Page 12 of Bend Him, Break Him
“There it is.” Isaac’s expression turned chaotic, inviting Colton’s ruthlessness.
Colton would deliver it, too, but he wouldn’t be swept into another basic defensive counter by Isaac. He rushed forward, snatching Isaac by his shirt. The necklaces around Isaac’s neck clicked against each other, and the patter of his heart skipped a beat from the jolt of Colton’s actions.
“I will make you suffer.” Colton pulled back a fist. “I will beat you until—”
“Please.” Isaac fumed, hands gripping Colton’s wrists tightly like he was ready to snap them.
There was no fear in his expression or his voice. There was only an invitation, he wanted Colton to swing, and it took everything in Colton to pause and think. If he struck Isaac, it wouldn’t solve anything. Colton knew he’d only further play into Isaac’s hand.
“You think after everything you did to me in high school, death scares me?” Isaac leaned in closer to Colton’s face, his breath pressed against Colton’s lips as only an inch of space divided them. “Do your fucking worst. I have my emails scheduled and ready to bomb your life the same way you ruined mine.”
Colton’s anger fractured, and he knew Isaac saw the look of devastation that swept across his face. He released Isaac, eyes flitting down to the baggy mesh sleeves held in place by the spiked bracelets. Isaac obviously didn’t want to explain hisscars to anyone on campus, so he’d turned them into a fashion statement most folks never suspected. Colton knew about them, though, knew about them like everyone else in Isaac’s hometown. He knew the lengths Isaac had taken to escape the pain Colton had caused, had allowed.
The care and concern on Colton’s face must’ve confused Isaac because his rage dissipated, and he shoved the jock away from him. Colton didn’t apologize because that would be selfish. He’d already spent too many years being selfish at Isaac’s expense. The way he bullied and beat Isaac for years. The way he used Isaac for months to get off with his own curiosities. Colton suspected that maybe he deserved this, deserved the hate and judgment and punishment, but he wasn’t ready to surrender the life he’d spent his entire life clawing at.
Colton sacrificed all his personal freedoms to train and become the best; he’d put his life on hold for years just so he could build a life outside his parents’ vision. Would it really all come to an end here and now?
“Must be hard knowing there’s nothing you can do to stop this from happening.” Isaac’s expression of twisted delight had washed away, replaced by this vacant contemplation. “Imagine, fighting against that all-consuming sinking dread, yet knowing nothing you do will stop it. You’re gonna drown. No one is gonna care. The golden boy charm and arrogant attitude won’t get you out of this one.”
Colton tried to speak, tried to beg, tried to think of something—anything—he could say, but the words remained stuck in his throat.
“Enjoy your last week before winter break.” Isaac turned on his heel and headed for the doors. “I suspect they’ll have you booted before the kickoff of spring semester.”
Colton stood frozen, thinking of what he could offer, what he could do. Beating Isaac wouldn’t get rid of the evidence. Pleading with his humanity wouldn’t work either.
“Damn.” Isaac smacked his forehead. “Y’all don’t kick in baseball, do you? That pun would’ve been better when you still played football.”
Colton huffed because while there was a kicker in football, it wasn’t Colton’s position. Isaac had paid so much attention to Colton’s schedule their junior year, attending all his sporting events from game nights to practices, all so he could discreetly service Colton afterward. Still, he never learned a goddamn thing about the games, sitting in the stands and sulking like the weird gothy gay guy he was.
“Wait.” Colton chased Isaac into the empty hallway. “There has to be something you want.”
“Nothing, dude.” Isaac practically floated, appearing so much taller as Colton hunched, the defeat finally registering.
“Everyone wants something,” Colton continued, unrelenting because it couldn’t end this way. “Tell me what I have to do.”
“Oh, suck my dick, prick.” Isaac snatched his arm away. “There’s not a goddamn thing I want from you. And if you touch me again, I will break that fucking arm.”
“Fine, I understand.” Colton nodded, finally grasping what he had to offer, a way out, a humiliation he didn’t dwell on for very long before accepting this as his best chance. “I will.”
“Thank you,” Isaac said with heavy emphasis and complete sarcasm as he strutted away. “Finally, taking a hint.”
“No. I’ll do it.” Colton jerked Isaac’s shoulder and shoved him against the wall.
“Motherfucker.” Isaac grabbed Colton’s wrist and twisted. “What did I just say?”
Colton ground his teeth, fighting back a shout and keeping his gaze on Isaac’s calm blue eyes. There was no malice in his violence, just a measure of protection.
“I said I’ll do it,” Colton said through gritted teeth. “I’ll give you what you want.”
“What I want?” Isaac scoffed. “I already told you I don’t want anything.”
“Yes, you do.”
“The only thing I want is to see you lose, see you suffer, see you fall to your knees in defeat.” Isaac twisted Colton’s wrist harder while also moving his foot between Colton’s legs and wrapping his heel behind Colton’s leg in preparation to sweep the jock off his feet. He could feel the pressure, physical and emotional.
“I’ll give you what you really want.” Colton embraced the throbbing pain in his arm, he accepted the weight of crushing defeat pressed against his lungs. It helped him accept what came next. “I’ll do it. Here and now if that’s what it takes.”
“Do what?”
