Page 74 of Malicious Desires

“Let’s do it,” Reece responds, sounding way more positive than I’m feeling. This has to work because I don’t want to be without Reece in my life. Just the thought of that hurts way too much.

The conference room of Perlu Beach Club is huge. There’s a large table taking up the entire centre of the room, with black swivelling leather chairs that are truly opulent. Occasional tables line the windows, and sheer lace curtains graze the floor covering the floor to ceiling windows that look out to the ocean.

Reece is holding my hand in his and squeezes it. “Didn’t know the Murphy’s had this much cash to splash around these days.”

“Yeah, me neither,” I reply, glancing at my boyfriend and then at the wooden ornate doors that are creaking open slightly as though someone is walking past them at speed. “Must be old money.”

Reece nods in agreement, drawing in a breath as the doors careen open and first my father–with my mother trailing behind–barrels into the room. He’s already seething, and I gulp back the lump that’s formed in my throat. This is not a good start.

Only a few seconds later, Reece’s parents are in the room, and it’s death glares all around, both of our father’s gazes locked on each other in a battle of dominance without the exchange of words. My heart is racing, and my hand in Reece’s is clammy. It was stupid to think putting them in the same room was a good idea. I’m afraid they’re about to draw arms and shoot each other down for daring to set foot in the same space as each other. Although that would result in death, I’m not entirely convinced that’s a bad thing. Reece and I could love each other in relative peace, but it would be at the cost of death, and that’s not what I want.

My father’s gaze finds me, his scowl deepening. “Jasper!” he roars, “What is the meaning of this? Why have you dragged your mother and I here?”

I drop Reece’s hand and take a step towards my father. My heart is still in overdrive, but I need to do this. “I brought you and mother here today to confess to you both that I’m in love with Reece Montserrat and no longer wish to marry anyone of your choosing.”

“What absolute trollop, Jasper Terence. You cannot love a man, and most certainly cannot love your sworn enemy.”

I scoff, retaking Reece’s hand as he steps up next to me. We’re a united front against our parents. “Reece is not my enemy, father. Being enemies with the Montserrat’s isn’t on us, it’s on you.”

He starts to speak, but Reece’s father bellows, “You’re speaking heresy, boy. I’ve ordered kills for less.”

“Cut the bullshit, father,” Reece responds, his voice harsh.

“Bite your tongue, son. And drop the hand of your enemy.”

“And what if I don’t?” Reece taunts his father, his eyebrows quirking up.

“Then I may cut it off, and feed it to the wolves of Stockade Road.”

Reece shrinks back, his bravado shot down by the literal words his father just spoke. Stockade Road is as far from the world of Vemore as we know. It’s where the cityscape meets the forest and is said to be haunted by our ancestors who dared to go beyond the city limits. They met their fate at the mouths of wolves.

The room is now enveloped in silence and it’s my father who speaks first, “Do you declare that you love my son, Reece Montserrat?”

The word ‘love’ and Reece’s name on my father’s tongue come out as though he’s spitting out poison.

Reece stares my father dead in the eye, responding, “Yes, Mr Capullo. I love Jasper with every piece of my soul.”

Mr Montserrat scoffs, and Reece glares at him. “You don’t have a soul, son. Like father, like son.”

My father fixes his gaze back on me. “See, Jasper. There is no love here, and you will not seek it out. You’re to stay apart and not bring any blasphemy to our name.”

I stalk towards my father, my blood suddenly boiling with what he’s asking of me.

“Fuck you, father!” I roar, shoving him hard, pushing my open palms into his chest. He barely moves, so I shove him again, practically screaming, “I’ll kill myself if I’m kept from Reece.”

My father barely flinches at my words, instead, he takes my hand and drags me out of the room. I only get to look back at Reece through the corner of my eye. He’s crying and my heart is shattered. I don’t want to be alive anymore. Being alive without Reece by my side is no life worth living.

I’d had to beg, and scream the house down for my parents to allow me to go back to the dorms. They’d barely let me out of their sight and had confiscated my phone so I wasn’t able to contact Reece, and had no way of knowing about what was happening in the outside world. I was missing my classes, hating that I was going to possibly fail my art project–because I’d left all the supplies I’d needed in my dorm room–but mostly I was missing Reece. I feel empty without him. A shell of my former self. At first, I thought I was a sinner for being with him, but the way I feel for Reece–the love I have for him–makes me feel complete and whole, and expressing love is no sin. Reece is also my vice. I need him.

I can’t have him now though, and I can’t even leave the dorm room as my father has guards watching my every move–who know my schedule–and also know exactly what Reece looks like. He couldn’t sneak in here right now even if he wanted to.

It’s probably not a good idea to be seeking out Blaise right now when I’m in a vulnerable state, but being without Reece is painful. I just want to feel something–anything–for the pain to be gone for even a moment. Blaise is known around Vemore–especially in the university dorms–for selling all manner of illicit drugs, as well as prescription painkillers and antidepressants. Where he gets them I’ve honestly got no idea, but right now I don’t care where he gets them, only that he can.

I don’t have a phone, but Blaise is always in the dining hall for supper and that is one place I can actually go other than classes. I’ll still be watched, however, they’ll just think I’m talking to a friend.

I shove a wad of cash into my jeans pocket, as I tug them on and yank on a t-shirt as I rush out of my dorm room. My father’s lackeys eye me suspiciously, following me quickly like lost dogs.

After grabbing my supper of spaghetti bolognese I spot Blaise across the room and rush over to sit next to him before someone else snags the seat. He always sits under the window that looks out onto the courtyard, and it’s a popular seat if you can get it.

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