Page 67 of Diem

He looks up and his eyes are so black that I step back. Holy shit. Who is this man?

Sucking in air I don’t have, I muster a calm tone when all I want to do is scream and say, albeit shakily, “You have to stop.”

He cocks his head to the side, and I shiver when he says, “Why?”

“Because,” I say waving at a comatose Jaxon.

Diem follows my hand, and his brow darkens. Licking my lips, I drop to the floor and say, “Diem. Look at me.”

Once more he raises his gaze, but I don’t recognize the man looking back and I realize, maybe I never did. There’s a darkness here that I never could have guessed at.

Is this the Diem that his enemies see? Shit.

“Diem, please. Can we go?” I plead and his eyes flicker before his mouth softens, and he exhales.

As though shaking off the weight of something I can’t see, he shrugs his shoulders before standing and holding out his hand.

Hesitantly, I stare at his fingers. I know to my soul that he would never physically hurt me but that doesn’t mean I’m not shaken and massively confused.

But when I don’t take his hand, he drops it to his side and says roughly, “You wanted to go. Let’s go.”

“Right,” I say softly, standing and backing to the door.

Diem follows but he won’t meet my gaze and I desperately need to see the boy I knew shining from his eyes but when I touch his arm, he recoils.

My heart clenches brutally and I step past him down the hall, holding my breath until we’re at the bottom of the stairs.

“You,” he barks, and I jump following his gaze. Harriet spins around with a frown that fades to concern and with a shaky smile, I walk toward her.

“Take her home,” he says before stalking to the door and disappearing into the night.

With an ache in my belly, I watch him go, worry for my friend, battering at my soul. Something is going on with Diem but there’s not much I can do about it. Not unless he miraculously lets me past the wall he’s erected around his heart.

∞∞∞

Diem

Fuck me but the wide-eyed look she cast me as I held out my hand follows me into the night.

I’m not a good person, this I know but I’d rather fucking die than hurt her and knowing she’s now afraid of me, burns my sternum.

I guess I was right though. She doesn’t belong in my world. Good thing I refuse to allow her in it.

∞∞∞

Maeve

I saw Patrick last night

I know I’m being a coward, but I can’t face Diem right now. Besides I’m likely to get more of his insults and my heart is full up on hurt.

Still, he needs to know because Skull could still be a threat. Why ask me about him at all if he’s been around all this time?

And why isn’t he at school?

Since staring at my phone is not inspiring Diem to respond, I set it aside with a sigh.

I haven’t spoken to nor seen Frank in years. In fact, despite my dad’s close relationship with him, they stopped hanging out around the house.

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