Page 67 of Bleed for Me

He shrugged carelessly. “Maybe. But I’ll get her back for that.” After the effects of her punch wore off, he dropped his hand to his side. “Might not want to leave her alone, though. She lured me out to the woods so I could kill her.”

Archer tensed. “What?” he demanded.

“Why didn’t you?” I asked.

Seven rolled his eyes like this entire conversation was pointless. “Because I’d be suspect number one obviously. Neither one of us were at dinner.” He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “Anyways, I need to get this bitch’s blood off my dick. I’m taking a shower. She’s your problem now.” He turned and took off without a backwards glance.

Archer’s fists were tight at his sides as he watched his retreating figure. “Fucking dick,” he growled under his breath.

Agreed. He knew she was suicidal. Went to the woods regardless, with no intention of actually killing her because he knew he’d be found out, took her virginity, then laughed in her face about it. That was cold. Even for me.

I remembered the way it felt after I’d come to my senses and realized what I’d done to my own family. I remembered the look on Valentine’s face as he crumpled to the floor. For a yearstraight, my mind was plagued with morbid fantasies of taking my own life, knowing everyone would be better off. It wasn’t that I pitied Rosalie, because most of the people in this place have had similar thoughts at least once. But most of us haven’t acted on it. Not like she did or tried to do.

Archer’s words cut through my thoughts, and I was slightly relieved by the distraction, even if it was a temporary one. “Did you see that cut on her neck?” he asked.

I frowned and shook my head. I’d been too focused on wondering if Seven had actually fucked her or not to worry about any of the marks on her skin.

“It looks like either she, or Seven were going to slice it. The way it’s positioned across her neck. One of them started to do just that but stopped for some reason.” He bit into his lower lip, his eyes flashing with warring emotions like he was working to piece it all together. Finally, he released a loaded sigh. “Guess it doesn’t really matter. He met up with her with the intent of killing her. It doesn’t matter that he had a change of heart. He’s a selfish, heartless, piece of shit.”

My gaze jerked to his, my stomach recoiling with his words. “Archer…” I trailed off with reluctance, not liking the tone of his voice one bit, or the change in his demeanor.

“It’s done,” he growled. “Fuck him and fuck you if you’re siding with him.” He started walking, knocking his shoulder against mine before disappearing into his room at the end of the hall.

They both acted like hormonal little bitches. Clearly, he was so pissed off that he didn’t realize we still had a tiny little problem. Groaning, my head tipped back, the blinding white lights nearly crippling my sight. Huffing, I crossed the hall and opened Rosalie’s bedroom door.

She was facing the wall, the blanket tugged beneath her legs as she cradled the stuffed bear against her chest—the one Sevenhad mentioned merely weeks ago. I wasn’t sure if she heard me enter, but I knew she was awake. Her breathing was erratic, and it only took me a few moments to realize she was crying. Her bare legs looked unexpectedly smooth. I guess I just always figured that virgins didn’t care much about body hair since they weren’t getting any action. I’d never paid much attention to her legs before now to notice.

“You know,” I started, smirking when her body jerked with surprise. She didn’t bother to look at me, though. “It’s kind of an insult. We had a deal, little trouble. Your safety for whatever I want in return. You tried to bow out before repaying me.”

“What does it matter to you?” she retorted with a bite to her tone.

I let the door fall closed behind me and made my way to her bed, sinking down on the edge. She tensed, acutely aware of my presence and how close I was now. The shirt rode up so high on her, that the curve of her ass was visible. It took everything in me not to reach out and touch her.

Do it while she’s vulnerable.

Fuck her.

Make her tears yours.

I swallowed thickly, drowning the voices out just like I’d done the last time we’d been alone. It was hard, almost impossible sometimes, but occasionally, they’d relent.

“I care because you tried to take the coward’s way out.”

She scoffed, the only indication that she was phased by what I’d said at all. “It’s not cowardly to want the pain to stop,” she murmured. “To want the nightmares to stop.”

I didn’t care enough to even try to understand her reasoning. We had a deal, and soon, I would collect. Once my payment was received, she could go do whatever the fuck she wanted to herself. It made no difference to me.

“If people see you like this, they’ll feed off it.”

“Good. Maybe they’ll put me out of my misery since Seven was too coward to do it.”

I sighed and stood again. Striding across the room, I encased us in darkness before making my way back to her bed. “Scoot over,” I ordered.

She was silent for a few moments. “Why?”

“Because I don’t trust you not to do something stupid. So, move the hell over before I move you my goddamn self.” She huffed in annoyance, but she obeyed, the sheets shuffling with her movements.

Kicking off my shoes, I slid up beside her, lying on my back with my arm beneath my head. My heart thudded to a steady rhythm as the darkness started clouding my vision. Not because I was tired, but because the darkness lurked beneath my skin, always on the brink of surfacing. Archer was an idiot for forgetting that she needed a damn babysitter, leaving me of all people to do it. I was always on the brink of slipping into my mind, allowing the demons to take hold of me and consume my body from the inside out. I’d been putting them off for as long as possible, but they’d make an appearance eventually.

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