Page 35 of Tormented By Regret

“You don't know what you're talking about,” I tried getting up, but she yanked on my vest, forcing me to stay put.

“If you didn’t care, you wouldn't have touched me.”

I hovered over her, staring down at her pretty brown eyes, knowing damn well she was right. “Finish your food and go to bed, Whisper. You don't want none of this. No one does.”

She reached up to touch me and before she could, I moved away. The look of hurt in her eyes bothered me, and I hated that her reaction did anything to me at all. Grabbing my keys, I left her there alone. I wasn't going far. I couldn't. Instead, I took a post up at the top of the stairwell to wait until I knew she'd be asleep. Only then, would I feel safe enough to go back inside. Because if I didn’t, I'd get lost in her again, and the deeper I'd fucking fall, because she was fucking right. I didn't just care for Whisper Hudson; I was falling in love with her.

POWERTRAIN

After about an hour, I decided it was time to head back inside. I couldn't avoid my pretty lunatic forever, even if I wanted to. The black-haired raven would find me, and she’d seduce me all over again.

As I started to get up, my phone started buzzing in my pocket. Its screen read, unknown caller, and I figured it was Hoax trying to reach me from an unmarked phone.

I was wrong.

“Hello, Lee. Did you miss me?" The voice on the other end of the line sent a chill down my spine.

I stood, going to the window to look out at the street. All looked quiet, no shadows standing under streetlights.

“Who is this?"

"Oh, come on, Lee. You know exactly who this is. The only person you've been running from your entire life."

"Ron?” My heart dropped as true fear lurked beneath the surface. It was a fear I couldn't shake. A fear that lived in me now, and it angered me that I'd let him get to me like this.

“You do remember me!” His voice changed from menacing to lighthearted in a switch, but his laughter remained threatening.

“How did you find me?"

"I've always known where you've been hiding, Lee. Funny how people tell you things when you show fake concern, or when they're on the verge of getting their necks sliced.”

“You're fucking insane.”

“Yes. Certifiably. Doctors couldn't do anything about it, so I faked my recuperation. They believed every word I said. Imagine that.”

“They’re going to find you. You can’t hide forever.”

“Oh please, Lee. You never learn. I assure you, they will never be able to find me. At least not until I'm done with you.”

That cold shiver traced my spine, and I fought it, letting the rage take over. “Why did you do it, Ron? She had a baby girl, a little boy…”

“Because these are the consequences for when you fuck with someone's life!”

He shouted the last word, and it emanated in the silence. He had no empathy. He was a true sociopath with nothing but absolute, blinding rage in his soul.

“But enough chit-chat. I'm calling to give you a little warning."

"What do you want from me?"

“Awww, that's an easy question. I want you to suffer, Lee. Just like Lucy did. And how your Whisper will? She's next on my list."

"You go near her, and I swear to God, I will rip your spleen out and make you choke on it. "

“Ooooh, big strong biker wants to threaten little old me,” he mimicked in a crazed tone which then switched to a darker, uneven candor. “Or maybe I'll start with one of them. Your brother seems fit for the task”

“I dare you to,” I gritted the words out through clenched teeth. “I'd like to see what they end up doing to you when they do catch you.”

The Royal Bastards had their own level of crazy and brutal, especially when someone was fucking with one of their own.

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