Page 19 of Smoke the Enemy

This is dangerous. I’m playing with fire. Alex hasn’t changed, he’s only better at manipulating the situation. The overly possessiveness. The coldness I’d sometime see in his eyes. The times he would make me feel ashamed forhisdesires. I ran away from him for a reason. I can’t be lured back by his gorgeous face and charm.

“No. Forget I said anything.”

“How could I possibly forgetthat?” His voice is filled with lust.

“Please leave me alone,” I whimper. I hate that I’m cowering and begging right now, but I’m exhausted and in pain. His weight suddenly feels too heavy and confining.

The sound of a loud diesel motor and tires crunching has Alex jumping off of me and helping me up. He squeezes my hand tightly as if he’s struggling to let go. My father jumps out of his truck and comes running up to us.I glance in the cab of the truck and see my mom sitting with her hand covering her lips. My cheeks flush imagining what they might have seen. My stomach roils with what I almost let happen.

“Taylor? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Daddy. I slid off the road and hit a tree. Luckily, Alex pulled up a few minutes later and helped me out of the car.” Alex gives me two gentle squeezes, the sick bastard.

My father looks me over and then narrows his eyes on Alex. Finally, he says, “I didn’t expect snow so soon, or for the roads to already be slick. I’m just glad you’re not hurt too badly. We’ll go get that cut looked at.”My father takes a moment to study Alex again, and then says, “We’ll have to be more careful.”

The way he’s looking between us, I don’t think he means from the wreck. I swallow the lump of shame and nod. If my parents hadn’t shown up, how far would things have gone? The part that scares me the most is could he have persuaded me to consent?

With that horrifying thought, I run to my mother and cling to her. When I peek over at Alex, he slowly raises a finger to reveal a red smudge. He slowly sticks his finger between his lips and closes his eyes with a look of ecstasy. And me, foolishly, I watch in fascination. I don’t understand the world around me or myself.

“I don’t think I can make it to practice,” I mumble against my mother. She pats my back and assures me nobody is expecting me to go now. My father tells me he’ll take me home and come back for my car. However, Alex speaks up.

“No worries, sir. I’ll get her car towed to the shop. You folks just make sure our girl is alright.”

“Such a good boy,” my mother beams.

I climb into my father’s truck and look out that window. Alex meets my eyes and winks as he takes his phone out. He got me. He knows he did. I allowed myself to fall victim to his charm. Sure, I was woozy from the wreck. But he’s been easing toward me and chipping away at my defense the entire time. Here or in Blue Rose, predators are lurking. Standing up to them isn’t enough. What I’m doing now isn’t going to work. I need to start acting more like a predator than the scared little prey who is always being hunted.

Carmichael, North Carolina

Winter Break

Soren

Steffan and I returned to Carmichael, North Carolina, for Winter Break. The Conrad family came to visit, and while our fathers are left to deal with the latest threats and business deals, Lee, Steffan, and I decide to go deer hunting.

“Have you ever held a still-beating heart in your hand? The blood is so warm and the muscles spasm against your palm.” I smile at Lee as I hold the deer’s heart before him.

Lee wrinkles his nose. “You’re so off.”

“I appreciate the hunt, and the kill.” I rip my bow from the deer.

“Come on,” Steffan huffs, “Let’s just get the deer home so we can gut it and feed Allison. She deserves a good Christmas dinner.”

I hoist the animal over my shoulders to carry it back to the truck. I plan to skin it and then make deer jerky. All the other parts I don’t use will go to Allison. Steffan does have a point. It might surprise most, but I don’t enjoy killing animals. I only said Iappreciatethe hunt and the kill. He can take that however he wants. Sometimes I enjoy saying things I know he’ll take the wrong way just to fuck with Lee’s head.

The warm blood drips down my back, causing shivers to ripple down my spine. Some of the blood drips off into the snow, thick over the glistening flakes. My steps falter.

“Listen here, bitch. Where is he?”

“Dad…I don’t want to be here.” I wanted to be brave for my father and go out on his errands with him, but I can’t do it. I’m not brave. Seeing this woman cry while my father squeezes her face has me sick to my stomach.

He turns his glacier-blue eyes on me. With a heavy jerk, he releases her. He bends at the waist so his eyes are level with mine. “Soren. My son. I was younger than you when my father showed me our world. It takes a strong man to lead. Yet here you are about to piss yourself.” When I don’t respond, he slaps me. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Y-you’re sorry? Sorry for what? For being a disgrace? For being a pussy? For interrupting me while I work for our family?”

“I’m sorry for interrupting you, sir.”

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