Page 67 of Hate So Deep

I was too fucking scared to do anything but sit there like a lamb waiting for the slaughter.

These thoughts swirl through my brain on repeat and I’m surprised when we pull up to the house but before I can exit, Dirk grabs my arm and says, “Nothing about this makes sense, Lauren. Why are you so afraid?”

“Huh?” I mumble, still in a daze.

“You should have told that asshole to fuck off…”

Turning away, I stare at the window and shrug.

Should I tell him about what Caro said? Was I drugged?

I don’t know but I have no reason to reveal any of this to Dirk. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s not even my friend.

“Whatever,” I finally say, and he slams his fist against the wheel.

“Stop fucking lying,” he says, and tears fill my eyes.

“Who’s the real liar, Dirk? Because from where I’m sitting, you wouldn’t know the truth if it hit you in the face.”

He rears back at that, and I push the door open. I got my answer and that’s that but now what do I do?

I’m freaked the fuck out and I don’t know what to do which is why I give in and say, “I was covered in blood. Okay?”

“What the fuck are you talking about now?” he grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Snorting, I root around in my bag because stupidly, I forgot I put it there until now.

Once I find it at the bottom, I throw it at his head and hiss, “That’s what I’m talking about. I don’t remember shit about that night. I was probably roofied and I woke up wearing that the same night my brother was beaten to death.”

He shakes out the shirt and I look away from it because the sight turns my stomach. Did I hurt Buck or worse…Aimee?

While he digests what I’ve just said, I rub my aching temple and wish that I could have peace for one goddamn minute.

“Why didn’t you say something?” he rasps.

“Who would I tell?” I whisper, grabbing the dash when he slams his fist against the side window.

“This isn’t some juvenile bullshit anymore. Tell me about the blood. You said you woke up covered in it?”

“Yeah.”

“When? Where were you? What do you remember?” he asks, and I peek at him from under my fingers.

“I just woke up,” I say. “There was blood all over me…the shirt. That’s all I know.”

“What the fuck is goingon?”

“That’s what I’d like to know…”

He stares at me blankly before his phone dings. Glancing at the screen, he shakes his head and says, “Whatever happened, you didn’t hurt your fucking brother. Why do you think you were drugged?”

Heat fills my cheeks at my stupidity, and I mumble, “Because Caro said something about it. I think they were selling it to my brother, too.”

The knowledge fills me with shame even though I’m not responsible for my brother and I look away when Dirk runs his hands through his hair and says, “Fuck.”

Silently agreeing, I exit the vehicle when he says, “Go inside that fucking house and don’t leave. I’ll talk to you later.”

Chapter 27

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