Page 82 of Pretty Lies

I stand straight, a manic chuckle spilling from me as I toss my hands in the air. “Otherwise, why do the things you do? Why hurt people? Why beat children and rape women? Why kill innocent people…it’s because deep down, you know that you’re a weak, pathetic, vile, and disgusting piece of shit. Because that’s what you are, Alan, just a giant shameful, ugly, piece of shit.”

We all stand in silence once I’m finished, my words still playing like final notes of a ballad in the air as Alan and I stare at one another, his son and his best friend behind my back. We’re a united front, one that Alan has tried multiple times to break apart, but it has only made us stronger, angrier, and a shit ton more vengeful.

“Ironic, isn’t it? You call me disgusting and shameful, but it’s you who spread your legs for your husband’s son and his friend. I wonder, do you feel like you’re looking in a mirror as you spew your words at me?”

My mind jumps to many different reactions to that, hitting him, shooting him, cutting his tongue out…but instead of all of those, it’s the bubble of laughter that pours from my lips that seems to be the perfect way to knock this prick down a peg. My giggles turn into a full on manic laughter which makes the guys chuckle behind me, making Alan turn into a fuming and snarling mess.

I wipe my eyes, and breathe deeply, “You could never be half the man Gio is, even at your age. As for Luce,” I walk backwards, stepping between both of my men, “he’s got so many demons that I can’t help both drop to my knees for him. I’ll happily spread my legs for both of them for the rest of my life, and you know why? Because they fuck me like they own me.”

Alan really begins to struggle, his eyes locked on Luce’s hand that wrapped around my waist, and Gio’s fingers laced with mine. It makes me feel sickly satisfied.

“Do you even know them, doll?” He snarls, his chest heaving, “Do you know that your Luce was molested by his own father who was a riglio nut job, forcing his own son to seek forgiveness on his knees?”

Luce stiffens beside me, frozen in shock as I swallow my gasp down, not wanting to give Alan an inch but also not wanting Luce to hear me, to think I see any less of him…

Gio steps forward with a growl, but I grip his wrist, holding him beside me as I snarl at Alan, “Whether that’s true or not, it doesn’t diminish him one bit to me. He’s still miles from the taint you put on me, he’s a hell of a lot better than me, the little doll you passed around. So, before you cast your stones upon my men, you better weigh your words very fucking carefully because its me who now stands above you.”

He yanks the binds again, but this time I step forward and back hand him as hard as I can, a scream on my lips. Flashes of every despicable thing this bastard has done to me comes barreling back to me like an fucking haunted doll; I throw the bitch out, and she pops right back up on the shelf.

The phantom feel of the unwanted touches grasp around my me like the cold wispy fingers of fog, the memory of gagging and begging for my life to end as the scent of Alan’s acid breath in my face as he rutted into me invades me has me spinning around and burrowing my face in one of my guy’s chests, inhaling deeply to bring myself out of the depths of those horrendous moments in my life…stained memories caused by this piece of garbage.

Luce’s scent fills me with each inhale, his hand on the back of my head keeping me from losing my mind.

“I think it’s Lexi’s turn to expel some of her demons, don’t you think, G?”

“Alan’s payment is overdue, I think it’s time he pays up.”

Both of their voices are so dark and hollow, as though they’re not the men I’ve come to know…come tolove.

I look up at Luce, finding his cold green eyes blazing with justice on my behalf, and I realize that I do in fact love this man. I think I’ve loved him since he tried to protect me in the car wreck, I’ve just been too blind to see it until now.

“Let me have your knife.” I hear myself say, but I have no recollection of deciding a single syllable.

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