Page 134 of I Blame the Rival

"Jerrell Thompson."

Those pale blue eyesflash dangerously, and suddenly I'm grateful for the barrier of Nico's arms. Despite the familiar edge of Vector's face, he doesn't look like the older brother I've come to know. He looks like the infamous Silverwood bully.

The monster who can't control his temper.

"You see, Jerrell, we have a rule here in Silverwood."

There's a long pause, and tension ripples through the crowd.

"Whatever you do to Skylar Vin gets done to you."

Vector steps forward, his massive frame making Jerrell’s seem significantly smaller in comparison. My ex-boyfriend quickly stumbles back, trying to increase the distance between them.

“Look man, it was nothing personal. I didn’t even know the kid.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” A growl seeps into his voice, “This is very personal.”

Bolting for the closest door, Jerrell doesn’t make it past the crowd before another lacrosse player shoves him back. He stumbles back into the circle, panic filling his eyes as he searches for a way out.

Finding none, he turns and raises his hands in the air.

“He was a skinny kid looking for a fight and I overpowered him. No harm done.”

“You spilled his blood all over these floors and you want to tell me it was no harm done? I don’t fucking think so.”

Grabbing Jerrell by the collar of his shirt, Vector’s pale blue eyes ignite as he brings him up to eye level. Jerrellflails, the polished ends of his shoes scraping the ground as he tries to escape the monster’s hold.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Put me down right now.”

Vector bares his teeth, “I’m the guy who's about to repay the damage you did to my little brother.”

Jerrell goes still, his feet dangling in the air.

“He’s your brother?” Catching sight of the unusual colour of Vector’s hair, he pales, “I didn’t know.”

“Now, you do. And I’m going to make sure you don’t forget it.”

My ex-boyfriend starts to scream as Vector starts dragging him towards the side door. Nico lets out a gasp, his arms loosening around me, and I quickly break away.

“Vector, wait!”

He pauses, turning to look at me. Jerrell catches sight of me running towards him and gasps in relief.

“Oh, thank God. Tell this psychopath to put me down. This town is fucking crazy.”

“Vector, could you please put him on the ground?”

He lowers him so Jerrell can touch the ground but doesn’t let go of his shirt. His entire body is trembling with fear when he flashes me a grin.

“Do me another favour, doll. Tell him to let me go.”

I stare at him, seeing the boy who bullied, manipulated, and violated me until I was stripped of my self-esteem and sense of self-worth. It took me over two years to find myself willing tolove again, and even now, I can’t shake off the past long enough to have sex with my boyfriend.

He ruined me in every sense of the word and yet the anger I feel towards him has nothing to do with the way he treated me.

“Lacey doll, anytime now. I’m not getting any young-

His words get cut off when I slap him across the face as hard as I can. Jerrell blinks, his mouth opening and closing as he stares at me.

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