CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

COLE

I wake hearing loud voices. I make my way down to the office and crack the door open. My father stands behind his desk.

My mom sits in one of his black leather chairs. Tears run down her cheeks.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispers.

He runs a hand down his face. “Is it even mine?”

She sniffs. “I don’t know …”

“How long have you been fucking him?” he growls.

“I didn’t ….”

He slams his fists down on the table. “You’re fucking pregnant, Betty!”

“He raped me,” she cries.

“Because you let him.” He slaps her across the face.

I go running in. “Mom!”

“Get the fuck out of here, Cole!” my father growls.

“Go, Cole.” She shoves me out of the room and shuts the door. I place my ear against it and listen.

“Fuck! How could you let this happen?” he demands. “Now, you’re just another broken bitch. Like all the rest.”

“I’m leaving, and I’m taking Cole with me,” she says, ignoring his words.

“You’re not going anywhere. And you sure as hell aren’t taking my son with you.”

“You’re not gonna put your hands on me,” she snaps.

“I’ll do whatever I damn well please.” I hear him slap her again, and I try to open the door, but it’s locked. She cries out.

“Mom!” I say, pounding my fist on the door. “Mom, open the door.”

“You think I’m gonna let you leave me? You think I’m gonna let this town think you fucked another man who didn’t fucking want you or his child?” His voice rises. “You and Cole will stay where you belong. Under my roof. Under my fucking control.”

“I don’t need you,” she shouts angrily. “We don’t need you.”

I hear books crashing to the floor and her strangled cry. “You’re right,” he growls. “You don’t. But if you walk out that door, I will take Cole from you and this baby as well. I will dump you out in the mud with nothing but the clothes on your back. You may have come from money, but I hold all the power in this house.”

I stand in the loft, facing the bed. The front door slamming pulls me out of my memory. The sound of Austin leaving me. She deserves better. Someone who isn’t so fucked up. A man who treats her better than every other fucking bastard in her family.

I run a hand through my hair. My head pounding.

I hurt her. And the worst part is that I liked it. My body physically craved her to a point it was unhealthy. Her cries. Her tears. I fucking took and took. And she didn’t stop me. Why would she? I told her what I wanted to do to her, and she willingly challenged me. She was testing me. And I failed her.

I’ve become my father. The man I despise.

He destroyed my mother. He quit loving her and gave up on her, but I never did. I loved her so much. It didn’t matter that he thought she was broken. To me, that made her special. She was a fighter. Just like Austin is.

Reaching down, I grab the empty bottle of Jack and throw it at the far wall with a shout. It shatters into a million fucking pieces.

My heart pounds in my chest, and I’m gasping for air. That pounding in my head intensifies, making my ears ring. I charge into the bathroom and open the cabinet. Grabbing a couple of Advil, I turn the sink on, cup my hand, and swallow some water to take them. Hoping they will dull the pain enough for me to think straight. To figure out what to do.

Deke was right, once again. Bastard! She’s not safe at her dad’s house. She’s not safe with me either. And she can’t go back to her mom’s.

What are you gonna do about it?

I should protect her. I can protect her. That’s what a man does.

She looked at me as if I planned all of this. My sick game. That I had a vendetta against her from day one due to what her father did to my mother. It wasn’t about that. It wasn’t her fault. Just like it was never Lilly’s fault.

My phone rings in the other room, and I make my way to it. Deke lights up my screen.

“What?” I bark. I’m pissed at him even if he was right. She deserved to know her life is in danger.

“She went home, Cole!” My jaw tightens. “I tried to stop her—”

“You should have fucking forced her,” I snap, interrupting him.

He sighs. “The thought crossed my mind, but Becky was right there. I couldn’t …”

“Couldn’t what?” I question when he trails off.

“Hurt her.”

AUSTIN

“I’m going home,” I tell Deke as we stand outside the clubhouse.

“No, you can’t …”

“I need answers.” And we both know that Cole isn’t going to give them.

“I won’t let you.” Deke comes to stand in front of me. He’s crossed his arms over his broad chest and glares down at me.

At one time, I feared Deke, but that time has passed. “I’m not going to stay with Becky because I’m not going to risk her life. And you’re not going to either.” With that, I yank open my door and get into my car. And take off.

I storm into my father’s house. “Dad? Dad?” I shout.

“What the hell …?” Celeste comes running down the hall. “What happened to you?” she asks wide-eyed, looking over my neck at the bruises and hickeys Cole gave me.

“Where’s my father?” I ask, ignoring her concern.

“He left for Florida earlier this morning. Why? Is something wrong?”

“I know.” I cut to the chase. I’m not in the mood for small talk. I’m fucking pissed.

Her already big eyes grow bigger, and her face pales. “Austin ...”

“I fucking know,” I shout. “You think you could keep that from me?” I shake my head. Would they have ever told me that I had a sister? “That I wouldn’t find out?” I dig into my pocket and rip my phone out.

“What are you doing?” she asks in a panic.

“Calling him …”

The phone is ripped from my hand.

“Give me my phone,” I demand.

“You can’t,” she says as tears start to well in her brown eyes. “Please. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but then it happened again. And again.” Her first tear falls. “I’m so lonely,” she admits, and I stand confused for the second time tonight. She sniffs. “Cole came to me and told me to get him off your back. And I’ve tried, Austin.” She drops my phone and places her hands on my shoulders. “Please understand I’m trying. But Kellan won’t let it go.” She pulls me into her and buries her head into my chest and sobs. “I’m so sorry. I called out Cole’s name while I was with Kellan. Please forgive me.”

What. The. Fuck.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. Kellan wanted me to do it, so you would leave Cole. He wants to hurt him.” She sobs.

I pry her hands from my shoulders and take a step back from her.

“Kellan wants you out of the group. He knows you had something to do with Cole not doing his dare,” she rattles off, “but he can’t prove it. He was so mad that you outsmarted him.” She reaches up and wipes the tears from her face. “I told him you’re smarter than they are.”

Damn right I am.

But I’ve underestimated all of them, though. Even Cole.

“Austin, I …”

“I’m done with this conversation,” I say, interrupting her.

She swallows nervously. “Please. Please don’t tell Bruce.”

I look her in the eyes and smile. The terror on her face makes me want to laugh. “Your secret is safe with me.” Then I reach down, pick up my phone, and walk down the hallway and out the back door, wanting some fresh air.

_________________________________

I spent all day Saturday and Sunday relaxing in the pool. Celeste steered clear of me. If she wasn’t in her room, she was out. Probably fucking Kellan somewhere. At this point, I don’t care who she screws. My father raped a woman, got her pregnant, and then tried to kill her son. My father deserves to pay for that. And his trophy wife fucking a senior in high school isn’t enough if you ask me.

Cole blew up my phone Saturday night like he finally had something to say to me. I ignored them all. But I made sure to read his messages just so he would see that I saw them. He was on the top of my shit list. And it seemed to be growing by the second.

I spoke to Becky and told her that my father was out of town. His calls stopped after that. I only did it ’cause I knew she would tell Deke, and he would pass the message on to Cole.

Monday finally rolled around, and I got up, got ready, and drove myself to school. I sat down in first period and spoke to Becky like nothing ever happened. She stared at me like I needed to be admitted to a psych ward. I just smiled. Because in a way she was right. I officially no longer care about anything but revenge. I’m gonna do what they all did. Turn off my emotions and play the fucking game. Like I should have done from the beginning.