Page 98 of The Devil We Crave
That just makes me feel evenlessa De Luca and more a victim. Ihatethat.
There has to be another way to get him.
You could always tell your father…
My jaw tightens. Yes, I could. And if I did, you could count Kyle’s life expectancy inminutes. But I’m not going to.
Because if I tell anyone, I really do become a victim. Someone to feel sorry for. A sad, cautionary tale.
Worse, to my parents, I'd become broken. I know it wouldn’t change their love for meat all. I know they’d still support me and love me as hard as they could. But I know I’d become something else to them.
Even though they had nothing to do with what happened, Iknowthey’d blame themselves for it, and I’d spend the rest of my life trying to convince them they didn’t let me down.
I’m not doing that to them or to myself.
So, no telling Dad, as elegant a solution as that would be. But there has to besomethingI can do.Some wayI can get to that motherfucker and?—
A sound behind me yanks me out of my thoughts of revenge, and I whirl with a sharp gasp.
But there’s nothing there.
I shiver, clutching the bag of saltwater taffy that I got at the candy shop around the corner because Ariannaloves itand couldn’t come to town tonight because she had a paper to write. Then I quickly walk out of the dim parking lot, rushing around the corner of the next building. I spot my friends up ahead, and I take another shaky breath, trying to purge the Kyle encounter from my system.
It’s in the past.
Fuck him.
He doesn’t own you.
Instead, I replay what happened the other night in my room.
With Achilles.
A heated flush creeps up my neck as I run up behind Galina, Wren, and Lucia.
“Ofcourseshe is,” Galina laughs. “I’m not saying that to be a bitch, I just … I mean, c’mon, it’s Arianna.”
I cock a brow as I butt in. “What are we talking about?”
“Hey!” Wren whirls in surprise. “Where the hell did you just come from?”
I smile sheepishly and hold up the bag of saltwater taffy. “Ari’s favorite.”
“Aww, you’re the sweetest,” Lucia sighs.
Wren rolls her eyes. “Dude, you've already won the best friend in history award for taking care ofmydrunk ass all the time.”
I hug her and offer them all some of the candy—I mean, I gotplenty.
“Wait, so what about Arianna?”
Galina shrugs. “She’s a virgin.”
I snort. “Are we in an 80’s teen movie?”
They all crack up.
Wren giggles. “You’re so on the nose it’s hilarious. While you were at the candy store, we walked by the Elm Theater. They’re doing an 80’s horror movie marathon soon, and the first one is “Camp Moon Virgin Slayer”.
