Page 350 of Hate Mates

“My father is a horrible man. He killed my mother.”

My heart breaks inside my chest for Trenton.

“And then he used me as a punching bag when he got high or when he couldn't get high. Just when he felt like it really. And I was okay with that. But then mom died and he started having his…friendsover. They’d give him a hit of his poison for a moment alone with me. They would…”

“Stop,” I say, my heart broken and my stomach souring.

“Does knowing this about me make you think of me differently?” he asks, and I swear I hear vulnerability there.

“No, Trenton. It makes me angry. That someone could…” I shiver, shaking my head. “It makes me mad on your behalf.”

“But you don’t pity me?”

I look over to him, trying to catch his eyes but he won’t look at me. “No. I don’t pity you.” I take a breath. “So, what does that have to do with why we’re here, with the list?”

He taps the list, “This is a list of every single man that hurt me in one form or another.” Then he points to the one with the bold underline. “And this, this is my father.” He looks over to me, a cruel smile on his lips that would have most running as far away as possible. “I’m going to kill them.”

I wait for the news to shock me, but it never comes. Instead, I get it.

“And this place is where name number one is.” He taps his fingers on the steering wheel. “And you’re going to help.”

“Okay.”

He looks me up and down. “Why?”

It’s a valid question. I have zero reasons not to turn him in right this second. But… “Because I care about you. I don’t knowwhy but I do.” I open his glove compartment, grabbing the pistol and clicking the clip in. “Let’s go.”

He grabs his own pistol before climbing out. His hand locks with mine as he walks in through the missing door. I start to wonder what this place is exactly when we enter the main room and I see the bags of meth sitting on the tables. It’s a manufacturer. In the center sits one man. He’s older with salt and pepper hair. He looks up, a missing-tooth smile on his face when he spots Trenton.

My blood simmers and I want nothing more than to end this now, but the man stands, and Trenton stiffens. “I knew you’d be back. Like father, like son.” The man pauses. “Or maybe you’re back for more? You liked the fun games we played when you were a kid, didn't you, boy?”

Trenton’s gun is raised but he hesitates, almost like he’s paralyzed in fear. I’ve never seen his skin so pale and sick looking.

The man’s smile falls, and I watch in slow motion as he reaches for his gun but instead a bullet pierces through his head.

If there was one thing Blaise and Desmond taught us, it was to be a good shot.

The man’s eyes widen before his body crumbles to the ground. Trenton looks at me, a look of surprise on his face and I slowly look down to see my hand shaking around the gun.

“Oh my god,” I whisper, the gun falling from my hand. My vision begins to tunnel, my stomach churning as my lungs feel as if they collapsed.

“Hey, you’re okay, Ana,” Trenton whispers.

His hands cup my face as I try to ground myself, but I can’t seem to breathe. I drop to my knees and he follows me. “Come on, Little Moth, breathe.”

My hands claw at my throat and I swear I’m going to pass out, but then his lips are on mine and everything pauses. Iconcentrate on the roll of his lips and strokes of his tongue. Slowly, I calm down. Reality coming back into focus as he moves us through the building. I’m in his arms now and the sun is beating down on my face as he slowly kisses me.

I break the kiss. “The guns, ourfingerprints.”

“I’ve got them.” He drops me into the passenger seat. He crouches in front of me, something like awe in his eyes as he pushes my hair back behind my ear. “You saved me.”

“Well, yeah,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself.

“I froze,” he whispers.

“Anyone would have. The things he said.” I shake my head, not able to finish.

“Thank you,” he says quietly.

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