Page 151 of Merciless Intents

Asher stepped up next to me, looking down at Harper. “She’s proving a point.”

Harper wiped her nose. “What the fuck point is that?”

I knelt, locking my eyes on hers. “That I could have ended you at any point. No matter what you threw at me, you aren’t as trained or as strong I am. That sounds over-confident as fuck, and it is, but comparing the two of us, it’s true. I’m a mediocre fighter, but I manage. I’ve slipped a lot on training, and I was overly confident a few times. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. But you?Oh, I can handle you. And I could have beat your ass in front of all your little friends atanypoint onanyday and taken that control you believed you had over me away. But I didn’t. Because I had hope.” I stood. “But that hope is gone now. You killed it last night when you branded me with your initials.”

I turned to look at Asher. “You’re both beyond my forgiveness, but I still wish you both the best. Never speak to me again.”

“You’ll regret this!” Harper yelled from her position on the floor as I walked back into Justin’s apartment. “You thought I was bad before?” A dark laugh echoed out behind me. “Oh, justwait. I’ve already lost everything. There’snothingto hold me back now.”

“Harper!” Asher snapped. “You’re making this worse!”

“Get a leash on that mutt before I do,” I said before turning in the doorway, door in hand.

“Mutt!?” Harper screamed, rage burning in her eyes. “I’ll fucking kill you!You’rethe fucking mutt!”

I knew better, but I couldn’t help myself, anyway. I shrugged and smiled. “At leastmydad loves me.” My smile turned sarcastic and condescending before I slammed the door and locked it.

I listened as Asher fought to restrain Harper. Her voice carried down the hall as he dragged her away. There was no doubt about it—I’d gone too far, but I didn’t care right then. I was in too much pain.

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Me:

Hey, can you get me a script for some painkillers from your uncle? I was already dying, but after headbutting Harper in her stupid face, I think I might actually die.

Justin:

Headbutting Harper? Oh, I can’t wait to hear about that. And yes. I’ll send Luna over with something sooner. This is a private school. There are drugs all over the place.

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I almost told him no, but then I decided Ineededsomething. The pain was unbearable, and I felt like throwing up. I went to the bathroom, puked, and ran a hot bath before sinking into it and allowing the water to make my head feel weightless. I wasn’t sure if it was helping, but it certainly wasn’t hurting, and my body felt a lot more comfortable.

Within fifteen minutes, Luna was walking into the apartment. I lobbed a half-empty shampoo bottle at the bathroom door, so I wouldn’t have to yell. She walked in and smiled.

“You okay there, sicky?”

“More like poisony. IwishI was sick. It would at least serve a purpose. Annoying as hell, but a better purpose than my sister fucking drugging me.”

She knelt by the tub and held out her hand. In her palm were two pills and in her other hand, a bottle of water. “Here, take this. It’s hydrocodone. They’re safe and so is the dosage; Justin and I made sure of it.”

Trying to sit was far more painful than expected. Luna must have realized because she set the water bottle down on the floor and slid her arm under my back to help me up. Once up, I took the pills and swallowed them. While I didn’t trust many people, I trusted Luna and Justin. I knew they wouldn’t let anything happen to me.

“Let me help you out of the tub. Those are fives, so they’re not enough to knock you on your ass, but I still don’t want you in a tub or trying to get out of it when they kick in.”

I nodded, and she helped me stand so I didn’t have to exert so much energy and put pressure on my head. Even after so much time, I still thought it was amusing and strange how close Luna, Justin, and I were.

She helped me back to Justin’s room, and I sat on the edge of the bed while she grabbed me some new pajamas out of his drawer. I dressed my top half, while she dressed my lower half.

“Ugh, thank you. I feel like someone isalwaystaking care of me. This is getting ridiculous,” I said.

She shrugged. “You’d do the same for me, so I don’t mind at all. Lay back.”

I did as she asked, and she tucked me in before turning on the TV and handing me the remote.

“Don’t fight the fatigue when it sets in. Let it take you under. You definitely need the rest,” she said.

I nodded. “Could you do me a small favor?”

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