never thought I’d be happy to seeher.

“Just talking.” Jeremiah offers her his attempt at a reassuring smile. But he’s still simmering. Still wants to demand answers, an explanation he shouldn’t need after everything he put me through.

I take a huge step away from him, but it’ll never be enough space. Even if he moved to the other side of the world, it wouldn’t be far enough. “Is that what you call shoving me up against a wall?Just talking?”

“I just—” He rakes his hands through his hair like he wishes he could claw his brain out. “I’m just trying to figure out how to fix this.”

“There is nofixingthis, Jeremiah.” I inch closer to Monica even though she’s not exactly a safe harbor. But in this moment, I’d rather deal with her than him.

“Is this relationship drama or do I need to call somebody?” Monica’s gaze is narrowed on him. I’m amazed she wants to do anything to help me after our first encounter.

Not that I regret anything I said or did, but she’s not exactly the savior I would look to in a crisis. I’d more likely expect her to throw me to the wolves.