Page 79 of Wicked Promises
Liam releases him, shoving him toward me.
Margo’s face flashes in front of my eyes. What would she think about this? Justice or not, she calms the bloodlust. For sense to trickle in. There’s a bit of hopelessness to this situation.Four boys beating up a fifth. Is that what we’ve reduced ourselves to?
He comes after me, and I stay still long enough for him to get a hit in.
His knuckles glance across my jaw, harder than I would’ve wanted—but definitely not as bad as it could’ve been. My head cranks to the side, and my cheek is torn open by my teeth. The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.
I spit onto the floor.
Silence.
I stare at Matt. He’s watching me like he can’t believe he actually hit me—and if I’m going to uphold my promise.
“I will get to the bottom of this,” I warn him. I’m sure my teeth are stained red like his, and I make sure he sees it. “And until then? You better stay the fuck away from anyone you care about. We’ll be watching.”
He slowly raises his arm, wiping the blood from his mouth off on the back of his hand.
Eli steps aside to let him pass, and he follows out to watch Matt go.
“You let him off the hook too easy,” Theo says.
“Hitting him felt good, but…” I crack my neck. The adrenaline is leeching out of me, reminding me that it’s the middle of the night. “He’s smart. He wouldn’t have done this on his own—and clearly he wasn’t going to spill.”
Liam grunts. “Maybe.”
I tilt my head back, gaze on the rafters. “And… thank you.”
Theo chokes. “Yeah?”
“We didn’t learn a fucking thing,” Eli says.
I shrug. “We learned Matt’s afraid of someone.”
“He’s a pussy.” Theo grabs a flashlight from the floor and clicks off the overhead light. “He plays a tough game, but he’s afraid of his shadow.”
“A lot of people in his life could be threatened,” I say. “And honestly? We’re in no position to threaten any of them.”
“Just his sister,” Liam says. We close up the shed and slowly walk toward the house. “Have you seen her? Instagram model, hot as hell. Lips?—”
“All right.” Eli shakes his head. “I love you crazy fuckers, but I need sleep. You two staying?”
Liam and Theo trade a look.
“I’ve got to get home,” Theo says. “Ma will flip out if I’m not there when she wakes up.”
Liam sighs. “Yeah, I’ve gotta take Colby to school now that my car is functioning. So…”
“Keys are in my room,” Eli says. “Come get them.”
Theo doesn’t enter the house, just disappears around the corner without a word. I watch Liam and Eli head toward the stairs, and I contemplate an apology. But what for?
I flip my light on in the basement, half expecting Margo to be waiting for me again. But no, she’s asleep, safe in her room. Away from my darkness.
She sure does know how to bring out the light in me, but the moment she’s gone… she takes the good with her, leaving the broken mess she created.
No, that isn’t quite right. I need to stop blaming her.
I rinse the blood away.