Page 124 of Ramsay

I’m the one that Yates is targeting because he knows the secrets I hold. I’m the one who shared Crush’s secrets and inspired his wrath when I escaped.

I’m the one who took what can’t be given back which I suspect is what this all comes down to in the end. They, Yates…Crush, want their pound of flesh. Apparently, I was bedazzled by a pair of ice blue eyes even then. The resulting mess is my own.

Am I supposed to stand by while Diem takes down his own cousin? Ramsay, his father…?

Although they’re seriously fucked up dudes, they did pluck me from my sure death and plop me into suburbia. I still have my doubts about their motives but in the end, I was safe and quasi free for a year.

So how do I make this go away without risking the three guys downstairs?

At the end of the day, I betrayed a stone-cold killer. If he finds out, I’m not sure there’s anything Ramsay or the guys can do anyway.

∞∞∞

I sneak out of the house while the guys are having their bro fest in the cottage. Once I’m far enough away, I call a rideshare and brood all the way home. I have zero memory of what Ramsay describes but if it’s true, Crush will not rest until he finds me and attempting to stake their claim only made the situation worse.

Snitches get stitches or in this instance, they get dead. Letting me live sets a precedent and that fucker will never roll over. And Yates…what does he want? Why did he return the book with all the damn secrets I hoarded over the years? Was he threatening me?

I’ve been out of that life long enough that calling in favors is not an option. Hate may allow me to play but I doubt he would go up against Crush. Not because he’s scared but that he’s not interested. Hate stays in his lane and he likes it that way.

If I lay low, maybe I can outrun them but for how long? Besides, I’ve already decided I can’t leave this to the Sinners. That and I’d have to disappear altogether and although my plan was to blow this shithole come graduation, it wasn’t to go into hiding for the rest of my life.

Fuck.

The reality is, I have two choices. Roll over and inform the cops or face off against Crush on my own. The problem with going to the cops is that I’m opening myself to a world of hurt from not only Crush but all the fuckers who orbit around him. Once again, they can’t let a snitch live, that sets the tone for all future interactions, and they can’t afford it.

The notion of turning myself in, doesn’t sit well with me but I think deep down, I always knew how this would go. You don’t play with the devil and expect to come away unscathed. I had my year of freedom but now, I guess I’m ready to pay the bloody pied piper.

My phone starts buzzing around dawn. This after I finally drifted off to sleep. It’s Ramsay and he’s not a happy guy. Too bad.

Maybe for once, I’ll pull one over on the dick after all. My eyes slide closed of their own volition only to pop open when the phone starts to buzz again. After five fucking attempts, I finally give in and answer because I have a feeling he’s not going to give up until I do.

“What?” I grumble and there's a weird pause before Ramsay says, “Where are you?”

“Home. Can I go back to sleep now?”

“Don’t move,” he says before hanging up on me.

“What…?” I mutter, staring at the phone before dropping it to the bed and rolling over. Just because I’m resolved doesn’t mean I’m not scared but isn’t there some quote about sacrifice or some shit, not being worth it if you aren’t? Whatever. Clearly, I need sleep…and a lot of it.

I’m just dozing off again, Ramsay’s delicious voice in my head when a strange noise rouses me. I pop off the bed and glance around wildly for a weapon as motherfucking Ramsay appears through my window.

“Ramsay?” I gasp, rushing around him to confirm that yes, I’m still on the second floor. Is he crazy? “How–“

Ramsay grabs me up and crushes his mouth to mine. The sweet slide of his tongue sends tingles straight to my core and with a sigh, I wrench away and meet his blue, blue eyes.

His brow crinkles and he touches my hair. My heart thumps at the caress and I hide my reaction behind a yawn. With a devilish smirk, he picks me up and lays me on the bed before sliding in beside me. Charmed by this version of my mercurial lover, I rest my chin in my palm and stare into his pretty face.

“What?” he asks, stretching his arms over his head. I follow the line of his sexy muscles before swallowing down drool and saying, “You should go.”

He drops his arms with a frown, and I hide my smile behind my hand as he says grumpily, “Why? Trying to get rid of me?”

“What no?” I whisper, waving behind me. “My parents–“

“Are closed up in their room.”

“Okay it’s really fucking creepy that you know that,” I say, collapsing back to the mattress with a huff.

Why is he here?