Page 2 of Like An Animal
Once the oxygen returns to my brain, I gasp aloud and slowly push myself away from my shadow that isnota hallucination.
He’s here. He found me and the only reason he would’ve saved me from Kyle would be to enact his revenge for what I did to him.
“Jeremy,” I rasp his name and I hear the sound of Kyle’s voice behind me.
“Who the fuck are you?”
My shadow doesn’t speak, but slowly tilts his head to the side, zeroing his eyes in on Kyle. He tosses the crowbar in his hands back and forth like he’s trying to decide what he wants to do.
“He-he’s my brother.” My shadow, my tormentor, and my biggest regret.
And, the one additive that I won’t ever admit out loud, the only man I’ve ever loved. That’s dead and gone now though. It died the last day I faced him. It had to or I never would’ve survived turning my back on the man I knew would kill me the next time he saw me.
He gives me a lethal look before pointing with the crowbar to the couch.
There’s no point in running. He has always been faster than me. No matter how much I trained, my shadow has always run twice as fast. He’s like the fucking flash. He didn’t even have to try and all he has had for the past five years is nothing but time to kill.
I scoot back into the couch, wedging my body between the couch and the sectional, praying I camouflage with the fabric but I know it's just wishful thinking.
My shadow was never going to let me go and I knew that before I was old enough to fully understand his obsession and determination.
CHAPTER 1
THE GHOST
Itwist the lollipop in my mouth as Missy slides up beside me and taps my shoulder, as if I didn’t see her from a mile away with her orange and yellow bob.
“Bitch, have you seen McGowen today?” she presses and I groan.
I’ve been avoiding him like the plague, especially after the way Jeremy completely embarrassed me.
“No.” I slam my locker door closed before turning to her.
“He is black and blue. I don’t know what kind of steroids Jer is taking, but the football team could use some. He was absolutelyferal.” Her eyes widen and I roll mine.
My brother is stupid. I don’t know why he acts like this anytime I get any sort of male attention. A guy could tell me I looked nice and his teeth would disappear in less than five minutes. Jeremy needs to be careful or the Bastards will have something to say about his violent streak.
“Come on. It was kind of hot,” Missy shrugs.
My jaw drops. “Hot? He almost broke Tiernan’s jaw and all he did was dance with me.” Granted, he also asked to take things to his room which I was totally down for, but I’m not going togive Jer another reason to go after Tiernan, again. I doubt he heard Tiernan say that since he whispered it in my ear.
I doubt I’ll ever be invited to another Bastard party again and neither will my brother. As a matter of fact, I bet they’ll ban Jeremy from their street, let alone their house. I wouldn’t even blame them at this point.
“It’s that he defended your honor like that. If a guy would do that for his step-sister, I can just imagine the lengths he would go for his lady. That’s the part that’s hot.”
I’m in a sour mood as it is without adding in a conversation surrounding my idiot brother. He pissed me off so bad yesterday that I haven’t talked to the fucker since I slammed my bedroom door in his face.
Jeremy Borza is a man of few words. Most people think he’s either mute or deaf, but he isn’t. He just doesn’t like talking unless he has something to add to the conversation. It’s unheard of for him to even start a discussion.
I’m surprised he has friends to begin with. He pretty much just sits there and scowls at everyone, even his mom.
He’s been like this since my dad married his mom and that was five years ago. We were in school together before then, but as far as I can remember, we didn’t have any interactions.
“Let’s just get to class.”
***
I make my way up the stairs, sweat dripping down my back from my workout, but before I can head to my bedroom, a pale arm shoots out and blocks my way. My gaze lifts and clashes with Jer’s dark brown orbs filled with irritation.
