Page 15 of Broken By The Devil

“Kade will certainly have a hard time looking elsewhere,” she chuckles. Why did she have to say his name? All I’ve been thinking about is the arrogant asshole. The filthy things he said the other day playing over and over in my head. I want him to do those things to me. That’s what scares me the most. I can’t let him, at least not yet. I want to tell him, I want to feel his embrace, I want to feel safe. Something presses in on me, telling me that he is my safety. I crave it more than anything—to be safe.

We finally leave the store an hour later, Cara finally finding a dress for herself, until she announces “Oh wait I need underwear to go with it”. We are never leaving this mall, I’m going to die here.

I’m no stranger to underwear, but some of the things in here couldn’t even pass for underwear. The lace, the strings, the tassels. Do women wear this stuff?

“Well, well, well, I didn’t expect to see trash inside the store, I just saw them take it out.” I know the voice before I turn around. Bree is standing there with various red sets in her hands. Her bleached hair draped over her shoulders, and her fake lashes are hanging on by a thread. I don’t give her any attention, that’s what she’s after.

“I was just picking up some things to wear for Kade, he loves to see me in red. Not that it’s on for long, he tends to rip them off without a warning.” She giggles in the fake way that she normally does.

The image of me ripping out her extensions comes into my head unwarranted. It makes me happy. One day it’ll happen, I keep telling myself. I don’t have the energy for her today, so I’m thankful when Cara takes over the narrative.

“We all know Kade doesn’t want you anymore Bree. He practically announced it during briefing that you were a good fuck that’s all.” I’m so thankful for Cara in that moment. Bree brings out a jealousy in me that I don’t recognise, it’s completely foreign to me. I don’t like how unpredictable it is, like I could lunge for her at any moment, and knock her out completely without a thought for the consequences.

“We’ll see,” Bree counters and heads towards the cashier desk.

Cara can see the anger on my face when she tries to reassure me, “He doesn’t want her Em, he’s not interested and hasn’t been for a while, even before you came here.”

I know that. I know everything Cara has just said is true but that little voice is back in my head, taunting me with truth. Why would he want you? You’ve been used almost your whole life, you’re damaged and broken. He doesn’t want you.

I need to get out of here. Tomorrow is going to be hard enough without my insane jealousy taking over. I just have to take it one step at a time. A day at work, visit my sister, and then deal with the upcoming charity event, where I’ll be pranced around like some kind of show horse. Will I ever get a break from reality?

KADE

Today is the anniversary of Emilia’s sister’s death and I’m gearing up to see her tonight at the grave. I don’t know how she’s going to react when I come out of the shadows, but I’m hoping to get some answers tonight.

My thoughts are completely disturbed when Bree comes into the office. I made the biggest mistake of my life fucking this woman. Yes, it was good at the time, but it was not worth all the aggravation I got afterwards. She’s obsessed with me. She can’t understand why I don’t want her.

Bree closes the door behind her and starts to unbutton her shirt, exposing her red lace bra underneath. I roll my eyes at her in astonishment, what more can I say to get her away from me?

“Bree, what the hell are you doing? Button your shirt and kindly leave my office, I’m not interested.”

“Why? Why are you not interested Kade? You seemed fine to fuck me a few weeks ago but you can’t now? This is because of her isn’t it? You want her, but not me.”

“That’s not the point, I just don’t want you. I didn’t want you even before she transferred in… now get out of my office before I write you up.”

I watch as Bree storms up to the door but doesn’t open it right away, “What is she going to think when she sees me walking out of your office doing up my shirt, I wonder… it’s not going to look good for you Kade.”

“Bree… don’t⁠—”

Before I can do anything, she pulls open the door, meets Emilia’s gaze straight away and smirks at her. Shit. She’s not just angry, she’s seething. She’s like a feral animal before she jumps up from her chair and leaves the report room.

I was hoping for a civil conversation tonight, but I know that’s not going to happen now. At least I know how she feels about me, the pure hatred she directs at Bree stems from jealousy. She wants me but she won’t open up to me. I might have to alter the plan for tonight, I’ll stay behind the shadows and observe, maybe she’ll say something of value.

I get to the cemetery before her and find a spot behind a tree that’s quite close to Thea’s grave. I don’t feel good about this, but she won’t tell me anything, she’s left me no choice.

Viper turns up in jeans and a T-shirt, all black of course, the most casual I’ve seen her since the day we met. She has a bunch of flowers with her, full of vibrant colour, a stark contradiction to everything I know about her.

She kneels down close to the grave and places the flowers at the foot of the stone. She starts to talk and I just watch and listen.

“Hi Thea, I’m sorry it’s been so long since I last came here, and I know I say that every time, but it’s the truth, I am sorry, I should visit more, it’s just hard.” She exhales a loose breath like she’s going to start crying. She sits there, just staring at the grave, not saying anything, gently rocking herself back and forth.

“I can’t do this, I’m so tired of fighting, I can’t do it anymore. How could you leave me here Thea! How could you not tell me? I would have understood, I would have helped you, I would have been there for you! I’m alone in this world now Thea. I needed you! I still need you, and you’re not here!”

I can’t sit here and do nothing whilst listening to her heart breaking. I have to go to her, to offer her some comfort. I can’t see her like this, so vulnerable, broken and defeated. I can’t let her know I’m here though, it’ll only make things worse, so I stay put and observe.

“You didn’t just leave me Thea, you took mom with you too! I have no one in this world anymore. I know what he did to you, I know what you went through, because as soon as you left me, he started doing it to me too. He’s left his disgusting imprint on this family and it won’t go away,” she sobs.

Whoever she is talking about right now, is dead. I just need a name. Tell me his name Viper, please.