Page 13 of Consume Me

Even though he’s a skilled fighter, holding his own, I knock him down.

Dane is next after helping him up. He’s reckless, and that will cost him. If he wants a lesson in humility, so be it. He comes at me, moving fast as he strikes, trying to hit me. After playing with him a few times, I’ve had enough and send him to the mat as well.

Pulling off my long-sleeved shirt, I dab at the sweat and blood on my face and chest. All three of them are watching me––a wall of unity. How times change, turning enemies into friends. Good for them.

Without a second glance, I head upstairs.

My old room looks the same as I left it, with its cold tones and black furniture. I see the frame with the pic of me and Kaden on my nightstand, face down. I cracked the glass when I slammed it down after he accused me of being a traitor. I am about to throw it in the trash when I stop myself. I’ll keep it as a reminder that my sacrifices kept his ass alive.

I am not here to get a seat at the table. I am here temporarily, and that thought sharpens my focus.

Stepping into the shower, the hot water cascades down my back. Blood trickles down my feet toward the drain, but it doesn’t wash away my pent-up anger.

After my shower, I dry off and wrap the towel around my waist. The person looking back at me from the mirror is hardened— a lone wolf. My restlessness pushes me to leave. It’s not family that keeps me in place, but obligation. I am gone once I make sure no one can ever get close to them. And this time, it’ll be forever.

I pull on a fresh pair of boxer briefs, and as soon as my head hits the pillow, the recurring image in my mind is her. Mia. The girl with silver eyes. The only girl who has ever made my heart react. Fuck. That’s not good at all.

He’s back, and I am all over the place. My heart still pumps out of cadence, thinking of Blake. It was his for the taking, just like me, but he didn’t want any of my offerings. So, no, I refuse to be that stupid girl in love. I simply refuse.

The club is not a pleasant distraction anymore, but who am I kidding? It never was because it was his place.

Abigail nudges me with her shoulder while Celine orders tequila shots at the bar. Bailey has already given up on the idea that we might have fun and is back on her phone.

“How are you?” Abi asks.

“I wish he never came back…”

“I know the feeling.”

When Xander, Tyson’s business partner and best friend, puts the shots before us, Celine says, “Blake looks different.”

No, he looks like the guy I always knew was inside of him.Now, he doesn’t bother hiding that side anymore.

Abi and Celine exchange a worried glance. Oh, the guys will definitely fight. And this time, he won’t hold back. I know what he’s capable of. I witnessed it many times when he fought here at The Cave.

With him returning and all the feelings crashing back, the night is already ruined. It will be impossible for me to have fun now, but I owe it to myself to at least try. “You know what? Enough about the guys! Let’s dance.”

We move to the dance floor, and I let all my suppressed feelings spill out—the frustration, the hurt, the unrequited love that’s been eating at my heart and spewing out dead pieces, leaving my chest a graveyard. I close my eyes, undulating to the music, wishing it could take me somewhere else. Tears roll down my face, and the girls form a protective circle around me, giving me the privacy I need to fall apart in peace. Song after song plays until I finally pull myself together, and then we return home.

Kaden, Hunter, and Dane are sitting on the couch in the living room, looking pissed and holding ice packs—Kaden to his cheek, Hunter to his shoulder, and Dane to his knuckles.

“Tell me Blake doesn’t look worse than you,” Abi says.

“He held back, Abi,” Kaden replies.

Abigail approaches Dane, who drags her to his lap. My brother stares after Bailey, who goes upstairs.

Celine leans against Kaden’s side. “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know, Sky. I think it’s the first fucking time that I don’t know.”

“You hurt him, all of you. He would have bled himself dry for any of you,” I say. “Blake won’t stay, so do what you did before—let him go.”

“Then why did he come back, sis?” Hunter asks.

“We’re in danger. That’s why Cassandra brought back the only person who would cross all boundaries,” I say and go to my room, slamming my door.

Tears break free, streaming down my cheeks as my back slides down the door. A memory infiltrates my mind—the first time I caught him in my room. I opened my eyes and saw him there, still and silent, leaning against the wall across from my bed. He didn’t leave or apologize. He just said, “I would kill anyone and destroy anything that would make you sleep anything but peacefully.” Then he left. I never told him that he’s the one who’s kept me awake ever since.

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