Page 42 of Forbidden Hearts

“That’s the problem with these types of parties,” Liam explains. “Sometimes, students get so shitfaced they fall asleep on the freaking toilet. Other times, kinky couples bang in the restrooms, and the rest of us who need to take a piss get screwed. I bet the girls had to go use the upstairs restrooms.”

“Maybe we should go check up on them to see how Isabella’s doing,” I say.

“Nah, she’s fine,” Liam says. His voice drops a few octaves and melts into a low hum that blends with the DJ’s music.

“Something’s wrong,” I say.

Liam places a hand on my shoulder and speaks again, but I can’t make out the words. His voice is low and distant. Behind him, the lights turn fuzzy and faces blur into the background.

We’re walking.

I don’t know where we’re going, but the music is now behind us. Liam’s arm is wrapped around my waist, keeping me on my feet.

“Where are we going?” I ask him.

At least I think I do. The noise that comes out of my mouth doesn’t sound like words. Not that it matters because Liam doesn’t respond. He holds me tightly, leading mesomewhere.

Every time I blink, I appear someplace else, as if I’m teleporting. A few blinks later, Liam appears to be hovering over me. Behind him, a tree branch sways in the breeze.

What’s going on?

The entire world spins around me. I’ve felt like this before. It’s like when you lay in bed after a long night of drinking and everything whirls around you. But I haven’t had much to drink tonight. Just those three shots and the beer Liam gave me.

I turn my head and feel grass brushing against my cheeks. I’m…lying on the ground, and Liam is on top of me?

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

This doesn’t feel right. I try my hardest to keep my eyes open, but they force themselves shut no matter how hard I try.

When I open them again, Liam is kissing my neck. His hands grip my legs and go into my dress.

No! This can’t be happening!

My eyes close again.

When they open, I see Alonzo driving a fist into Liam’s face, which is all bloody and messed up. A group of students is standing behind them, watching in horror as Alonzo turns Liam’s face into a bloody pulp.

A few seconds later, all sound fades, and darkness takes over.

Chapter 20

Alex

“I don’t think he will press charges against you,” a man’s voice says. His voice slowly rises in volume, as if somebody turned up the volume on a TV from low to somewhere in the middle. “Besides, with what he was about to do, I doubt he wants that kind of attention.”

“Still,” another voice says, a voice I recognize as Alonzo. “Visit his parents and make sure they know—implied, of course—what will happen if their son speaks to anyone about this.”

I try to open my eyes, but they are heavy. In fact, my entire body feels like I’m buried under two tons of soil and rock. All I can do is listen to their conversation in complete darkness.

“I’ll make sure his family gets the message,” the first voice says.

“Gracias, hermano,” Alonzo says.

“That kid should consider himself lucky he’s still alive.”

“He should. That fucking bastard,” Alonzo sounds beyond upset. “I’m going to make him disappear when all this cools off.”

“Are you sure? Is it worth it?”

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