Page 29 of Savage Scream

There’s no doubt in my mind that when Dee leaves Fox Pines, I’m going to die inside. A sensible person wouldn’t have wanted to get involved with anyone who isn’t sticking around, but fuck, it’s impossible for me to walk away from her, even if I know we only have a short time together.

Dee and Ruby go inside the studio together, and Caleb and I take a seat in front of the viewing window, watching as the teacher talks to the girls and then plays some music.

I’m not sure what they are doing, because no one is doing the same thing, but they are all moving to the music and I realise that most of them are crying.

Fuck. This is brutal.

“She never said anything.”

Caleb’s words draw my attention away from the window and I look at how pale his face is as he keeps watching his girl dance. Then he turns his pained expression to me.

“They filmed her. Did things to her.” He shakes his head and anger flares across his face. “She said she was only young when it started, and that as she got older, she was scared her parents would do the same things to her little sister, Angela, so she went to them and begged them not to touch her. That she would keep doing whatever they wanted as long as they left little Angie alone.” Caleb grits his teeth, a snarl falling from his lips. “They fucking lied to her when they said they would leave Angie alone. Ruby saw some of the footage at the police station when she was passing the investigation room. She saw the sick things her parents were doing to her little sister. Just like they’d done to her.”

Leaping from his chair, Caleb starts pacing.

“Why the fuck didn’t I know? I knew she wasn’t a virgin. She made up a vague story of an old boyfriend and I fucking believed her.” He fists his hair then, nearly ripping it from his skull. “Fuck. I thought she was just timid. Shy about sex. Hell, I should have known something was up with the way she reacted the first time I made her come.” He stops in front of me, fury reddening his cheeks.

“She told me last night the first orgasm she’d had was with me, and she didn’t know it could feel like that. It had shocked her, and now I understand her reaction to it when it happened. Why the fuck didn’t I know?”

“Hey.” I stand, gripping his shoulders and looking him dead in the eyes. “This isn’t your fault. She was obviously scared, which is why she never told you, but the main thing is that you know now, and you can help her start to heal.”

Nodding, Caleb’s shoulders relax. “I fucking love her. I’d do anything for her.”

I grin. “Yeah, I can see how much you care about her. It’s not gonna be easy, man. But you two are solid. You can get through this.”

Again, Caleb nods, and my head spins with this information. He’s clearly struggling and probably didn’t mean to tell me their secrets, but I’m fucking glad he did. It’s just another thing I can remind Dee of when she feels guilty about what she did.

“I hope they find out who it was that killed Ruby’s sicko parents.” Caleb snaps, stepping back and pacing again. Meanwhile, I stiffen.

I fucking hope they don’t find out who did it.

“I wanna thank them for killing those fucking sick cunts.”

I relax.

He wants to thank them.

That’s a relief.

My phone buzzes with a message then, so I take it out and check the screen.

Garrett Cole

Did you think I would forget about the talk we need to have?

I grin. He’s a moody fucker.

Jared Crowley

I’d hoped.

Garrett Cole

I’m outside the dance studio. Get your arse out here.

I roll my eyes. Fucker stalked me.

I say a quick apology to Caleb and dash out of the building to see Garrett leaning against the bonnet of my car. A small grin tugs at his lips when he sees me, and I shake my head.

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