Page 96 of Hate You Forever (Hate 1)

“Rush.” He doesn’t seem to register my voice so I cautiously move toward him, placing a hand on his back. “Rush, stop. You’re going to kill him.” His back stiffens at my touch, but he stands up and looks at me. His pupils are blown out, and his chest is heaving. He looks a little like a feral animal.

“He deserves to die.” For a man who doesn’t even know about the shit Zayan put me through, it fills my body with warmth knowing he’s so willing to protect me, no matter what the situation may be. Maybe I could get used to having a bodyguard around. A hot one who I’d be more than happy to climb like a tree.

“I agree, but you don’t deserve to be punished for doing it. People could see.” I place my hand on his arm, and he leans into my touch before nodding his head. Looking down at Zayan, I see he’s still on the ground, but he’s breathing—meaning I stopped Rush in time.

My day has gone from being absolute shit to being a fucking disaster that I can’t come back from. I feel like I must’ve woken up with a sign on my forehead saying ‘Please ruin my day in the worst ways imaginable.’ My body feels numb right now, trying to process what just happened.

Being that close to Zayan, feeling his body touching mine—it makes me want to vomit. I feel nauseous, knowing that he won’t give up. He’ll never give up.

Zayan might have just gotten his ass beat, but he never does anything without purpose. I bet he knew what would happen, but he still did it. I don’t know exactly what game he’s playing right now, but I do know what his prize is.

Me.

He slowly sits up, sliding back until he’s leaning against the wall. “Little dahlia, you can’t be watched twenty-four seven. You’ll be mine again one day. You’ll give me what I want… The very thing you took away from me seven years ago.”

I can’t breathe.

How does he know? Fuck, I think I’m going to be sick. I need to wake up from this nightmare.

He knows my deepest secret, the one that put me through hell, the one that left me shattered in pieces, not sure how to feel.

And now, he’s come back to get what he tried to force from me.

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