Page 74 of Jerk

“You know what she needs, don’t you?” The same officer behind the desk pipes up again. He chuckles, “Go ahead, calm her down.”

Looking around, officers stare at me like I’m naked. My hands come to my arms before my eyes move back to Rye. “Did you tell them about your sister?” I ask. He looks around the room before taking a small step towards me, and that tells me enough. I take a step back. “What did you tell them?”

“Hannah, let’s?—”

“You had aweekto answer me!” My poise? Gone. My control? Non-existent. The time for calm and collected is long past. “I’m not waiting anymore. What did you tell them?”

“I told them where you were.” He shrugs. “At my party.”

“Did they ask for proof?” He glances around the room again as my fists clench. “Tell me, or I tell them.” His eyes lock with mine. Sharp. Glaring. Consuming. But he doesn't answer. "Fine."

When I turn towards one of the officers, Rye’s hand lands on my wrist before I pull it away. Then his words hit me harder than my mother ever has. “I have a video from that night. I showed them.”

The room spins, the snickers and the comments louder than the blood in my ears.

My knees shake, my eyes searching for the guy I left at that party. “You didn’t save me.” I feel the burn in my throat, the blur in my eyes. “You sold me out.” And with that, I march right out the door.

It’s hard to take a breath, even with the cool air hitting my face.

He showed them a video? What the fuck is wrong with him?

“I kept you out of a cell, Alfonso!” His voice calls from behind me. “You should be thanking me. Not being a fucking brat.”

“Abrat?” Turning around, I face him again, his scowl meeting mine. “You just showed me off like a trophy, and you’re calling me abrat? You’re as delusional as the rest of your friends. And you’re just like your sister. If anything,sheshould be thankingme. Instead, she’s out there telling everyone I had something to do with the death of your father when she was the one covered in blood!”

“Quiet, Hannah.” He speaks through clenched teeth, his eyes moving around the parking lot before they lock on mine again. “You sound hysterical.”

“You want hysterical?” My nails dig into my skin. “I’ll march right back in there and tell them what actually happened.”

“With what proof?” His words are low and cold.

“They just need to take a closer look to see that your sister isn’t the redemption story she’s making every idiot on campus believe she is.”

“Don’t be mad you lost control.”

“All this is a game of power for you. You forgot that this is my life!” I laugh, feeling ridiculous for where I am and how I got here. “If she’s doing what she has to do, I’ll do the same.”

He takes a step closer, invading my space, that bittersweet scent overtaking me. “Threaten me and my family one more time, Alfonso.”

“You scared?” Another laugh escapes me while the muscles in his neck look like they'll pop. “Tough. You don’t control me anymore.”

Pushing past him, I give him that same shoulder snub his sister gave me. I refuse to make him see how flustered his hard body against mine makes me feel when he hardly moves.

“Where are you going?” he calls after me, his voice sounding more tired than threatening.

“Anywhere far away from you!” I call back, flipping him the bird like some trailer trash from The Valley. I hate what he brings out in me. I hate that he makes me lose control, and I’m sick of it.

Without thinking, I send Ember my location, followed by a text.

Hannah: sos - pls come get me?

She's proven to be the only one who cares enough to help.

My arms folded over my body, I don’t miss the gawks and stares of cars passing by as I storm onto the narrow road. Locals don’t ever see an Alfonso walking on the side of a street on the outskirts of town. My mother's right. I'm embarrassing.He'sembarrassing. I thought the last week meant something. I thought they were on my team.

I’m only a few minutes from the precinct when the hum of an engine comes to my side, headlights appearing next to me. “Get in the car, Hannah,” Rye says. “We’re not done.”

“I’d rather be eaten by a pack of hyenas.” My eyes dart to the forest next to me, my pace quickening.