Page 20 of Loving the Tormentor

When he tries to come back, I slap his chest. "Chase, you're not still going on about this whole vendetta against Kay?"

He finally steps back, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

"Who did you lose in the war against NSC?" The seriousness in his tone makes me shrink.

The truth is, I never lost anyone, which isn't the case for most people on the North Shore. My mom left, but it had nothing to do with gang wars. She was just thirsty for money.

"I know you're angry," I try softly.

"Angry?" he snorts. "Nah, baby. Angry is howyouare when you break my balls about what I do behind your back. I'm fucking murderous that our old boss sold her body to the highest bidder and fucked off to billionaire town while we're all still here struggling. We might not be fighting NSC every day, but you'd have to be real stupid to think this war is actually over. Only Kay and her little friends like to think that because they're not affected by it anymore."

"She didn't sell her body." I huff. "You got this all wrong?—"

"Nyx," he cuts me off. His hand lands on my shoulder a little too forcefully. "See, when I tell you about what I do, you piss me off trying to defend her. And when I don't, you get all jealous and call me a cheater?—"

"You want to talk about jealous?" I snap. Fuck, he pisses me off. "You're the one who throws a fit because I'm wearing a skirt to a party."

His jaw tightens, and so does his grip on my shoulder. "Well, maybe I don't want you to wear it because it doesn't look good on you."

My mouth opens and closes a few times, and instead of defending myself, I end up simply justifying my outfit. "It's the only new thing I own. Everything else is old."

He shrugs. "I'm just saying, you're a pretty girl, Nyxie. Why are you wearing something that makes you look so awful?"

With my stomach twisted in knots, I push him away as I jump off the counter.

"You can leave," I rasp, feeling a ball tightening my throat. "I'll drive myself to the party."

"No, you won't. Not if you're drinking."

"Then I won't drink! Or I'll find someone else to drive me. Just fuck off."

He grabs the beer on the table, downs the rest of it, and slams it back. "I'm always doing you fucking favors, and that's how you thank me, yeah?Drive me, don't drive me. Pay for this, leave me alone." He imitates my voice, and my anger doubles. "I'm not your fucking dog. So sort yourself out and don't call me if you need me tonight because I'm not saving you from shit when those frat boys put their hands under your skirt."

I stride after him, shoving him as he exits before wiping the tears rolling down my face.

"Make up your mind, asshole. Am I ugly in this skirt or will men take advantage?"

"You're acting fucking insane." He laughs as he leaves.

"Fuck you!" I roar at his back. "Seriously,fuck you, Chase!"

I gasp with surprise when I see a shadow watching me from across the dirt road. Lena’s just gotten out of her trailer, sliding her backpack onto her shoulders.

"Nyx—"

"I'm okay," I say before she can even finish.

She shakes her head, her sadness greater than mine in this moment since I'm fucking fuming.

"Honey, it's the fourth time in two weeks he leaves your place while you're shouting at him to fuck off."

I scratch my throat and put on a fake smile. I don't have a choice. Allmustbe fine with Chase.

"You're going to be late for work," I tell her reassuringly. "And I've got a party to get to."

"I love you, Nyx," she tells me. There's more she wants to say, so I nudge her a little by coming down the two steps from my trailer. "I hope you realize soon that you deserve so much better than someone like Chase."

I think I know,I don't tell her.