Page 38 of Bitter Truths

What am I doing?

Sucking in a breath, I meet Griffin’s stony stare, and my insides clench so painfully I whimper. Yes, I’m angry. I’m enraged, but I’ve had to keep it all hidden behind the expectations of my fucking family and peers that I be okay. And despite it all, Aaron was right. The pain I see behind Griffin’s eyes doesn’t make me feel any better. Actually, it makes me feel like shit, and instead of easing the burn, it’s created an inferno.

Still, I raise my chin as David steps away with a chuckle. “Sorry, man.”

“For what?” Griffin says coolly, raising a brow.

I search his expression for the pain I thought I saw, but it’s gone. I wanted him to be angry, enraged, devastated, fucking hurt. I wanted him to see, but he’s standing there, cool as a fucking cucumber.

Does he care? Or was he lying? Maybe I was foolish to think revenge would make a difference. Maybe I need to get a fucking grip and move on.

This is the problem with Griffin. I don’t really know anything about him, and if I let him, he’ll pull me under. I can’t survive another hit. I can’t. I’m already dangling by a thread as it is.

“Oh, um—” David says.

“Get out,” Griffin says and David lurches to the left. I go to follow, but Griffin pins me with his stare and I swallow, freezing in my tracks.

David glances between us with a frown, but I have no time to worry about him because Griffin shuts the door in his face.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Griffin says, and I shrivel under his glacial stare.

Dropping my gaze, I stare blindly at the floor before raising my chin. “How’s it feel?”

He raises his brows. “How does what feel?”

“To be the one that has to watch?” I taunt.

His brows slam over his eyes and he steps into me. “You think fucking that prick is going to make me bleed?”

“Will it?” I ask, biting my lip. The familiar burn pushes at my sternum, but along the wings of the blaze is an ache that steals my breath.

Grabbing my chin, he tips my head back and stares into my eyes, a tic forming in his jaw. “Now who’s playing games?”

“Answer the question.”

His eyes flash and he growls. “You want to hurt me? Then go fuck him, but it’s me you’ll be dreaming about while he tries to get it done.”

Scoffing, I turn my head away, batting at the tears that form of their own goddamn will. “I want you to hurt like I do. Here.”

I pound at my chest, and he grabs my hand, pulling me against him. He takes a shuddering breath and whispers in my ear. “I don’t deserve you. I never did. But Halsey, you can fuck every dick out there, and still, I’ll never let you go.”

“But you already did,” I say, stepping back and raising my chin.

He dips his head, his lips pulling into a smirk. “I never let you go where it mattered.”

“Then why?”

“Because I’m a monster,” he says, stalking to the door. At the threshold, he stares at the wood before punching the wall beside it.

I jump and press my hand to my racing heart, my mouth open on a silent cry.

“Whatever, just don’t fuck in my bed,” Griffin snarls before opening the door and brushing past David, who’s still lingering on the other side.

I stare after him with wide eyes before rubbing the painful twinge in my chest. Shit. What’s happening?

David steps through the threshold and I hide my confusion behind a rueful smile even though I feel like I’m dying inside.

What does this mean? That Griffin is setting me free? Or does he not care? And if so, what the fuck has he been playing at?

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