Chapter 14
But Everett didn’t leave.
He rented an apartment near my job and started showing up everywhere I went–every day, with a new excuse, a new trick. [
Like he was determined to wear me down if it took his whole damn life.[]
A month of that.
Then one Monday morning, I got flowers at work. []
I rolled my eyes, thinking Everett was at it again.[]
Turned out.. they were from Mr. Declan–my creative director.
I tried to play dumb, but that evening, when I was clocking out, he caught me at the elevator.[]
And confessed his feelings.
I turned him down.]
Told him I’d just gotten out of something ugly, and I wasn’t ready to get involved again.[]
But Declan just held my hand and looked me right in the eye.]
He said he’d wait.]}
And that’s exactly when Everett showed up.
He stormed in and punched Declan so hard, he dropped like a sack of bricks.]
He looked like he was out for blood.]
I froze.
Declan, thankfully, chose not to press charges–mostly because I begged him not
to:
After he left, Everett stood there, breathing like a wild animal, eyes blazing with rage.
I didn’t say a word. Just turned and walked away.
But then he grabbed me.
Wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my shoulder.[]
His voice was barely a whisper. []
“Please… don’t fall for someone else. I’m begging you.”
“Just… show me some mercy.”
That’s when I realized something was wrong.
He looked sick. Pale. Gaunt. Like he hadn’t slept or eaten in days.
I sighed, against my better judgment. “What’s wrong with you?”
His voice was raw.
Chapter 14
“The mission’s almost over. I’ve only got a month left.“[]
Then it hit me.]
“What happens if you fail?“[]
He was quiet for a long time.]
Then finally-“I get wiped out. Erased.“[]
He looked me in the eye. Broken. Hollow.
“Sloane… if I’m about to die, can’t you at least not hate me so much?“[]
(0)
