Page 97 of Die for You

“Got my fucking car too.” Damien’s low growl makes Aurora clutch Sienna closer.

“I’m so sorry,” Aurora calls out.

“Don’t be,” Juliet snaps. “Whatever that asshole does isn’t your fault.”

“What’s his fucking address?” Trey asks, low and dangerous.

Jeremiah’s not giving up. He’s not through with Aurora yet. And he thinks going after us will drive us away from her. Push us apart.

He has no clue what he’s in for.

Chapter 23

Knox

Damien and Finnleave the gym an hour before I do. The burn from the weights and machines isn’t enough to drive all the nagging thoughts from my head.

Rory’s ex was spying on us. Watching us fuck her through my bedroom window. Why the hell didn’t I think to draw the curtains? Why didn’t I think to protect her?

He saw us fuck her and that will set him off. More furious than he’s ever been. And after the breakup, the restraining order, and his own mother threatening to disinherit him, he’s basically a bomb ready to detonate at any moment.

Finn confirmed that the property at Jeremiah’s address is still owned by his parents. We went to confront him that night, but he wasn’t there. A whole new family lives there now, two little kids playing in the front yard. The whole family held their breath as we pulled into their driveway and quickly turned around to head in the other direction.

He really did move back in with mommy and daddy. But that doesn’t mean shit. Definitely doesn’t mean they’re keeping track of when he comes and goes.

By the time I leave the gym, neck sticky with sweat, darkness has long since fallen. My car is one of the few in the parking lot at this hour, and someone’s leaning on my hood.

Not Jeremiah. Not any of the Devils. Not Aurora.

I grit my teeth and halt dead in my tracks. “You stalking me?”

She rolls her eyes, pushing off the hood to saunter closer. “Relax. I saw your car. And I needed to talk to you.”

“You don’t need to do anything with me, actually.” I’m done playing nice. Monica doesn’t deserve any part of me anymore. Certainly not my kindness.

“I heard your little girlfriend is living with you now,” Monica calls in a singsong voice.

“What’s it matter to you?”

She saunters closer, and I brace myself for her to reach out for me. I’ll have to shake her off. Maybe even shove her away if she doesn’t take the hint. She’s never been good at that.

“There’s no way she’ll choose you over Damien or Finn.”

My teeth clench. Monica has no clue what she’s talking about. She thinks I must have some deep-rooted insecurity about Aurora not choosing me over Finn and Damien, but we’ve never expected her to choose, never wanted her to. Monica doesn’t understand what we have with Aurora, and she never will.

I fold my arms, utilizing all my willpower to bottle my rage. “So you waited out here this whole time just to insult me?”

Monica shakes her head, face morphing into an expression that turns my stomach. An expression I know all too well—mouth falling slightly open, eyes going round with innocence, brows lifting in faux concern. Another step closer to me, but she doesn’t reach out.

“I’m not trying to insult you, I swear. I just...I mean, we dated for years, Knoxy. I still care about you. I always will. You were really important to me. Really,reallyimportant.And I think you deserve better than someone who can’t decide between you and your friends.” Her lips, stained with a shade of deep purple, curve down in distaste. “You wouldn’t have to worry about that with me. You know that. You would have me all to yourself. And that’s what you deserve.”

This is how she manipulates people. How she manipulated me for years. She pretends like she actually gives a shit, like what she’s doing is all in your best interest, but the reality is she never does anything unless there’s something in it for herself. She doesn’t give a fuck about how Aurora treats me or what I deserve. She wants to worm her way back into my life, claim that spot as my girlfriend again and shove Aurora out. But not because she cares about me. No, if she actually gave a singular shit about me, she wouldn’t have hurt me over and over.

What Monica cares about is winning. Getting the prize she’s set her sights on. She only wants me now that someone else has me.

I spent years trying to understand why she acts the way she does, trying to understand what could possibly be going on in her mind to justify the shit she puts people through, but I’ve given up. I’ll never understand her, and at this point, I don’t care enough to. I just want her out of my life. For good.

“Thought you had a boyfriend.”