Page 9 of Hate So Deep (Hate #4)

THEN

Lauren

By the following weekend, I’m going out of my skin. Buck came home in a rage last night and nothing anyone could do brought him out of it.

Eventually Dad ordered him to his room which devolved into another shouting match that I avoided by stepping outside.

With every passing day it feels as though we’re closer to imploding and anymore I’m not sure why we’re avoiding the fallout.

Thank god, Caro reached out about a party and after a few drinks, the tension constantly stiffening my spine finally starts to relax.

Although I needed the reprieve from the shit storm at home, I’m not feeling the vibe here, so when Rocket asks if I want to go somewhere quieter, I agree.

We’re passing through the yard when my neck starts to tingle, and I look up meeting Dirk’s gaze.

A thrill rushes through me as his eyes go wide before narrowing. When he glances at the blonde beside him and nods to the door, I avert my head, watching while he approaches with a lazy smile that does not reach his eyes.

“I thought we had this conversation, baby girl?” he drawls as he stops beside me.

Rocket looks over Dirk with a frown and says, “Evans.”

“Pollack,” Dirk grunts, tipping his head.

With the manly greetings out of the way, Caro grabs Rocket’s arm and backs away. When I meet her wide eyes with a frown, she just shrugs and keeps going until it’s just Dirk and I standing under a tree.

“Well?” Dirk says and I silently sigh.

It’s been a hellish week and I’m not up for the challenge but I’m quite sure Dirk doesn’t care beyond bullying me into leaving.

Why is a mystery that I can unravel on a different day.

“Just leave me alone,” I mumble and his brows furrow while he searches my expression.

Whatever he sees inspires him to grab my arm, leading me into the darkness of the yard and I groan when we stop beside a small outdoor shed, and he swings to me.

“That dick do something?” he growls, and I scrunch my nose.

Huh?

Before I can respond, he continues, “I told you this ain’t no place for Academy.”

Shaking my head, I mutter, “If you’re talking about Rocket, no he didn’t do anything and for the last fucking time, what I do is none of your goddamn business.”

When his nostrils flare, I mentally prepare myself for the barrage and I’m not wrong when he says, “Maybe you want to play on the wild side, hm? How about you ask daddy for a Ferrari instead.”

My chest clenches at the mention of my dad and I sneer, “I’m not asking my dad for shit.”

“Mommy then?” he says, crossing his arms and looking down his nose at me. “Why not? Bitches like that probably hold the purse strings.”

“Ha. You don’t know shit,” I mutter. “Why do you care anyway?”

“I don’t. You’re just a spoiled fucking girl with a bad attitude. Get lost before I make this painful.”

Spoiled.

This asshole knows nothing about me and yet, my soul burns at his cruel words. I shouldn’t care but I do and it’s fucking with my head.

“You don’t get a say in what I do,” I sneer.

Maybe I don’t belong but that doesn’t mean I’m not good enough but with Dirk, I get the feeling he doesn’t agree.

Why?

“Oh yes I fucking do,” he growls. “I’ve made it my business.”

Blinking, I stare into his dark eyes before his words penetrate and I push him away, muttering, “Asshole.”

His eyes widen before they narrow and a chill marches down my spine but it’s not fear rushing through my veins, it’s exhilaration when his mouth forms a snarl and he grabs me up.

My skin flames as our lips meet in a mashing of teeth and when I grab his hair and wrap it in my fist, he grunts before turning to the shed.

His warm, soft lips brush mine as he forces his way inside and I arch against him when our tongues collide.

The sensual promise heats my core, and I grind my hips against his erection while he squeezes my ass with his warm fingers.

I’m breathless, achy with need and bucking against him like a damn bronco when he pulls away with a groan, his dark eyes meeting mine.

I have no idea what he’s thinking, but I want more and I’m willing to ask for it as we stare at each other, our panting breaths intermingling.

“Dirk?”

All at once, he stiffens and I glare at the girl who interrupted us over his head but she’s oblivious as Dirk says, “What the fuck do you want?”

To my dismay, he drops me to the ground and steps back as the girl looks over his shoulder with wide, dilated eyes and mumbles, “Who’s this?”

“Nobody,” he says, a shadow passing over his face before he wipes his hand over his mouth.

At the careless response, my chest clenches brutally and I look away.

Nobody .

Why does that single word create such havoc in my heart?

Curling my fingers until they bite into my skin, I don’t stop until it fucking throbs. All the while, I stare over Dirk’s shoulder.

“Oh,” the girl says before stumbling away.

Once she’s gone, I summon a grotesque smile as Dirk says, “Go. Don’t come back. You want to fuck the help, find the fucking pool boy.”

At his words, a lump forms in my throat, and I clear it twice before saying, “If I plan to fuck the help, I don’t need your advice. I can do it just fine on my own.”

He’s silent as I step past him, refusing to look back and when Caro appears in my blurred vision, I make a beeline for her, stopping next to Rocket.

I have zero desire to rehash what just happened. Instead, I summon another smile, breathing through the rage.

Caro eyes me doubtfully but doesn’t comment and thankfully, Rocket is oblivious when he says, “Hey, pretty girl.”

The endearment from a virtual stranger creates an ache beneath my skin that I push away as I run my finger down his chest and rasp, “Let’s go somewhere else.”

Rocket’s eyes darken and with a grin, he holds out his hand.

As we walk away, Caro murmurs, “I hope you know what you’re doing, girl.”

Ignoring her because fuck if I know, I glance back before we round the corner and meet Dirk’s dark stare.

His eyes blaze into mine and I force my lips into a sassy smile, before mouthing, “Fuck you.”

Ignoring the small thrill that races down my spine when he snarls, I stumble to a stop as my half-brother appears at his side, and he turns away.

After that, I proceed to brood the entire way to the next party. I hate to admit it, but Dirk’s words cut a hole in my soul because it’s like he can see right through me and knows that I’m lost.

I don’t understand what would inspire a man to not only cheat on his wife but create an entirely new family.

Apparently, we weren’t good enough but Colt fucking Theroux is.