Page 25 of Hate So Deep
“He did?” I whisper. Did I leave with Dirk?
Then how did I get home and why was I covered in blood when I woke up?
“You need to ask him. Unless…”
When she pauses, I turn to her. After a moment she dips her chin and says, “Do you thinkhedid something to you?”
“No.”
I really don’t but am I being stupid?
Chapter 9
THEN
Lauren
By the following weekend, I’m going out of my skin. Buck came home in a rage last night and nothing anyone could do brought him out of it.
Eventually Dad ordered him to his room which devolved into another shouting match that I avoided by stepping outside.
With every passing day it feels as though we’re closer to imploding and anymore I’m not sure why we’re avoiding the fallout.
Thank god, Caro reached out about a party and after a few drinks, the tension constantly stiffening my spine finally starts to relax.
Although I needed the reprieve from the shit storm at home, I’m not feeling the vibe here, so when Rocket asks if I want to go somewhere quieter, I agree.
We’re passing through the yard when my neck starts to tingle, and I look up meeting Dirk’s gaze.
A thrill rushes through me as his eyes go wide before narrowing. When he glances at the blonde beside him and nods to the door, I avert my head, watching while he approaches with a lazy smile that does not reach his eyes.
“I thought we had this conversation, baby girl?” he drawls as he stops beside me.
Rocket looks over Dirk with a frown and says, “Evans.”
“Pollack,” Dirk grunts, tipping his head.
With the manly greetings out of the way, Caro grabs Rocket’s arm and backs away. When I meet her wide eyes with a frown, she just shrugs and keeps going until it’s just Dirk and I standing under a tree.
“Well?” Dirk says and I silently sigh.
It’s been a hellish week and I’m not up for the challenge but I’m quite sure Dirk doesn’t care beyond bullying me into leaving.
Why is a mystery that I can unravel on a different day.
“Just leave me alone,” I mumble and his brows furrow while he searches my expression.
Whatever he sees inspires him to grab my arm, leading me into the darkness of the yard and I groan when we stop beside a small outdoor shed, and he swings to me.
“That dick do something?” he growls, and I scrunch my nose.
Huh?
Before I can respond, he continues, “I told you this ain’t no place for Academy.”
Shaking my head, I mutter, “If you’re talking about Rocket, no he didn’t do anything and for the last fucking time, what I do is none of your goddamn business.”
When his nostrils flare, I mentally prepare myself for the barrage and I’m not wrong when he says, “Maybe you want to play on the wild side, hm? How about you ask daddy for a Ferrari instead.”
