Hate So Good: A High School Bully Romance (The Hate Series Book 2) Nina Lincoln (latest novels to read TXT) 📖

Colt, I gaze into his beautiful grey eyes, wondering if this is the last time I’ll see him alive. How foolish to believe this was over. I should never have taken the events that lead us to Nate seriously, and now Colt may die because of it.

Unless Nate somehow posted bail. But why? Why me? Fuck.

“I love you,” I whisper to Colt, smiling tremulously when he says, “Oh Princess, I love you, too.”

With a grimace, he grabs my hand and squeezes, flinching at the movement and staring at all the blood, I shudder. He’s going to die without medical intervention, and there’s nothing I can do.

I don’t want to leave him, but if I stay, someone else could get hurt. It’s me this piece of shit wants.

“Not gonna happen,” Dirk says and lunges, shouting, “now!”

Without thought, I spring to my feet and run for the trees, refusing to look back. This could be the last time I see Colt.

After this, one or both of us could be dead, and I’m leaving him, but maybe if I do, the threat for them all will leave with me. Please let them be okay.

Rushing through the trees, I ignore the branches slapping at my face, racing between obstacles by the light of the moon as I sob under my breath, “Please let him be okay.”

After a few hundred yards, I stop to catch my breath, bending over to clutch my knees. This was a bad idea. I need to go back. What if Colt dies?

Turning, I freeze when something steps behind me, blocking out the moonlight, and with a cold chill down my spine, I whimper and take off again, racing through the bushes.

Branches slap at my face, twigs break under my shoes, but with a stitch in my side, I keep going, desperately trying to get my breathing under control.

On and on I go until I can’t any longer.

Slowing to a walk, I glance around, moving forward at a shuffling pace even though I want to give up and curl into a ball and cry. My chest aches from the exertion, and it’s really fucking dark.

I don’t know where I am, and I’m alone. I don’t even have the GPS, and I could be heading in the wrong direction.

I’m screwed.

Chapter Thirteen

Pick up the damn pace. You wanted to fucking camp. This is camping. 

Dad, I’m tired.

I don’t fucking care! God!

Sniffling, I glance around wearily, wishing I had never agreed to go on this trip. Dad’s been angry since we got here, and nothing I do is right.

A burst of pain shoots up my leg as I trip over a broken log, and falling to the ground, I burst into tears.

Goddamnit! You’re a fucking nuisance! I’m done. You hear me? Done!

He walks away with long strides as I sit on the forest floor and clutch my knee.

Dad? I ask tremulously, but he doesn’t turn.

Standing, I limp after him, but he’s too fast, and soon I can’t even see his form in the distance.

Dropping to the ground again, I sob out a breath, my chest aching with regret and rage. 

What does he want from me?

Shakily, I wipe my face and stand, walking in the direction I last saw him. 

He left me alone. I’m alone, and it’s getting dark and scary. 

Settling on a log, I cover my face and shudder. I’ve been walking for what feels like hours, but there’s no one anywhere. I’m tired and thirsty and hungry. I could quickly die out here, and I don’t even know if my fan is still pursuing me.

I’m fucked, and with each step I take, I spiral further down the hole of memories of my dad, except this time, he’s not here, and the specter of someone who’s just as self-centered and evil is stalking me.

I don’t know what to do, but I know I have to keep going. Desperately I try to remember all the things Dad drilled into my head, remembering snippets here and there as I continue my trek.

It’s pitch black, so I don’t have the sun as a guide, meaning I could be headed in the wrong direction, but I could be a sitting duck if I wait.

Instead, I feel like I’m walking in circles and wasting my energy.

Fuck. Dropping to my knees when I step in something I can’t see, I sob, giving in to the hopelessness. This is all so fucked.

A twig snaps behind me, and I glance around before everything goes dark.

*****

Slowly I come to, my head throbbing painfully. My arms are stretched over my shoulders, and I meet resistance when I try to move them. Tugging, I open my eyes and look around.

I can’t move because my wrists are tied to a cord that stretches above my head, connected to a ring in the dirt.

Wrapping my hands around the cord, I tug and look down, realizing both my hands and feet are bound. I’m staked to the fucking ground.

A small fire burns beside me, heating my right side, but I’m shivering from the chill just the same.

My head aches, a dull throb beating behind my eyes as I fight nausea and take in my surroundings. I’m in a small clearing, nestled between the trees, nothing but the flames of the fire to comfort me.

I’m alone, but for how long?

Shit. Wrenching on my wrist, I wince as pain shoots down my arm, they’re tied tightly, and I’m only chafing them. Experimentally, I tug on my ankles, but they’re bound tightly as well - not only that, but my shoes are missing, my toes icy cold.

Curling them in, I search around wildly, bile roiling in my stomach, which I will back because I’m afraid I might choke on it, only to chuff out a hysterical laugh. Wouldn’t that be ironic? Death by vomit. Take that dick.

On the heels of my pathetic humor comes despair.

I’m trapped and staked to the fucking ground. He’s won. There’s nothing I can do except hope Colt lives. Otherwise, I will have wasted my chance