Page 125 of Prince of Pain

We spent a few hours just hanging out, ignoring the millions of calls from Tempest. I was relieved when it stopped, some of the anger melting away.

How could I have been so stupid? She’d always been able to manipulate the people around her, so why hadn’t I questioned her more about my drink being spiked? Of course it was her, it made total sense now.

I’d known I’d been nothing but a meal ticket to her this whole time, but when we’d had nothing and all she’d had left was me, she’d stayed.

Was it just because I could put a roof over her head?

I’d stupidly believed I’d been enough for her and somehow fallen in love with the bitch.

She didn’t want me, she wanted a junkie bestie to put up with her shit and get high with.

Admitting she’d done it to make me fun again was a kick in the guts. What a stupid reason to ruin someone else’s life.

She’d visited weekly when I was in rehab, hearing my struggles and knowing how hard it had been to stick to the path I’d been so desperately trying to stay on.

She was so fucking selfish.

Channing offered to drive me home when I was ready, and we were almost in Ashburn Valley when a text came through.

Tempest: I’m sorry.

I stared at it for a moment, swallowing around the lump in my throat as a flicker of concern pushed past the frustration.

“What?” Channing asked, glancing over at me. “Tempest? Ignore her, man. You could try to get her charged, you know? She fucking drugged you.”

“Can you take me to the house that I was staying at with her?” I asked, and he groaned.

“Trust me, man. No matter what she says, she doesn’t mean it. She’s just trying to get you to go back to her because she’s alone.”

“She said sorry,” I said slowly, sliding my gaze to him.

“So? Of course she is, she’d say anything to get you back. C’mon, think about it. She’ll just act hysterical until you either leave again or kill her. Don’t you remember blacking out and wailing on her? Let her go before both of you end up dead or in prison.”

“Tempest has never said sorry a day in her life, even as a manipulation tactic. I think I should check on her. I’ll call her dad if she hasn’t already.”

“You’re a saint among sinners, Donovan. I would’ve left her to rot,” he muttered, but he turned onto the road that led to my place, a sick feeling growing in my stomach the closer we got.

It only took us a minute to get there, and when Channing offered to come in, I shook my head.

“I’ve got it. I won’t start swinging at her, I’ll just make sure she’s okay, get her dad to come and deal with her, then one of my parents can pick me up,” I said firmly, and he nodded.

“Alright. I’m sorry, man. I really had no idea she’d done that to you. Call me if you need me or the guys, okay?” he said as I climbed out, giving him a small smile.

“Thanks, bro.”

He waved and drove off, leaving me to walk past the shell of my Hellcat and in through the unlocked door, a frown tugging at my mouth when all I heard was silence.

“Temp?”

Nothing. Considering she’d only texted me a few minutes ago, she should’ve popped out of the bedroom or something by now.

Maybe she’d left on foot? Her car was still here, but the house was trashed, so she probably couldn't find her keys.

I found them on the coffee table a second later though, erasing that thought.

I checked the bedroom, my eyes taking in the bloodied sheets on the bed. My knife was missing from the bedside table, the feeling in my stomach getting worse as I left the room and walked into the bathroom.

“Temp? Are you—” Tempest was in the bath, her shirt still on and the water all over the floor. All I could see was the blood in the water though. “Tempest?”

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