Page 94 of Bitter Lies

“Yes, you will,” he says, looming over me with a snarl.

“No,” I insist because I can’t fathom doing this.

I can’t. Griffin and I are already so far apart, taking the necklace when it’s already a sore fucking spot would be the end, and pathetically, pitifully, I can’t imagine the end even though I know it’s already here.

But no matter what happens, I’m fucked because I can stare into Max’s eyes and say no and face the consequences, or I can lose any hope I ever had of seeing love behind Griffin’s eyes.

“Why do you even think the necklace would be here?”

“Because this is where his mom keeps her valuables. He told me once."

He paces away, and I rub my aching arms as I watch him helplessly. The longer we speak, the more agitated he becomes, and I’m starting to regret entering the room alone. I should have been more careful because I’ve put myself in another fucking situation in which I have no control.

I guess Max doesn’t know I still had the necklace and only recently gave it back to Griffin. It’s entirely likely it’s still at the house near campus, in which case, this was a futile quest, but maybe if I pretend to do as he asks, I can get out of this.

At this point, I’ll worry about the money I need later because anything to do with Patch gives me hives anyway. Nothing good can come from this, especially if Max’s creepy friend is involved.

“Max, if she stores her valuables here, they’re probably locked up.”

“Yeah, well, just show Griffin your fucking twat, and I’m sure he’ll open it up for you,” he sneers.

Bewildered, I stare at my brother, once more confused by where my sweet sibling went. Besides, he’s clearly delusional if he thinks I can seduce Griffin into anything. And even if I could, then what? I grab the necklace under his nose?

“Max, Griffin hates me. We’ve established this. He’s not going to randomly open his mom’s safe because I ask nicely.”

“I don’t care how you do it! Just do it!” he screams, the tendons in his neck standing on end.

“Max—”

“He’ll do whatever you want. He always has. Tell him you want the fucking necklace back if you have to.”

“You’re not making any sense. Griffin can’t even stand to look at me. He’s not going to give me the necklace or anything else! Why is this so hard to understand?”

“Because it’s a lie! He’s wanted you since we were twelve fucking years old. It’s always been you. Don’t you get it?”

“If that’s true, then why hasn’t he just asked me?” I scream back, frustrated.

“Because you fucked Bobby Moore!”

“Really?” I huff. “I didn’t fucking sleep with that fucker.”

“Whatever,” he says, shaking his head and gripping the back of his neck. “If you don’t get the necklace, I’m dead. Do you want me to die, Halsey?”

The quiet desperation in his tone makes my heart clench tightly, and slowly I shake my head and whisper, “No.”

“Then, you have to get it for me.”

“Can’t we do something else? Anything?”

“No!” he screams, barreling toward me and pushing me to the floor before sitting on top of me and grabbing my neck.

My pulse is pounding so heavily, I can feel it in my head as he squeezes just enough to scare me. I buck under him and flail wildly, caught in my nightmare for a minute as I lose sight of Max above me.

It’s cold, and it hurts so fucking much. The stars mock me from the sky, their brilliance at odds with the dull feeling in my chest.

“You’ll get the damn necklace!” he rages, bringing me back to the present, and closing my eyes against his anger, I grab his hands desperately, but for my efforts, he just squeezes tighter.

“Do you understand?” His eyes are black and unfocused.

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