Page 85 of Hate So Deep

My ribs ache, competing with a dull throb in my skull and when I touch my cheek, I confirm there’s a sizable lump forming beneath my skin.

“Yo, where’d you go, bitch?” Caro says and I whimper before tears fill my eyes.

“C-Caro, I need you to come get me. Bring Rocket.”

“Are you okay? What happened? Where are you?” she asks, and I shake my head even though she can’t see me.

I’m not okay.

“I’m across the street. Hurry.”

She shouts something I can’t hear, and I drop the phone to my lap even though she continues to speak to me, the words now garbled.

After a few moments, I look up when I hear footsteps, but they pause as a vehicle approaches and I look around frantically, hoping the two assholes aren’t back for another round.

While shouts break out from the street, I crawl into the bush beside me and collapse to my side, immune when the thorny branches tear at my clothes and face.

As soon as I hear the footsteps, closer now, I tense and suck in a breath only to exhale on a sob when Dirk says, “Where the fuck is she?”

“D-Dirk,” I say and the bushes part above me.

I’ve never been so happy to see him in my life, and I raise my arm as he says, his dark eyes wide, “What happened, baby girl?”

“Th-They…” I whisper as he grabs for my hand.

“C’mon,” he says.

“They jumped me,” I sob. “Danny. Buck. They might come back.Hurry.”

Dirk’s brow darkens and I shrink away as he glances around, his lips pulled back in a snarl.

After a tense moment, he drops to his knees and says, “Okay, let’s get you out of there.”

“Okay,” I whimper but when he grabs my arm to help me sit up, I cry out and he drops back, his dark pupils expanding as he takes me in.

His eyes roll over my face before stopping on my arm wrapped around my ribs and he rasps, “Fuck, baby girl. Who did this to you?”

Forcing my body to move, I crawl from the bushes and into his arms. “Please. Get me out of here.”

Chapter 33

THEN

Lauren

A few weeks later, I’m still spiraling.

It’s been the day from hell, and I know if I go home, it will be to another evening of brooding about shit I can’t change while Mom hides behind her bitchy facade and Buck disappears to god knows where.

Earlier, I walked away from another fight between my parents and when my dad slowly shut the door in my face, I saw the look in his eyes, which if I’m honest scared the shit out of me.

In some ways, I think he’s already checked out and I don’t know what that means for me. Will I be erased as easily as he seems to have forgotten about his vows?

Now I’m at Caro’s house because once again, I don’t want to be home.

As usual she’s already flying high when I pick her up and grateful for the distraction, I listen to her retell a story from school yesterday.

This party happens to be at the same house where I met Dirk for the first time, and I prepare myself mentally for his shitty attitude as we pull up to the place, even though he may not be here.

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