Page 78 of I Despise You

“There are a lot of things you don’t know or understand. You’re so young. We should talk first.”

Chase inches closer to me, his grip on the gun not faltering. With his free hand, he reaches out to release my hands.

“Talk? There’s nothing to talk about!” Chase yells. His voice softens when he glances at me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I say, sitting up and rubbing my wrists.

“What is that you want?” Chase’s father asks. “You know I can give you anything you may wish for. All your dreams will come true. Anything you want. You can keep your girlfriend too. Let us come to some kind of arrangement, like men.”

Chase snorts. “You have no honor. Why should I trust a word you say?”

“I realize I made a mistake. I was wrong, okay? Is that what you want to hear?” His father eyes him carefully, and I’m sure he doesn’t mean a word that leaves his mouth.

“No. You deserve to die! Right here, right now.”

“Chase, wait. We should call the cops.” Even if I believe Chase’s father should die for what he’s done, I don’t want him to drag Chase even deeper into the darkness with him. I don’t want his father’s death to weigh on him forever. And it’s a too easy way out for this cruel, cold-hearted monster.

“What are the cops going to do? He has them in his pocket,” Chase says. “And we have no proof. It’ll just be our word against his, and it’ll mean nothing. If he dies, it’s over.”

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be this way.” I get to my feet and turn to Chase’s father. “Give us your phone. Unlocked.”

If Chase’s father is such a freak, then it wouldn’t surprise me if he has the video with him so he can get off on it whenever he wants.

His father frowns, looking at his son.

“Do it,” Chase barks.

His father reluctantly pulls out his phone, unlocks it, and tosses it to me. I catch it and search through it as quickly as possible.

When I find the video, I meet Chase’s gaze. “We’re calling the cops,” I say, and then I upload the video online. It’s the only way to make sure it won’t get deleted or swept under the rug.

I feel terrible for Kayla because many people will get to see the last moments of her life, but it’s the only way she can get the justice she deserves.

“What are you doing?” Chase’s father asks, his brow creased, as he tries to come closer to me.

“Stay back!” Chase snaps, keeping the gun aimed at him.

“Everyone will know what you’ve done,” I say to Chase’s father. “The video is online.”

Fury contorts his face as he lunges at me. “You bitch!”

But Chase is quicker, and he slams the back of the gun against his head. His father tumbles to the floor, his eyes closed.

“Call the cops now,” Chase says.

I nod, surprised that my fingers aren’t shaking when I dial the number.

The monster is going behind bars as he deserves, and he’s never going to ruin another life again.