Page 5 of Forbidden Harvest

My fingers tighten around the bracelet. I want to rip it apart, strand by strand. To watch her face crumple as I destroy this stupid symbol of her friendship with Lisa. Because when Aria cries, when she’s broken and vulnerable, she’s mine. All mine.

The urge to comfort her battles with the desire to hurt her more. I want to wrap her in my arms, to feel her body against mine. But I also want to make her sob, to hear those little hitching breaths she makes when she’s trying not to fall apart completely.

“You’re pathetic,” I snarl. “Crying over a piece of string. You know what? I should just?—”

“Jared!”

I whirl around to see Elaine, Aria’s mom, standing in the doorway.

“Give that back to your sister right now,” she demands, her voice sharp.

For a moment, I consider refusing. I imagine snapping the bracelet, watching it fall to the floor in pieces.

But Elaine’s glare doesn’t waver. With a scowl, I toss the bracelet at Aria’s feet.

“Whatever,” I mutter, shoving past Elaine and out of the room. As I retreat, I can’t shake the image of Aria’s tear-stained face from my mind. It haunts me, a twisted mix of desire and self-loathing that I know will follow me into my dreams.

4

JARED

AGED 16

Igrip the steering wheel of my car, knuckles turning white as I watch that asshole, Aaron, walk across the empty football field. The last players left already, and he’s still out here, texting away. Probably messagingher.

My jaw clenches as I imagine them together, his hands on her, his lips pressed against hers. It makes my skin crawl, this twisted, possessive rage that consumes me whenever I think of Aria with someone else. She’smine. No one else gets to touch her.

I wait until he’s made his way up the bleachers, then I shove open the car door and stalk toward him, my heart pounding. The cold night air does little to cool the fire burning inside me.

“Hey, asshole,” I growl as I approach him. “What the fuck are you doing out here all alone?”

Aaron looks up, startled, fear flickering in his eyes. Good. He should be afraid.

“N-nothing,” he stammers, shoving his phone into his pocket. “Just... just waiting for Aria.”

I step closer, looming over him. “Aria, huh?” I snarl. “You know, she’smine.”

Aaron’s brow furrows in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about? Aria’s your sister, she’s-”

“She’smine,” I cut him off, my voice dripping with venom. “And I don’t appreciate you touching what’s mine.”

Realization dawns on his face, his eyes widening. “You’re sick, man,” he breathes, scrambling to his feet. “She’s your sister. That’s fucked up.”

I let out a harsh laugh, closing the distance between us. “She’s mystepsister,” I correct him. “And that makes all the difference.”

Aaron shakes his head. “You’re insane, man. She’s my girlfriend.” A smug grin spreads across his face. “And she sure wasn’t complaining when we were making out and going to third base.”

The world narrows to a pinpoint, my vision tunneling as I stare at this pathetic excuse for a human being. My Aria—myobsession,myeverything—with someone else. The thought makes me sick.

“You’re lying,” I growl, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “Aria would never?—”

“Oh, but she did,” Aaron interrupts, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face. “She was begging for it, Jared. Beggingmeto touch her, to make her feel good.”

That’s it. The last shred of my control snaps, and my fist flies toward Aaron’s face. I hear the satisfying crunch of bone as my knuckles connect with his nose, and he stumbles back, clutching at his face in pain.

“You bastard!” he cries, blood streaming through his fingers. “I’m gonna fucking kill you!”

He lunges at me, and suddenly, we’re grappling, trading blows. I don’t feel the pain of his fists connecting with my body,the adrenaline coursing through me drowning out everything but the need todestroythe boy who dared to touch what’s mine.

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