Page 175 of Vile Boys

I bite my tongue, but the strain to control my emotions is too much even for me as she unravels in front of me.

Even after escaping from hell, she first chooses to save the one person she wants to save at all costs, even if she has to risk her life doing so.

And something about that breaks the resolve inside my heart.

As the tears begin to flow down her cheeks, I let out a sigh before I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my embrace.

Crystal

Caleb’s hugcomes so out of the blue, I don’t know what to do as his arms envelop me. I just stand there with eyes wide open and tears rolling down my face.

Why would he hug me? I thought he didn’t care?

His embrace feels so warm that I sink into it, not giving a shit that it’s the guy who’s been on my ass since day one.

“You have to forget about her. Forget she exists, for both your sake and hers.”

For a moment there, I almost believed something other than resentment could exist.

My brain finally finds its sanity again, and I push him away fromme. “No. You’re insane. She’s my mother. I love her.”

“If you love her enough, you’ll leave with me. Right now.”

I frown, glaring at him and the Aston Martin he recklessly drove across her lawn just to stop me. “You came all this way to stop me from talking to her. Are you scared I’ll reveal your dirty secret?” I look up at him with disdain. “Don’t want your dad to know all about the filthy shit you’ve been up to with his step—”

He shoves his hand against my mouth, calloused, tattooed fingers pinching my cheeks.

“Don’t. Don’t say that fucking word out loud.”

I bite his finger, and he swiftly retracts, shaking his hand. “Goddammit, woman.”

“I’m not your fucking woman. And I can say whatever the hell I want to whoever the hell I want.”

“You’re not the shy girl I once pegged you as, are you?” he rebukes.

“I never said I was,” I retort.

“You just make people believe you are.”

I slam my lips shut while his tip up into a lukewarm smile. “Guess I’m not the only one keeping secrets.”

“Listen here, asshole.” I point my finger at his chest. “I didn’t go through all that effort to escape just to have you casually pick me up at my mom’s front door and put me back in that prison you call a room.”

“And when the fuck did I say I was going to do that?” he says, tilting his head before gripping my finger, his warm hand making me all too aware of just how comforting that hug he just gave me felt. And how badly I want to crush his skull underneath the tires of his own car for making me feel like I needed it.

“Then why did you come?”

“Because I can’t let you do this. I can’t let you blow it all up. Your life is not the only one at stake here.”

“You’re the one who’s been threatening her,” I grit.

“You think I’m the one you should be scared of?” he retorts.

I frown, but slowly, it begins to dawn on me. “Ares …”

Caleb’s face darkens, confirming my suspicions, and my jaw drops.

“Ares? Why would Ares want to keep me away from my mom? Why would he care?”

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