43. Lily

Chapter 43

Lily

I stared at myself in the mirror. I’d decided to wear a knee-length pink sundress and leave my hair to spill around me. I was going to see Caleb at Ray’s after I finished talking to Brandon, so I wanted to look good just in case one of my Fallen Ones showed up.

Feeling good about my decision, I grabbed my purse and set the directions out of town to the address Brandon had sent. I’d tried again the day before to get him to free up some time to talk to me, but he insisted on seeing me.

I almost messaged him to just do it over the phone, but I figured it was rude and I wouldn’t want someone to tell me that way, so I wouldn’t do it to them either.

Deciding I wanted Caleb to know where I was just in case something happened, which I couldn’t imagine because this was just a simple I’m done and gone situation, I sent him a text.

Lily: Hey, I’m going to this cabin outside the city on the lake with Brandon. I’m telling him I don’t want to see him anymore. Figured I’d tell you just in case I die.

I added a laughing emoji to offset my words. Dying here wasn’t something I thought would happen. Sure, he might be a jerk about me telling him I was done, but it wasn’t like we were serious or anything.

I took the directions the GPS gave me and finally pulled into a pretty cabin on the lake. It wasn’t terribly far outside the city, so that made me feel better about the distance home. My phone had buzzed with a message from Caleb, but I didn’t look at it. All I wanted to do was get this over with. We could talk when I got back.

I tucked my phone into my purse and got out. Brandon’s car was already parked in the driveway, so I walked to the door and knocked. He answered immediately.

“You’re late,” he said, an edge to his voice.

“Sorry. I made a wrong turn?—”

“GPS is pretty easy to follow,” he snapped back. “A fucking dog could find its way.”

My face heated at his words, making me grateful this was coming to an end. Any doubts I may have had were now gone.

I stepped past him into the house but didn’t follow him in.

He turned and looked at me.

“You coming?”

I bit my bottom lip and exhaled.

“No. Actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to you?—”

“Then come talk to me in the living room where we can sit.”

I hesitated for a moment before following him in and sitting on the couch next to him. He handed me a drink in a glass.

I sipped at it quickly, needing the hydration since my mouth had become dry. It tasted a little off, but I figured it was because it was just a drink I wasn’t familiar with.

“What do you want to talk about?” he asked, his gaze darting to my chest then to my legs and back up to my face. There was a glimmer in his eyes that made me suddenly uncomfortable.

I finished my drink and placed the glass back on the coffee table.

“Uh, I wanted to tell you in person that this isn’t working out and we shouldn’t see each other anymore.” The words came out fast and low as I watched his face morph from calm to outright furious.

“What?” he snarled, his glare hardening.

I shrank away from him.

“I-I just don’t think we’re good together?—”

“I fucking decide if we’re good together.” He reached for me, but I jumped to my feet, my heart banging hard. He followed, stalking toward me as I stumbled and tried to back away from him.

He had me against a wall and gripped my face tightly and gave me a violent shake. I cried out, tears flooding my cheeks.

“I have invested time and money into you. That wasn’t for fucking free. I want what’s owed to me.”

“I-I’ll pay you back,” I choked out. “However much everything costs.”

He crushed his lips against mine before biting down hard on my bottom lip. I screamed in pain as I tasted my blood rush into my mouth.

“I don’t want your fucking money, you worthless whore.” He wrapped his hand around my throat and choked me, cutting off my air. I clawed at his hands, my vision dotting with black starlight.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe!

Just when I thought I’d pass out, he threw me to the ground. I landed hard, letting out a cry as my knees hit the hardwood floor. The pain raced through me as I tried to swallow mouthfuls of sweet oxygen, my head spinning.

Clumsily, I tried to crawl away from him to get to safety. I didn’t even know if such a place existed. All I needed to do was get to my phone. I’d call Caleb. He’d come. Caleb would save me.

Brandon’s boot landed in my ribs, sending me careening to the floor, the pain unbearable and taking my breath with it. I choked on the floor, desperate for air as he kicked me again.

I could still taste the blood in my mouth from his bite. The dizziness intensified, making my stomach twist with nausea.

This was more than my beating. This was something else entirely. Briefly, I thought about the drink I’d just had.

Drugs.

He’d drugged me.

He’d planned this.

I clutched my ribs as he kicked me again before he went to his knees and shoved my legs viciously apart.

“N-No,” I choked out.

The memory of me telling Caleb I needed to be forced flooded my brain.

Not like this. God, not like this.

“You don’t fucking tell me no. No one tells me no!” He hit me hard across my face, making my head snap to the side. I fought and struggled beneath him best I could, earning more hits from him.

I wasn’t going to win this. I knew it as he finally pinned my arms over my head and shoved my dress up and tore my panties off.

I wept beneath him, completely dazed and incoherent. My words came out slurred. The room had black edges to it as I tried to stay conscious.

Caleb. I never got to say goodbye.

Jace. I never got to say I was sorry and I still care.

Damien. My brother. I never got to tell him he brought me to life just by being near…

Brandon’s cock pressed against my pussy.

I sobbed harder, my strength gone as he called me more names, laughing as he did so.

Then his weight was shifted before disappearing.

I heard a crash. Swearing. The room spun as there was a scream and a crack, like a bone breaking.

Deep, rumbling voices.

Warm arms lifting me.

I cracked my eyelids open and peered into a skeleton mask.

My breath caught as I realized they’d come for me. They were here to save me. A sob erupted from me as I tried to cling to the one of my guys.

He cradled me close to his body, his deep, gravelly voice begging me to stay awake. To stay with him.

“Don’t go,” he rasped. “Stay, Lily. Stay. Don’t close your eyes. Fuck!”

I tried so hard, but the darkness was closing in as more screams echoed around me.

And then…darkness.