Cara decided silence was her friend. By this time, Wes should wonder what was taking her so long. Someone must have seen her coming to the cellar.
“Are you fucking him?” Colin’s voice was harsh.
“Of course—” she struggled to speak through her dry lips, “not.”
“You kissed him the other night. I saw you.”
A shiver of revulsion went through Cara. He’d been the one watching the whole time. Her temper rose, but she forced herself to control it. She needed to stay calm and find a way to get away from him. “It was just kissing.”
He cocked his head considering, but his hand was like a manacle on her wrist.
"Did you know I was watching? Were you trying to make me jealous?”
She shook her head vehemently, the hair that had come loose from her ponytail hitting her cheeks.
“Why did you call me a stalker?” Colin had the nerve to sound hurt “A stalker is someone who bothers someone. You liked my attention. I know you did.” Cara didn’t answer. “Didn’t you?” he barked, bending her wrist painfully.
Cara nodded—she had to buy time. Declan should have arrived. When Wes couldn’t find her, he’d tell her brother, and Declan would rip the place apart brick by brick if he had to.
“I want to hear you say it. That you liked it,” he clarified.
Acid rose bitter in Cara’s throat. “I liked it.”
He smiled satisfied. “I could tell. The way you put on a show for the computer.”
Nausea swamped Cara. It had been bad enough knowing a stranger had seen her in those intimate moments, but now that she knew it was Colin…
“Why didn’t you just say something to me?”
“It’s more romantic this way,” Colin pouted. “Besides, I know Erik is going to be difficult when he finds out about us. That’s why I stole the pictures off Amara’s phone. I thought he wouldn’t want you after that.” His eyes darkened. “But you still didn’t come to me!”
“I was frightened, Colin. I didn’t know who it was…”
In one swift movement, he grabbed her ponytail at the base and twisted her head at an uncomfortable angle.
“You want a more direct approach? Would you like that better?”
She cried out when he grabbed her breast and twisted.
“No! Colin! Stop!”
“Erik always said you were boring, but I know we will be perfect together,” he said, right before he smashed his mouth against hers. When she clenched her teeth to block his tongue, Colin released her breast to grip her jaw again, forcing her mouth open.
She gagged at the first touch of his tongue, then bit down as hard as she could. Colin cried out and released her. Trying not to throw up at the taste of blood in her mouth, Cara ran for the door, screaming as loud as she could.
He caught her from behind. “Why are you fighting me? I love you! Enough!” he roared, before yanking her to the floor by her hair. All traces of the friend she had known disappeared from Colin’s eyes, leaving a dark void.
He was going to kill her. Through her panic, she heard thudding against the thick door, but Cara’s entire existence was focused on getting Colin’s slimy mouth off of hers and preventing him from pinning her to the ground. She clawed at his hands, where they fought to get around her throat.
“Stop screaming! We belong together. We’ve always belonged together.”
She saw him pull his arm back, and then only felt fire as his fist connected with her jaw. Stunned, her hands fell momentarily away, but it was enough for Colin to wrap his hands around her throat. His thumbs pressed against her windpipe, cutting off her scream. Cara thought she heard people yelling her name, but it was too late.
“It’s just you and me now. We will be together forever.” The view of Colin’s lips, pulled back in an obscene smile, fuzzed in front of her eyes.
Wes.
There was a crash and more yelling as she tried to stay conscious.
