Page 16 of Puck Princess

He seems to grow another foot, backing Summer against the brick wall. “When are you going to learn to shut your damn mouth?”

His words and the tone wrapped around them make me stop at the edge of the alley. I move to where I know they can’t see me and pull my phone out. Then I hit record.

“Maybe when you learn some fucking responsibility!” she snaps back.

“I told you from day fucking one that it was no strings attached. It was hot and it was fun, but it wasn’t supposed to go beyond that.”

My stomach turns. It all sounds so familiar. Everything about him reminds me of Spencer.

“It’s kind of hard to keep it no strings attached when you knock me up,” Summer retorts.

“And whose fucking fault is that?!” Miles is shouting in Summer’s face, trapping her against the wall. “You knew we were going to fuck around. One time I forgot a condom and— Why weren’t you on the pill?”

“That doesn’t matter now, Miles. We have a baby.”

“A babyyoushould have gotten rid of!”

“You’re disgusting.” She spits the words in his face, and he raises a fist. The way Summer flinches, I know she’s as terrified as I am that he’ll hit her.

Instead, he braces his fists on the wall on either side of her head. “You do know how successful I am, right?”

She doesn’t answer.

Meanwhile, I lean in closer, holding out my phone to get a better recording.

“And you know how much fucking money I have, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if you ‘forgot’ to take your pill just to get knocked up so you could come after me for money.”

“I don’t care about your money, Miles.”

“Well, you should. I could use that money to get rid of both of you.” He grabs her by the jaw and forces her to look at him. “I swear to God, if you even think about opening your mouth and telling people that Nicky is mine, I’ll come after you. Both of you. Your fancy security system and your big brother won’t be able to keep you safe.”

I suppress a scream. I knew Miles was bad, but this is beyond anything I imagined. The man is a monster.

I should do something, but I have no idea what.

And before I can figure it out, my phone rings.

Loudly.

The tinkling, joyful tune echoes down the dark hallway, and I don’t need to see Miles snap his attention towards me to know that I’m now firmly in his sights.

Which is why I shove my phone in my pocket and make a run for it.

I’ll lead him away from Summer, sprint back into Pour Boys, and get the bouncer or Lance or literally anyone to help me. But I don’t even make it across the street before I hear his thundering footsteps behind me and feel his large hand hook around my arm.

“Where you going, Callie?” His tone is sadistically amused.

“Let go!” I fight him, but it’s no use.

“No, I don’t think I will. Let’s have a little chat, shall we?” He drops my arm and grabs me by the hair instead, his hand clawing into my scalp as he drags me back into the alley.

“Summer, run,” I cry.

But Summer doesn’t budge. She’s pleading, tears rolling down her cheeks. “She’s pregnant, Miles. Don’t touch her.”

“Stand there and shut up, and I won’t,” Miles growls before turning his full attention back to me. “Why are you so hard to get rid of, Callie?”

His fingers dig into my already sore biceps, and I want to scream from the pressure alone. “Miles, let go. I won’t run, just let go.”

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