Page 146 of Love Bleeds Red
Gabe is shuffling backwards, but I grab his wrist and squeeze until I feel bones grind together. “Especially you, pre-med. Lot of pressure maintaining that GPA, isn’t there?”
His eyes widen as my words sink in.
I shove him away and turn to Easton. “Athletic scholarship’s nice. Be a shame if something happened to it.”
“You’re fucking crazy,” Brayden says, wiping more blood from his head.
“Maybe.” I straighten my jacket. “But I’m the kind of crazy that doesn’t forget. Ever.”
I start to walk away, then pause. “Oh, and mates? When you wake up tomorrow, don’t be surprised if you get some news. A little gift from me. Consider it a reminder that actions have consequences.”
I leave them there, against the wall, whispering among themselves, knowing they’ll spend the rest of the night wondering what I meant… calling me a crazy bastard. But by morning, they’ll start finding out that I’m not just a crazy bastard, but someone who can ruin lives.
Some people only learn when they get the shit scared out of them. Let’s hope for those three pricks it’s a lesson that only needs to get taught once.
Bailey will never find out about this. She doesn’t need to carry that weight. This was on me—my need for vengeance on her behalf. Tonight, she needs comfort, and I’ll make sure she has it.
I hop back onto my bike with a grin, knowing that those three will lose sleep tonight. Maybe I didn’t end their pathetic lives like I very much wanted to, but it’s something.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
LEON
I slip backinto the house around 3 AM, using the downstairs entrance so I don’t wake anyone. As I take off my jacket and pants, my phone falls out of my pocket, lighting up with unread messages from Bailey.
Fuck. I didn’t tell her I was leaving. In my adrenaline-fueled rage, she became second to vengeance. I tap the screen and feel even more like shit.
Firefly: Taking a long time to move your bike… I’ll be in my room, come see me when you’re done.
Twenty minutes later, another came in.
Firefly: I guess you went out, which is totally fine btw. I’m going to try and get some sleep. Hope you’re ok.
And the last came in about an hour ago.
Firefly: Woke up to a noise, thought it was you. Just let me know that you’re okay.
Guilt hits me like a freight train. Here I was, getting my revenge while she was upstairs worrying about me, probably replaying the night’s events over and over. After everything she’s been through, the last thing she needed was to wonder where I’d gone or if something had happened to me.
I quickly type back:
I’m home. Sorry for worrying you. Coming up now.
But as I pass the bedroom door, I see her silhouette curled up on top of the blankets.She fell asleep down here… waiting for me.
I stand in the doorway, watching the rise and fall of her ribcage. Even in sleep, she doesn’t look peaceful. There’s tension in her shoulders, and her hands are clenched into small fists. The trauma from tonight is still working its way through her system.
I should let her sleep. But as I start to turn away, she stirs.
“Leon?” Her voice is groggy but alert.
“Hey. I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She sits up slowly, running a hand through her disheveled hair. “I wasn’t really asleep. Just... resting my eyes. Where did you go?”
I hesitate, not wanting to lie to her but also not wanting to burden her with what I did tonight. “I needed some air. Had to clear my head after what happened.”
She studies my face, and I can see she doesn’t entirely believe me, but she doesn’t push. Instead, she rubs her temples. “I can’tsleep anyway. Every time I close my eyes, I see them. Feel their hands reaching for me. They morph into the others and…”
