Page 94 of Hate So Deep

Now I’m wondering what the fuck I’m missing and damning myself for not taking this more seriously.

I know for a fact that Lauren was fine when I dropped her that night. She was clearly intoxicated but she sure as shit wasn’t covered in blood.

Whatever happened took place in her house because there’s no way she left again unless someone took her. Who though?

From what I found out through the grapevine, no one saw Aimee after nine pm that night and I dropped Lauren off well after midnight.

So, what the fuck happened and where is Aimee?

“Colt and that you’re gone over his sister,” Hayden says, breaking me from my thoughts.

“I’m not gone over anyone,” I mutter, and he smirks.

“Sure.”

I’m tempted to argue but that will only make me look like an ass and since I’m feeling like one already, I change the subject.

How I feel about Lauren is no one’s business but my own. Besides, I don’t even know how I feel.

Fuck.

“This Danny fucker,” I say. “Someone got him to lure her out but who? Why would Danny agree?”

Shrugging, Hayden says, “People find a lot of motivation when they’re scared.”

“Hm,” I mumble. “You ever heard of Toro?”

“Nope, but I’m looking forward to meeting him,” Hayden says with a filthy smile.

Hours later, we’re holed up in one of the abandoned warehouses where we used to party.

Ironically, it’s not far from where Buck was beat to shit for the last time. No surprise, the dick always thought he was tougher than he was.

This isn’t your problem, Dirk.

Lauren’s words circle my brain as I assess the asshole laying on the concrete.

Seeing her broken and bruised set something burning in my chest that now begs to be freed and I’m not in the mood to hold back.

Poor Danny Marker should have said no when those two thugs came calling because now all the helplessness I felt before has turned to rage.

When Hayden looks over from where he’s leaning against the wall, I spit on Danny’s body and say, “I’m disappointed, asshole. I thought you were tougher than this. I thought you were the big bad ass on campus. Looks like you’re nothing but a sniveling little piece of shit.”

Danny doesn’t respond, beyond sniffling a snot-filled sob, probably because he knows if he does, it’ll only lead to more pain.

“Bro,” Hayden grunts, “Academy dicks don’t know nothing, not even how to use their dick.”

Nudging Danny with my shoe I ask, “That true, fucker? You’re dick as useless as you fucking are?”

Ignoring Hayden’s snort, I bark, “I bet it is. That’s why you drug ‘em before you fuck ‘em.”

When Danny shakes his head, avoiding my gaze, a trickle of awareness slides down my spine.

I can’t kill the fucker, I remind myself as I lean over until we’re practically nose to nose, but I can put the fear of Dirk fucking Evans into him.

“Well? You sniveling piece of shit, you drug girls and rape ‘em?” I ask.

“No man, no!” Danny cries and I glance at Hayden.

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