Page 150 of Rebel

He hangs his coat over the back of the wooden chair and slides his hands into his pockets as he glances around. The dim, bedside light is on, since the overhead one was so bright it gave me a headache. The peeling wallpaper leaves much to the imagination, as does the stained carpet.

Thunder cracks in the sky, making me jump, and we both glance out the window to see lightning streak across the dark sky. “Wicked storm tonight, as if it knows something.”

I nod and pat the bed.

“I’m wet.” He winces.

“Don’t worry about it. Trust me, this room can’t get much worse.” I chuckle, and he smiles as he sits at my side. “So you got my voicemail?” Stupid question since he’s here.

He frowns. “I did. I can’t believe it was your manager all along. That’s horrendous. What did she say?”

“Just what I told you, that she wanted my sister gone and pushed her out, blackmailing and hurting her. She wanted me gone as well and threatened me if I didn’t.” I sigh, tugging at the stained comforter. “Did you manage to find anything on her? I could really use something against her. I’m not letting this stand. I let her think she won, but she won’t. I can’t let her. I’m going back, and I’m going to expose her.”

“I knew you would.” He nods. “She deserves it. She didn’t say anything else?”

“Like what?” I frown, looking up at his strange tone. He sounds desperate. Is it because he loved my sister so much? I bet it hurts to finally know the truth. It cut me to my core when I realized I was right. She didn’t end it on her own. She had a helping hand.

“I don’t know, anything?” he pushes. “Are you sure?”

“Ben, what’s going on?” The hair on my arms rises as his jaw clenches and he stares at me. “Ben?” I whisper, and alarm bells ring in my head.

It’s the instinct every woman has, the one that doesn’t always work because sometimes, the bad guy isn’t the one who stabs you with the knife, but the one pulling it out.

“Ben?” I say softly as thunder rumbles, making me jump. “Maybe we should call it a night, and we can pick this up tomorrow. I can meet you at a restaurant.”

He laughs bitterly, the sound slightly manic.

I start to scoot away, ready to grab my phone and run. Those alarms blare so loudly, it’s hard to think. My instincts tell me to run. It could be nothing, but they’ve never been wrong before.

“No, we are doing this tonight,” he says as I leap to my feet, and he lifts his gaze to me. Gone is the friendly, warm expression. Gone is the friend I trusted. Now, I just see hate.

Hate and anger.

I start to back away, and he grins. His expression is sinister as he slowly gets to his feet. I swallow hard. “Ben, what’s going on?”

“I was sure she told you. She’s so fucking weak like that. I thought she told you and that’s why you called me here, but she didn’t. She was probably too scared of me, but I was sure this was an ambush. It wasn’t. You are seriously that fucking stupid.” He walks toward me as he speaks. “Did you really think Rachel could do this alone?”

My back hits the door, and I inch my hand across it for the knob. Fuck my stuff and phone, I’m out of here because I see my death in his eyes.

His hand slaps the wood next to my head, making me yelp and jump as he laughs.

My hand grabs the knob as he leans closer. “She wasn’t strong enough to do it alone. No, she had help. Me. And you called me here. You were too stupid to see what was in front of you, just like your sister.”

I rip the door open and dart outside. Rain instantly soaks me, but I barely get two steps before a hand grabs my hood and yanks me back.

The boom of the thunder covers my screams.

He pulls me against his chest, covering my mouth with his hand as we are drenched, his hot breath reaching my ear as I struggle. “Let’s talk, just you and me, huh?”

I scream and fight as he drags me back into the room. The door slams with a resounding thud, and I know I won’t be going out that door alive.

I’ll die here tonight, filled with regrets and unspoken words.

The truth will die with me.

He throws me across the room, and I smash into the lamp, plunging the room into darkness before I tumble onto the bed. Groaning, I roll to the side to get off and get into the bathroom, but he’s there. He backhands me then hauls me up the bed until I’m pinned under him. I fight in vain as he pins me down.

I hit him, bringing my knees up before he pins them without even breaking a sweat. I don’t stop fighting. I can’t. His hand hits my cheek, connecting with my bad eye as I scream once more. The sharp pain zings through me and only adds to the adrenaline pumping through my body. He watches me fight with a cocky, happy smile, and I feel his hard cock press against my leg. It causes me to freeze, and I recoil into the mattress.

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