Page 80 of Make Her Bleed
Is it really going to be like that, Rowe?
"Just let her sit on the couch, Kai. Please," Knox speaks up, and I send him an appreciative smile.
"Shut it!" Kai snaps. "She'll either do what I say or live with the consequences."
"I'm done living by your rules, Kai. You were right when you said you were my hero. As a little girl, I looked up to you … until you dragged me into a classroom and destroyed that by holding me down and forcing these guys to rape me … then doing it yourself. Ever since then, you've been doing everything you can think of to torture me, calling it consequences. Consequences come from doing something wrong, and I haven't, but you have. You have done so many horrible things to me and other people and it's time you face the consequences of your actions. The punishment may not fit the crime but everyone here will know what you've done, how truly savage and sadistic you really are. No matter what they've seen, they haven't even scratched the surface, but they will know now." My scowl deepens, hatred filling me.
"Aria, sit thefuckdown," he demands, his jaw tense.
I'm done with him. I'm not a tool for him to use.
"Kai is a murderer. He killed his high school girlfriend in this very room," I say, my eyes never leaving his. I will not be controlled by a psycho like him.
"That wasn't where his reign of terror ended for Teigan Harper or her family. A few years later, he screwed her little sister and got her pregnant with her first child, a boy who's in this room. Then, he beat the shit out of Rowe in my room, making it look like I had something to do with it, but I have the proof to show I’m not guilty of that."
I look around and see all eyes are on Rowe who's looking at me as if he still thinks I'm lying.
"What the hell, Kai?" Knox says before standing at my side as if to protect me.
Kai stands and looks murderous, his eyes shooting daggers at me. "Sit down, Aria, or shit is going to get way worse for you."
"I will not sit at your feet, kneel before you, beg, or anything of the sort. You are a coward."
Kai reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a gun, pointing it directly at Knox, between his eyes.
Knox doesn't move, but I can feel the panic coming off of him.
"Get out of the fucking way or I'll put you in the ground," Kai warns, venom practically sliding down his jaw like saliva, a snake wearing human flesh.
I carefully touch Knox's arm. "It's okay, Knox. Step aside."
"Fuck that shit!" Dax shouts and moves in to block me. "We stand by a lot of shit, but we're not going to let you kill her. We all love her and would gladly die for her."
Oh, Dax. My heart aches from his declaration.
The only one not standing to protect me … is Rowe.
"Did IsayI was going to fucking kill her? Get out of the way or I will killyou!" Kai's voice booms.
"Stand down," I say. "He's not going to kill me. He can't and he knows it."
That's one thing I know in my heart. Kai tried to make himself kill me before but he couldn't. For whatever reason, he can hurt me, but he can't kill me or let me die.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Nico asks.
"Absolutely."
The guys slowly step back, watching Kai with caution.
"His time is up, anyway." I look up at the clock, smile, and count down the seconds. "And three … two … one." The lights go out but I can see the look of shock on Kai's face from the glow the TV emits.
"What did you do?" he growls.
"I hacked your security system and found some juicy footage, even from the camera you planted in my hospital room."
His gun falls to his side as the TV goes black before the video feed starts to play.
Kai is sitting in the chair next to my hospital bed, holding my hand, looking absolutely miserable.
