Page 89 of Merciless

Shaking off the question, I tap my finger against my phone and look at the image he sent.

What will it take for you to not send that screenshot to my mom?

You and your brother. I want to see you two fucking.

You’re just going to use it against me.

It’s that or I send the picture of you and him to your mom.

Your choice.

I stare at the message in horror.

He wants me to beg. To scramble and plead that he won’t ruin any more of my life.

I refuse to give that to him. He’ll get off on it and push me to sleep with my brother anyway.

“So that’s who you’ve been talking to,” a deep voice says behind me.

I jump and shove my phone into my pocket as I turn around. Elijah’s face hovers inches away from mine, so close that his breath tickles my lips.

“Where did you come from?” I step back.

“I saw you leave, so I followed you.” He straightens and slips his hands into his pockets. His gaze slides to my hidden phone like he’s still able to read the messages between me and the nameless man.

“How long has he been messaging you?” he says.

“You weren’t supposed to read those.”

He raises an eyebrow. “I’m supposed to help you with the bullying. I can’t do that if you’re hiding any form of it from me.”

Letting out a breath, I avert my gaze. “It’s embarrassing.” I can’t believe I just admitted that to him, but I can’t stop myself from the word vomit. “I don’t know who he is, but he’s been texting me for some time. There’s really no way you can help me with this.”

“Is it just texting?”

My gaze snaps back to him, and I nod. I can’t admit that the person on the other side has been visiting me during the night.

“Have you blocked his number?”

“Yeah, and he keeps changing it so his texts go through.”

“What else has he said?”

“How much did you read?”

Elijah frowns. “That he wants to see us together. What else?”

“I don’t like that he’s bringing you into this.”

“Give me your phone, birdie.” He holds out his hand.

I quickly shake my head. “No.”

He steps closer and tilts his head. “Remember that I’m on your side.”

My heart hammers so hard that I can hear it. My knees wobble, and I sink further away from him.

“I don’t want you to see everything he sent,” I say. “Just tell me what we can do to make him stop.”