Page 24 of Hate So Deep (Hate #4)

THEN

Lauren

It’s safe to say that school the following week is awkward at best. We’re no stranger to fights amongst the school’s but what Dirk did was beyond a brawl and the rumors about me partying over the border swirl.

With Danny’s injuries and my betrayal of the social mores dictating loyalty to these assholes, I just became the enemy.

Unfortunately, I don’t have it in me to care. I also heard that Danny, although beaten quite badly, was not hospitalized, leaving me to wonder if Dirk opened a can of worms that he can’t now close.

Beyond the potential police involvement, I’m sure he just became a target…for me.

Or maybe he would have done it on behalf of any girl. Who knows?

It’s not like he bothered to say a damn thing to me before he walked away.

On Friday, I roll over on my bed from where I was scrolling through social media when Buck says from the door, “You didn’t really whore yourself out to a Northie, did you?”

After closing out my phone and the evidence of my newest obsession, I say, “Huh?”

I don’t care what Buck thinks but I sure as shit don’t want to fight with him.

There’s something wild and ugly writhing in my brother’s soul and it’s as though whatever is tethering him to humanity gets thinner and thinner with each passing day.

I would prefer not to be the one who experiences the damage when it finally snaps.

Unfortunately, feigning ignorance does me no good because he steps into the room before closing the door behind him.

“Buck,” I mutter, moving to stand when he approaches.

His icy green eyes roll around the room before stopping on me and a shiver slides down my spine when he cocks his head.

“What do you want?” I ask and he grunts.

Turning away, he glares at the mirror sitting beside my dresser and says, “I want my sister to tell me that she’s not fucking one of them. I want my sister to tell me that she didn’t betray us, this family, for dick.”

Stepping back, I grab the post of my bed and say, “Do you hear yourself? The family? For what? Trying to have a little fun?”

He swings around and I bow my head. As much as I’d like to be the girl who fights back, I’ve seen what Buck can do in a rage. It isn’t pretty.

His last girlfriend finally walked away after he gave her a black eye and it wasn’t the first, just the last time she allowed him to manhandle her.

“That wasn’t a no,” he sneers.

“Buck–”

“Stay the fuck away from Evans, or I’ll fuck him up.”

A snort escapes me before I can help it and he grabs my arm, snarling, “You think this is funny?”

Pulling away, I step cautiously to the side as he says, “Do you know who that fucker is? Do you care?”

When I don’t respond, his eyes narrow to slits and I glance at the door.

Following my gaze, he finally says, “You think he wants you, Lala? He don’t care about what’s between your thighs. Those assholes only want one thing. To get back at me.”

His words sting, the truth behind so many of my thoughts lately, tumbling free and averting my gaze, I whisper, “Get out.”

The rasp of his nasty chuckle slides down my spine like razors as he backs away, but I don’t care.

Once again, I’m left wondering…if my own father threw away his family for another, why would some random dick care about me?