Page 126 of Heart Sick Hate

I’m going to die without ever telling him how I feel. With him thinking I gave up. With my father believing I turned intoher.

“Please don’t do this,” I whisper.

Rhett can slit my throat or put a bullet in my head. Anything is better than turning me into my mom.

Tears run in rivers down my cheeks.

“So good at pretending to be sweet.” He lifts his hand to my cheek, roughly smearing his wet fingers across it. “Don’t worry, you’ll go feeling real good.”

A sob rips from my throat, and I hate that he’s making me cry. That I’m letting him see me like this. That I can’t fight back because there’s nowhere to go, and with these chains, I have limited movement.

His hand moves from my cheek, down my neck, between my breasts, and I think I might really throw up. My insides shut down even without the drugs.

He’s going to empty me. Take me. And then, he’ll end me.

“Rhett.” My vision snaps into focus at the voice. I don’t ever pray, except right now I can’t help it. Because I hear Crew, and I don’t want to be imagining him.

And when my gaze lifts, he’s there—in the doorway—rage in its purest form, looking directly at the back of Rhett’s head.

“Get your fucking hands off my girlfriend.”

37

Crew

If it weren’t forthe needle in my brother’s hand, too close to Echo’s perfect flesh, I’d hurl myself at him and beat him until he no longer had a face—or a skull, for that matter.

He put his hands on her, and all I see is red burning so hot it’s nearly white.

“Wondered if you’d find us, brother.” Rhett doesn’t look at me, but from the fear painting Echo’s eyes, I can imagine his expression. “Let me guess—dear old Dad decided to be helpful for once.”

I don’t bother responding as he just laughs. Rhett’s always had this ridiculous idea in his head that I’m the favorite. That role is reserved for him.

Finally, Rhett stands up, but when he does, he pulls Echo up with him. She’s weak as she climbs to her feet, and he wraps his arm around her throat, pinning her to his chest to use her like a shield between us.

It’s pathetic. Can’t even fight his own fights.

Worse, he’s using her.

The needle in his hand is still firm in his grasp, close to her arm, but she’s pulling away as best as she can. Her eyes, terrified at the sight of it.

“What are you doing, Rhett?” Something about the scene isn’t right. If he wanted to just kill her, he could have.

It took me too long to get here. Something I’ll hold against myself once this is done. For right now, I need to focus.

“Giving her a little present.” Rhett smiles at me.

“Please don’t.” A tear rolls down her cheek with her words.

It cracks something inside me. Breaks me open as I take a step forward.

“Now, now, brother.” He draws the needle closer to her arm, and she flinches away. That little flinch she’s always had around him, like her body sensed his true nature before her mind woke up to it.

I wanted to believe Rhett really was the good brother. That while our mother’s death and our dad’s arrogance ruined me and Adam, Rhett survived whole. I wanted to believe he cared enough about Echo to take care of her if she refused to be with me.

I was mistaken to think he’d keep her safe.

His lips curl in a smile I haven’t seen in years, and memories flood me. The same look he had the split second before he saw me walk into the room where he was standing over our mother’s body.

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