Page 17 of Left in the Dark

Does she know something I don’t?

Fear makes me tremble. I squeeze her hand, trying to sound braver than I feel. “I promise.” My mouth is as dry as cotton. I swallow a few times before I say, “Is there anything I need to know?”

She shrugs, worry in her green irises. “I just have a bad feeling. Whenever I ignored my intuition before, it always ended badly.”

I wrap my hands around hers. “I promise to be careful, Mom.”

I wish I weren’t going to prom tonight.

This night sucks.

I stare morosely at the crowd of laughing, happy couples before my gaze skips to Tim. He’s intoxicated, his loud, boisterous voice carrying over the music as though he’s at a sporting event. He sways slightly as he nudges Aidan before slapping Daniel’s shoulder.

“They’re disgusting.” Callie comes up beside me, her eyes on the trio as she drinks her punch.

“They’re drunk. Tim dumped something in their punch. Fucking idiots.”

Tim ignores me, just like he’s done for the past hour, as he continues living it up with the other two stooges.

With a sigh, my gaze moves to Callie, who stares at me with sympathy in her eyes, knowing damn well Tim has ruined my night.

“Tim told me he got a private hotel room for us.” I shudder. “I’d rather swim with jaws.”

She snorts. “Too bad you couldn’t steal the room key and find Zayne.” She wiggles her brows. “You two could have a helluva time.”

“Yeah, but Zayne’s not here. Could you imagine how pissed my dad would be?”

Callie shrugs, her gaze moving over students clad in formal wear, dancing and mingling in the fancy country club ballroom. “You never know. Zayne seems to show up when you least expect it.”

She’s right. Zayne’s unpredictable.It’s one of the things I love most about him.

Last night, he snuck through my bedroom window, slipping into bed with me. He took off my panties, shoving them in my mouth before he rolled me onto my back. His fingers and tongue worked their magic, making me tremble from the orgasm barreling over me. Then he slid inside me and made me forget everything except him.

My gaze slides around the room. Disappointment causes my shoulders to slump when I don’t see him.

“Hey, babe.” An arm slides over my shoulders, the stench of alcohol on his breath telling me who it is without me looking. “You wanna ditch this lame event?”

I turn my head, blanching at Tim’s bloodshot eyes and the way he’s invading my personal space. Anger floods my body as I push his arm from my shoulders. He sways from the unexpected movement.God, this fucker is trashed.

I glare at him, my hands on my hips, disgust curling my lips. “It wouldn’t be lame if you’d act normal and dance instead of hanging with your two buds getting trashed.”

“Whoa.” He smiles at me before pinching my nose. I swat at him, making him laugh. “Someone is a huge buzz kill.”

I hiss in his ear. “You’re embarrassing me with your sloppy drunk behavior. What the hell are you thinking?”

He grabs my arm so hard I wince, dragging me across the room. I stumble behind him, tripping over my feet as he weaves me through the crowded dance floor. I mutter apologies as we bounce off guests like a ping pong ball, my cheeks flushed from humiliation.

Tim shoves me against a dark corner of the ballroom, knocking the air from my lungs. His finger presses into my chest. “You listen to me. This attitude of yours stops right the fuck now.” He sways on his feet, but the anger in his eyes paralyzes me.

I’ve never been afraid of him—until now.

He doesn’t stop, continuing with his rant. “Your dad wants us together, which means you’remine.I can do whatever the fuck I want with you.” Licking his lips, he leers at me, giving me a terrifying smile that’s eerily similar to the monster my mom is married to.

It’s my father’s smile.

His wrathful eyes burn into mine with pure hatred and violence, tinged with evil, warning me of his intent.

Fear climbs up my body, making me shake. It’s always followed by fists striking my flesh, wounding me physically. But even worse is the psychological damage it causes.

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