Page 4 of Tormented Kings

“Am I okay?” she laughs, sending a chill down my spine. “Am I fucking okay?”

She starts muttering to herself as she turns around and continues to walk. I stand there, gaping in shock. What in god’s name is fucking going on right now? How did we go from dancing at the party to her suddenly looking at me like I’m the last person in the world she would want to see?

Blinking rapidly, my eyes take in her receding form, stopping at the bag in her hand.

Like being snapped back to reality, I take off running after her. “Sadie! What the fuck is going on!”

“Go away, Collin!”

“No!” I growl, running in front of her and blocking her path. “Baby, please, please talk to me. We can talk in the car. You have to be cold. You're going to get sick.”

“Fuck off.” She tries to sidestep me, but I move with her, blocking her path.

“You're upset, I can see that. I want to help. Tell me what's wrong, and I can fix it.”

“Fix it?!” she screams. “You're the cause of it!”

“Of what?” I shout back. I don’t mean to lose my temper, but this whole situation is so messed up.

“I know, Collin. I know everything, okay? The jig’s up. Was I just some big game to you?” she asks on a sob. “Was I just a joke? A way to pass the time before you can be with her.”

“Lie? Game? Her?” I shake my head. “Sadie, I don’t know what’s going on right now.” I’m so fucking confused. What the hell happened to make her like this?

“Cut the crap, Collin!” she shouts.

“Sadie, please. Please tell me what the fuck is going on? I’m so damn confused. Just tell me what you think I did wrong!”

She takes the bag that’s in her hand and opens it. She shoves her hand inside and pulls out an envelope, shoving it into my chest.

“What’s this?” I ask, but open it. It’s already wet, so more rain isn’t going to make a difference.

I pull out a stack of photos, and my stomach rolls. “What the—”

A car door slams, jolting both Sadie’s and my head up. Preston, Grayson, and Declan come running over.

“What the fuck is going on?” Preston asks.

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to find out. Sadie–”

“I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to see you. I just–” She shakes her head as my fucking heart breaks.

“Shit, Sadie. Are you okay?” Grayson steps forward, running his hands up and down her arms. “You’re shivering. Fuck, Pretty Girl, we need to get you out of the rain.”

“No,” she says, all the anger seeping from her. “I’m not okay. I’m never fucking okay. It’s always one thing after another. And I’m done. I’m tired. I’m so fucking tired. I just...” She looks up at the sky, eyes open, and lets the water rain down on her face. “I just want to go home.”

“Sweetheart, please get in the car. I’m not sure what's going on right now, but I’m really worried about you.” Declan wraps his arm around her shoulders.

Sadie lowers her head and looks at him. “Okay.” There’s no emotion in her eyes, in her tone. It’s like everything shuts off, just like how I found her.

“Sadie!” I shout as I try to take a step forward, but Preston steps in front of me.

“Wanna tell me why the fuck she’s out here walking bare-fucking-foot in the rain, in the middle of the goddamn night by herself?!” Preston roars, his blond locks plastered to his face.

“I...I–” I look down at the photos.

“What the fuck?” Preston snatches the photos, brows furrowed. “Oh my god. Gross.” He shoves them back at me.

“It’s not me!” I growl. “I have no idea what these are or how she got them. But I sure as fuck know it’s not me.”

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