Page 71 of Better Hide

This is the only thing that can help me.

I grab the blade and put the cool metal against my wrist. My hands are shaking. Not because I’m afraid of the cut, but because everything is so stopped up inside me. I just need it out. I need itout.

Carefully, I drag the blade along my skin. The burn of the slice runs through me, and immediately, I feel relief. It feels good. It feels like when I’d pick fights with my dad and would leave bloody. It feels likerelief.

Why the hell haven’t I done this sooner? I let my head sag back against the seat.

I just need a minute. A minute to feel nothing but the bite of the blade. Then, I’ll figure out what to do next.

33

JAYDEN

I can’t stop.

I can’t stop the rage. The anger. The blind wrath. I’m not even sure what I’m mad about anymore, but I can’t stop.

Cole let Jo walk out of here before I was done with her. Instead of chasing her, I lean into Ralph’s face. “Where’s your porn, hmmm? Delete your history? Go onto the dark web?”

Ralph shakes. We’ve been watching the account that I’m having him transfer his Bitcoin into. I made him damn near empty his accounts to make sure we have enough, plus a little extra to set us up for where we’re going. I want a nice little home where I can lock Jo up until her resistance fucking whithers away.

Jesus Christ, it’s taking a while.

“Here, let me check on something.” Cole grabs the computer.

“Where’d Jo go?” I snap.

“She’s cooling down, give her a minute.” Cole taps on the keyboard.

I don’t want to give her a fucking minute. I don’t want to give her anything! I had her where I wanted her. I saw it in her eyes, and Cole ruined it.

I broke her. I fucking broke her.

Cole already gave her a leg up by dismissing her from the room, but I’ll break that down quickly. Once I ensure we have the money to spirit her away, I’ll teach her to obey.

My hands shake with impatience. I whirl on Ralph. “Give me your fucking phone.”

Ralph shakes as he hands it over. Rage courses through my veins. I go through it, trying to find something, anything to settle me. I can’t find any porn searches. I even check Reddit, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. Nothing.

I growl in frustration, then search a folder he has labeled “Extras.” Kik is in there, and I open it with glee.

Oh, this stupid motherfucker.

As I go through the messages, I find nothing but dick pic after dick pic. All adults. With nasty messages back and forth.

Ralph is sitting still, staring straight ahead. I shove the phone in his face. “What the hell is this?”

Ralph takes a second to focus on what I’m showing him and swallows.

“Well?” I grip Ralph's hair and yank his head back.

“That’s…nothing.”

I bark out a laugh. “Really? Cause it looks like a whole lot of dick to me.”

Ralph starts shaking again. “Please…it was a mistake. Just don’t tell Marian.”

I toss the phone down in disgust. Ralph is boring me. Just like Sage bored me. He’s frozen. Not fighting me, not running, just frozen.

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