Page 37 of SNOB

His hand latches around my throat. His smirk matches mine when a choking sound escapes me. He pulls me towards him, his words in my ear. “You’re a sick fuck too, aren’t you, Everett?” My hands come to his wrist, but he squeezes harder. “Maybe you’re the reason Beau is gone. If you left like I told you, he’d still be here.”

My hand slaps against his cheek so hard my palm stings.

“Ember?” Uncle Jake calls from the door.

Mac loosens his grip before he takes a step back. He turns around, waving at Uncle Jay like he’s a regular guest. Glancing back at Jake, I can see how tight he’s gripping that bottle, then he puts a bare foot onto the brick we use as a step.

“Get out of here, Mac,” I warn.

“I have a task for you.”

“Ember?” Jake calls again, his voice a little closer.

“Leave,” I warn again.

“Why? Maybe Uncle Jake wants to know what you’ve been up to. Casual murder. Sex in his bathroom…” My body stills, his words reminding me how real last night was. My legs feel like jelly again before I wobble. Mac puts his arms out, catching me. Another gesture that contradicts who he is. “You gonna tell Uncle Jake how I make your knees buckle?”

Shit.

Glancing back, Jake storms towards us.

I can’t let him reach Mac.

Who knows what this asshole will say?

Jake’s been through enough. I need to be stable for us both, even if that means dancing with the devil.

Pushing Mac away, I move towards Uncle Jake, meeting him in the middle of the cracked sidewalk.

“Who is that, Emmy?” he asks, his eyes on Mac.

Glancing back, Mac waves again.

“Just someone from my new school,” I respond, trying to push Jake back to our home.

“A friend from your new school who chokes you?” Jake’s bushy brow raises.

I still feel the heat on my neck from where Mac’s hand was. “We were just playing around.”

“Oh yeah?” Jake sounds far from convinced. “Is that how rich people play? I should have a word with your friend.”

“No!”

Jake’s narrow eyes finally move back to mine. “You like this guy, Ember?”

“What? No. No!”

“Sounds like you like this guy.”

“Okay, fine. Yes.” I fucking hate him, but I can play this to my advantage. “Please, don’t embarrass me, Uncle Jay.” I give him the eyes I know he hasn’t resisted since I was a kid.

“Ember…” Jake’s eyes search mine and for the first time in a long time, I see past the drunken haze. “Your father will haunt me from his grave if I ever let anything happen to you. I won’t go to him. I get it. But I don’t trust those guys in The Hill and you know why. Promise me you’ll keep your head above water and be careful.”

Glancing back at Mac, he smiles. His perfect rows of teeth twinkling under the sun makes my skin fry. “I’ll keep my?—”

“Hey,” Jake cuts me off, his hands coming to each side of my face as he pulls my attention back to his eyes. “Promise me.”

“I promise.” But it’s a little too late for that.

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