Page 145 of Evil Boys

“I needed the money,” he mutters through coughs.

Lana crawls away underneath me, catching her breath while I focus on Nathan.

“So that’s why you suddenly wanted to become involved with her too,” I say through gritted teeth, feeling betrayed.

“No, it’s not like that,” he replies, his voice weak from my strong grip. “I already liked what I saw. I just saw an opportunity as well.”

“An opportunity?” Lana snorts behind me. “That’s all I am?”

“No. It’s become far more than that, and you know that,” Nathan gurgles.

“She was mine to begin with. I only allowed you two to join because I enjoyed it. Not so you could go behind my back and try to ruin what we had by threatening her with the videos and photos we had by using them to extort her!”

Lana stays put even though I’m not keeping her from running. But something tells me this exchange is the exact reason she’s staying.

“It’s not like that,” Nathan hisses.

“Then tell me why!”

“Youknowwhy!” he grits back.

My eyes widen, and my face contorts because he’s right; I do know the reason. I’m just pissed off he’d stoop that low just for …

I release him from my grip, and he drops to the ground, coughing and heaving up spit.

“You know how much I’m willing to sacrifice,” Nathan mutters.

“Even your fucking soul?” I reply.

It doesn’t even take him a second to answer, “Yes.”

I sigh out loud, and for a moment, it’s quiet, so I stare up at the stars above. God, all of this has turned into a giant mess.

I turn to look at Lana, who takes a step back just from my eyes alone.

Or maybe it’s the gun still in my hand.

“How much did you hear?”

“Everything.”

“Tell me.”

“Nathan’s parents owed some bad fuckers money,” she says. “And you paid them off, hoping they won’t come back for more.”

I swallow.

Her nostrils flare. “Is that why you guys have been fucking with me? For money?”

“No. Never,” I answer, throwing a glare at Nathan. “As for him …”

“I did what I had to. That money I asked you for was the last of what I needed to pay them off.”

“Then how come you still had enough?” she asks.

“I gave it to him,” I respond, breathing out another sigh.

“Oh right … because that’s all he needed. A reward,” she hisses, looking anywhere but at me.

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