Page 32 of Hate So Deep

I feel a flicker of something when he pinches the bridge of his nose before it falls flat when he says, “Colt’s my bro. Those people have suffered enough. Don’t fucking ruin it, Lauren.”

At his words, tingles break out across my limbs, converging in my chest where I suck in a breath and shiver at the icy cold feeling. It takes every particle of my being, but I don’t react beyond grabbing his hand when he goes to stand.

Although pride wants me to slap his fucking face, common sense tells me to do what I came here for and find answers. I can wallow in my misery later when I’m fucking alone…again.

Get it together, Lala. Get if fucking together.

“Dirk,” I say through my teeth. “I need to ask you something. About that night…”

His dark eyes drop to my fingers wrapped around his hand before he says, “What night?”

Huh? For a moment, all I can do is stare at him blankly before it occurs to me that what happened doesn’t live rent free in his head, like mine.

Does he even know that Buck was attacked? Would he care?

Shaking my head of the dark thoughts because of course he doesn’t care about my brother, they were mortal enemies, I say, “The last time I saw you, at a party.”

His brows flicker and he waves at that red-headed bitch across the room before saying, “When was that?”

This is when I lose the battle and look away. When?

He doesn’t remember the last time we came together. How the fuck do I process that bag of steaming, putrid shit?

“Well?” Dirk mutters and I meet his gaze.

Those fathomless dark eyes widen and narrow before he looks away, his jaw ticking and when I follow his gaze to where Colt stands staring between us with a frown, I silently sigh and stand before walking the fuck away.

Somehow, I make it to my dad’s side, although I feel like I’m walking through a shrinking tunnel as I say, “I have to go.”

“Sweetheart, you just got–”

“I know, Dad,” I interject. “It’s something to do with Mom. I’ll call you.”

When did it become so easy to lie? I don’t know but as my eyes are once again drawn to Dirk, where he’s frowning at me across the room, I acknowledge that it doesn’t matter.

Maybe I’m more like my father than I thought possible. I just hope that it serves me well in the coming weeks because god knows what’s coming for me.

“Lala,” Dad says, while I watch Dirk slide his arm around the bitch’s slim waist. “I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine,” I say woodenly.

I’m out the door before he can respond and once in my car, I rest my head against the steering wheel.

Would it be bad to just get on the highway and keep going?

Chapter 12

NOW

Dirk

“You, okay?” Kayla asks, her fingers brushing my arm, but my skin still itches after the showdown with Lauren, and I pull away.

I dodged a bullet this time but am I playing this the right way? Maybe I just need to hear her out, so I’ll know what’s going on in that head of hers.

However, I’m not ready to reveal anything which is why I cut her off before she could get far enough to delve into shit that was ultimately a huge ass mistake.

I fucked her without a care for the consequences and bareback, no less. I know better and yet, here I am, making stupid decisions over another girl who can never be mine.

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