Page 74 of Better Hide

“Jo, open the door,” Jayden singsongs.

I laugh a little to myself. Fucking hell. And now he’s ruined what little peace I found. I try to close my eyes again.

“Jo!” A hint of alarm fills Jayden’s voice. “Fuck. Blood.” Jayden aggressively yanks at the door handle.

I glance around, then realize what he means. Oh shit. My wrist. I hide my arm to my chest. “It’s fine.”

“Either you unlock this door,” Jayden growls. “Or I’ll break the window in.”

Jesus Christ! Clearly I’m not going to get any rest.

I moan, “I’m fucking fine. Leave me the hell alone.”

“Like fuck you’re fine.” Even though his voice is coming through the car door, it still sounds dangerous.

“Go away, Jayden.” I close my eyes and lean my head back.

A loud sound explodes near my head. I jerk my eyes open and glare at Jayden, who’s shaking his fist. He hit the window. His chest is heaving, his eyes are wild, and there’s a hint of…fear.

“The cuts aren’t deep, Jayden. Jesus.”

“It’s not that.”

“What is it then?” I look away from him and stare blankly through the front windshield.

Silence. I want to sleep. I want to rest. I want peace away from people who will hurt me.

Jayden’s voice startles me, “You’re not allowed to cut yourself.”

“Oh, you’re the only one who can hurt me?”

“Exactly,” he growls.

What the fuck? I laugh to myself. “Oh yeah, you think you own me.”

Jayden tries the handle again so aggressively that I feel the car shake. He slams his fist on the glass, and despite myself, I jump. I feel his gaze boring into me. It makes the hair on my arms prickle. But I refuse to look at him.

“You think knowing everything about you is not owning you?” He growls. “You think arranging my whole life to fit you in is not owning you? You think I’d hunt you down to the ends of the earth if I didn’town you?” Jayden shakes the whole car again. “I had a whole life planned for us in the cabin.” His voice gets angrier. “Before everything fucking happened.”

I clench my jaw. “What kind of life, Jayden? One where you push Cole and me out? Where the only time you show any emotion is when you’re angry?”

“You haven’t seen fucking anger yet.”

“Please,” I scoff. “That’s the only thing I’ve seen.”

Jayden is silent.

I shake my head. “Are you going to kill me?”

“What?” Jayden leans into the glass.

“Are you going to kill me?” I ask slowly.

“Never,” he swears softly.

I just shake my head.

“You don’t believe me.”

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