Page 94 of The Monster of Hotel No. 7
I turn to him, tearing my eyes from Sullen as I dart out a hand to grab Cosmo’s own, my fingers threading through his.
His jaw clenches. I know he doesn’t forgive me for betraying him and I’m not even sorry.
But I won’t let him send Sullen back to hell.
“Don’t,” I whisper. “It’ll hurt me, too.”
Cosmo narrows his gaze. “I think he’s already done that enough.” He glances at my eye. Then he tries to pull away, but I hold onto him tighter.
“No,” I say, my voice low as my heart races. “You can’t do this.”
“The fuck I can’t. Let go of me, Karia. You don’t usually make yourself seem so pathetic.” He jerks his hand from me once more.
That’s the second time he’s used that word on me.
The thunder grows deeper, louder above our heads. I think I hear the rain, too.
I lunge after Cosmo, grabbing onto his shirt and bunching the fabric in my hand. I’ll physically restrain him if I have to. He is not going to ruin Sullen’s chance at freedom.
“No,” I snarl the word. “You’re not going to—”
He spins around and grabs my wrist, leaning in so close I can smell the cherries from the punch on his breath. “Then kiss me right now in front of him, like you dry fucked him in front of me, and maybe I’ll consider your begging.”
I want to spit on him. I want to slap him. But I don’t get to do either before the red lights all flicker out as one. The music skips, too. For a moment, we’re in dark silence.
Then the lights flare bright once more, the audio rising to a hair-raising volume before it falls back to normal.
Cosmo’s fingers latch tighter around my bones. My breath catches and in my mind, I’m thinking the same word as before:duplicity.
Sullen cutting the power at the hotel. Putting me to sleep to be his own little experiment.
Something disgusting like hope wells up inside of me, wanting it to happen again. Sullen’s hands all over me, his teeth against my skin. Him, not holding back.
But the lights flicker twice more, then stay on.
Disappointment washes over me. I’m still at this stupid fucking dinner, watching Sullen get hit on by two women who aren’t me even after I tried to claim him, all while I attempt to save our lives.
Stand the fuck up.
Come and get me, Sullen Rule.
Cosmo turns but tries to drag me with him, my white Vans sliding along the floor. I reach for him, digging my nails into his skin, trying to plant my feet.
“You’re not stronger than me,” he snarls without looking at me. “But you want to stop me, you try to fucking stop me then.”
The thunder cracks again.
What sounds like the high-pitched whisper of wind floods through the house, down the stairs, into the basement.
The lights cut, but the distorted version of a Three Days Grace song still plays.
A hush falls over the dinner, but I hear Fleet laughing.
Then…
“I think that’s enough talking to Cosmo.” Sullen’s hoarse voice is in my ear, and I suck in a breath.
The lights flicker back on, red drenching Cosmo’s green irises as his eyes widen and he looks at Sullen, over my shoulder.
