Page 40 of Better Hide

Finally, I find a spot down a deserted road that we can pull off into. I follow a bumpy path into the woods that looks like it hasn’t been driven on in ages, then park. Total darkness falls when I turn the car off, and the lights go out.

I jump out, grabbing my bag. Jayden tries to ask me where I’m going, but I snap that I’m taking a piss and stride into the forest. Once I’m far enough away, I feel like I can take a breath and sink my hand into my bag. I’m shaking, and it’s dark and hard to see.

Good boy. You bleed so pretty for me.

Fuck! I shake my head. Fuck, I need sleep.

Want to make your daddy proud? Cry harder for me.

I clench my fist around the knife. My knife. The last thing my mom gave me as a kid before she really spiraled.

I was going to give the knife to Jo before she ran—the first time.

I suck in a sharp breath and flip the blade open. I slide my pants down far enough to expose the top of my thigh, where there’s a row of silver lines, some fresher than others.

My hand shakes, and I take a breath to steady it.

As soon as I make the cut, I let out a groan. Fuck. That delicious pain bites into the voices in my head. Stills them. Quiet’s them.

I make another cut, this one deeper.

Fuck. My dick flexes, then shame rolls through me.

You gonna come for Daddy while he cuts you?

I grunt, driving the fist wrapped around the knife into a tree, crushing my fingers between the bark and the handle. Pain, beautiful pain, explodes again and drowns out Pat’s voice.

I didn’t tell Jayden I started cutting again after Jo ran. I thought they would notice in the hotel room, but the light was dim enough, and neither of them said anything.

Blood drips down my leg and cools as the light wind brushes over it.

Jo is afraid of me. She ran again. I didn’t keep my promise to make things better.

I reach down, digging my fingers into the cuts, hissing again. I dig until the only thing I can feel is the pain.

Until everything else disappears.

20

JO

A few minutesearlier

I wakewith the slamming of the car door. For a minute, I panic. My heart races, and I peel my face off the leather upholstery.

It’s dark outside. Cole stalks into the woods, and Jayden gets out of the car. “Stay,” he orders, his voice mean.

For once, I listen. What else am I going to do? Run?

My body sags in fatigue. I’m so damn tired. I know I’m going to pay for trying to get away, and Jayden is going to enjoy every second of it. He might even kill me.

Somehow, I’m sure they’ll make it hot.

I laugh to myself. Fucking hell, Jo. What the hell is wrong with you? I’m tired. I’m so tired I can’t think straight.

I hear Jayden rummaging in the trunk. I glance back, and he slams the trunk down, then stares at me through the glass. His eyes are wild and unhinged—animalistic.

I freeze.

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