Page 54 of Cold Carnage

He stood there, a tall and imposing figure, his eyes piercing through the darkness. His hair, dark and unruly, framed a face that held a mixture of intensity and determination. The way he looked at me sent a shiver down my spine, and I took an involuntary step back. He reached out like a viper and grabbed my wrist, like he was afraid I would turn and run.

Which I would.

No one else was around. The streetlights cast long shadows, and the emptiness of the parking lot only heightened my fear. My breath hitched as I met his gaze, trying to steady myself against the wave of panic that threatened to overwhelm me.

"You look..." Brendan's eyes roamed over me, taking in every detail. His voice was low, almost predatory, and it made my skin crawl.

"W-what do you want, Brendan?" I hated that I stuttered, but I couldn't help it. The memories of our last encounter were too fresh, too raw.

He took a step closer, his presence suffocating. "We need to talk," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

My mind raced, searching for an escape route. But there was none. I was alone with him in this deserted parking lot, and the weight of his gaze pinned me in place.

"Talk about what?" I forced the words out, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Brendan's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You know exactly what."

I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat. Brendan's eyes bore into mine, demanding an answer I wasn't sure I could give.

"You owe me an explanation," he said, taking a step forward. "Why you left."

I drew a shaky breath, summoning the courage to face him. "You know," I replied coldly. "Besides the fact that you cheated on me with my best friend, what you did to me?—"

He cut me off, his voice rising with frustration. "What was I supposed to do? I heard you. You said his name?—"

I clenched my teeth together, my mind racing. Brendan's anger was palpable, and I knew better than to provoke him further. I'd seen firsthand what he was capable of when enraged. The memory of his fists, the pain—it all came rushing back.

"Brendan," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "You need to calm down."

His eyes flashed with anger, and he took another step closer, invading my personal space. "Calm down? How can I calm down when you betrayed me?"

"Betrayed you?" My voice wavered as I fought to keep control. "You were the one who hurt me."

His face twisted with rage, his fists clenching at his sides. "Don't turn this around on me," he spat. "I loved you, Paige."

I took a step back, needing distance from his overwhelming presence. "If that's love," I said quietly, "then I don't want it."

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might strike out in anger. But instead, he took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper.

"You think you're better off without me?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"I know I am," I replied firmly.

His jaw tightened as he glared at me. The tension between us crackled like electricity in the air.

"You're making a mistake," he warned.

I stood my ground, refusing to be intimidated. "The only mistake was staying with you for as long as I did."

His grip on my wrist tightened, and I winced at the sudden pain. Instinctively, I tried to pull away, but his hold was ironclad.

"This isn't over," he hissed, his breath hot against my face.

"It has to be," I replied, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound strong. "Don't ruin your life."

"How can I?" he spat back, his eyes burning with anger. "You already ruined it."

The words stung, but I refused to let him see how much they affected me. "You need to let go, Brendan," I said firmly, trying to steady my voice. "This won't solve anything."

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