Page 22 of Die For Me

Jack sighed. “Fuck! Anything else?”

I shook my head, as if he could see. “No. That’s all I got.”

“Okay. Thanks, Em.” Calling me by my nickname? Did he trust me now? Did I trust him?

“Let me go with you,” I asserted. “I know the area. I could help you find it.”

“No,” he replied quickly. “I have to do this myself. If he’s dangerous, I don’t want anyone else in his cross hairs.”

I never imagined Michael being violent before, but I was starting to see him in a whole new light and it was terrifying. And now Jack was the knight in shining armor? I felt like I was in the twilight zone.

“At least tell the police. Tell them you have some hint of where they are,” I pleaded.

“No. I can handle this, Emily. I’ll let you know what’s going on when I’ve gotten to Hana. Thanks for your help,” he said then hung up.

I looked down at my phone and began to sob. Everything I thought I knew was crumbling beneath me. Maybe Hana had been with Jack willingly this whole time. Maybe she was not in any danger with him. What about before, when she told me and Michael that Jack had drugged her and took her to his loft and threatened all of us? Was that true—was it still true? I had so many questions that I wasn’t sure would ever be answered. All I knew was that my cousin was in danger, yet again, and it was completely out of my hands.

Hana

Michael grabbed the phone from my hand and hung up, throwing it down on the ground before he took my arms and pinned them above my head. He had cleaned me up and untied me earlier, but he stayed in the bedroom with me, holding me in his arms as he rested his back against the bed frame. I didn’t want to think about how he had violated me, how he hurt me and then made me enjoy it. I was still in shock at how he was treating me, how he was behaving toward me. He was so angry, yet he didn’t want to let me go. And I didn’t want to think about Jack and how much I missed him, how I literally ached for him. I wanted nothing more than to be inhisarms right now. Except…feeling Michael’s strong arms wrapped around me was familiar and calming as well. In that moment, I felt guilt and shame all over again. It was supposed to be me and Michael all along. But somewhere along the lines, this twisted, fucked-up love life of mine started tearing my heart in two.

“Hana,” Michael said gently into my ear.

I turned my head to acknowledge him.

“I still love you. I don’t know what’s happened, I don’t know what the truth is, but I’m still utterly in fucking love with you,” he whispered before gently putting his lips to my shoulder.

I nodded. I knew that already, but it didn’t stop the sting in my chest. I still loved him too. But I also loved Jack. And clearly, I was never going to have a choice on who I was with.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into me, Hana. I’ve become obsessed. I’ve become someone entirely different. The anger I felt when I saw you walking out of that office…” He gulped. “I’m a changed man, Hana. You may not love the man that I am now. I’m sorry.”

Fuck. My eyes started welling with tears. I shook my head as I squeezed onto his hold of me.

“I will love you forever, no matter what, Michael,” I whispered as I looked down at his hands.

“Even if that child isn’t mine?”

He turned me around so I could face him. His brows were pulled together, his gray eyes boring into mine. His beautiful fucking face—he looked so utterly heartbroken. I didn’t blame him for anything he had done to me. In fact, I could completely understand.Classic Hana.

“Tell me how you felt when I was gone. How did you feel when you got that video?”

I didn’t want to answer his question. I wanted to see the lust and anger in his eyes again. I wanted to know that he really did get turned on watching me and Jack, that my theory was right. I guess I was a fucking masochist after all.

His eye twitched with irritation “Why do you want me to bring those feelings up again?”

“Because I want to know how much you love me.”

Michael shook his head at me. I could see I was starting to provoke him again.

I was desperate to let Jack know where I was. I was desperate to get these two men in the same space and give them my all—the truth, the hurt I felt, the desire I felt for both of them. Not just desire, but unwavering love and devotion to each of them.

Michael pinned my arms down, straddling me and pressing his hips into mine, and I pushed him further.

“You’re obsessed. Show me,” I challenged, no longer resisting his hold on me.

Michael held me down tighter, his eyes ablaze. “Haven’t I shown you, Hana? Isn’t it fucking clear?” he spit out.

I had a plan for what I was going to say next.

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