Page 66 of Charming Cruel Boys

Remi

Afewnightslater,I wake with a jerk, my heart pounding in a staccato rhythm. Blinking through the pitch-black in my room, I try to focus on what woke me. A door slammed, I think. I check my phone and find it’s almost one in the morning.Who the hell is slamming doors in the house so late?Or, is it early?

If this were three months ago, I’d assume it was Knight coming home drunk off his ass. But it’s not. Knight hardly drinks at all anymore. My next guess is Duke, and my worry rises to unbearable levels. He’s hardly looking at me at all, he’s fidgety if we’re alone together. He’s been having nightmares. I hear him thrash and shout through the walls at night.

Worried about my precious, broken guy, I hop out of bed and pad across my room. I open my door slowly, wincing when the hinges squeak. I don’t want to wake the rest of the house. Freezing, I put my hand over my heart and will it to stop racing so I can hear properly.

A few silent seconds tick by before I move again, walking on light feet down the hall. Duke’s silent from inside his room, but something else catches my attention downstairs. With my hand on the railing, I peek over and narrow my eyes at the lights on down there. It looks like they’re spilling into the hallway from my dad’s office, but that makes no sense. He’s never up this late.

I take the stairs as quickly as possible without making any noise, stopping with my back against the wall a foot from the cracked door.I’m feeling like a badass ninja right now, not even gonna lie.A smug smile tips up one corner of my mouth. I creep a little closer and blow out a slow breath.

“... can’t do this to us. I’m done playing your fucking game. I won’t let you manipulate me anymore,” Knight growls, making the hair on my arms stand up.

There’s a struggle, and it sounds like something hits the ground, and then the sound of Knight grunting rings through my ears. With panic clawing up my throat, I move forward, peering through the crack in the door. I shake my head, exhaustion and confusion clouding my eyesight.This can’t be right. It’s… No, it’s not possible.

My father has Knight pushed up against a bookshelf, a few books on the floor from the impact. One of his hands is around Knight’s throat and the other is cupping his crotch.The sight makes me dizzy. Every word my father ever said about Knight comes rushing back and I try to remember if there were any signs thatthiswas happening.

“I shouldn’t have to remind you of what I’m capable of. No one else has been as goddamn difficult as you,” my father snarls, his face so close to Knight’s that they could kiss. If they did, I think I’d be sick. “You and Duke live undermyroof, you’remysons now. If you don’t do exactly as I say, I might just slip into Duke’s room one night and show him what kind of man his new daddy is.”

Knight thrashes in my dad’s hold, baring his teeth and clawing at the hand around his throat. My dad chuckles low under his breath, like it’s taking no effort at all to keep Knight pinned. “You’ve slipped up, stupid boy. You were supposed to push my daughter away from both of you, not fuck her! What the hell am I supposed to do with her now? She’s worthless to me if she’s used.”

Knight releases my father’s hand and presses his thumbs into his eyes instead. My dad rears back, and Knight takes the opportunity to deliver a bone-crushing punch to his face. My father drops to the floor with a thud, and Knight stares at him, breathing heavily before he rolls his shoulders back and stalks toward the door.The freaking door that I’m standing in front of!

I don’t have time to act before it swings open and I’m staring wide-eyed at Knight. He freezes, fear etched into his face. Gripping my shoulders, he backs me up a few feet, blocking my view into the office. “How much of that did you see? Are you alright?” he asks me, frantically searching my eyes.

I swallow roughly, trying hard not to pass out or vomit. “I think I should be asking you that,” I say hoarsely, trembling in his arms.

Knight shakes his head and crushes my body to his chest, his arms tight around me like I’m his lifeline right now.He’s shaking against me so I hold him tighter.

“What was that, Knight?”

“I’m fine. It was nothing,” he says hollowly, still not letting me go.

“But he touched you, and he threatened Duke. And what did he mean about me?” I rush out into Knight’s chest.

“Shh, shh, I’ve got you, okay?” Knight coos, brushing his hand down my hair and kissing my forehead. “I won’t let him hurt any of you, I promise.”

I peel myself away so I can look up at his face. “What about what he did to you? That was assault... Please tell me it wasn’t my father who hurt you last year,”I beg, my voice cracking as tears start to blur my vision.

A calm mask falls over Knight’s expression and he exhales, looking back into the office at my father’s unconscious body. “Let’s take a drive. I need to get out of here to breathe and there are some things I need to tell you.”

I nod mutely and let Knight take my hand, leading me through the house into the garage. I blink, and suddenly we’re out on the road, the sky twinkling above us.Losing time now, Remi? That’s just fucking wonderful.

Knight’s white-knuckling the steering wheel, chewing on his lip and glancing over at me every few seconds. One of his hands is bleeding a bit from the punch and I don’t imagine it feels too good right now. I place my hand on his arm and give him a reassuring squeeze. “Tell me what’s happening,” I plead.

He blows out a shaky breath. “I don’t know where to start,” he whispers.

“How long has this been going on?” I ask instead.

“Your father threatening me? Blackmailing me with Duke’s safety?” Knight laughs, but the sound is bitter. He pushes his tongue into his cheek as he shakes his head slowly. “A long time.”

I furrow my brows, trying to piece everything together and make it all make sense. “I don’t understand, though. Why?”

“Please don’t think of me differently after I tell you this, Remi,” Knight begs quietly, breaking my heart into a million pieces.

I shake my head before he even finishes that statement. “Of course not,” I promise.It’s too late for anything like that. I love him. I love them both and nothing could change that.

With teary eyes, he begins. “My grades dropped pretty low sophomore year. I knew I was dancing the line between keeping my spot on the team or getting kicked off, but school has always been so fucking hard for me. I’m stupid or something, I don’t know. I’m not like Duke. He’s smart. It doesn’t come to me naturally.”

---