Page 37 of Twisted Heathens
“Kade! Didn’t I say to cancel that fucking appointment?”
He’s close, marching up to the table with furious steps. That voice sends shivers right down my spine, earth-shatteringly familiar in its gruffness. My blood chills as my stomach drops to the floor. Oh, fuck me gently. It can’t be. The universe doesn’t hate me that much, surely?
With every ounce of willpower possible, I look up, taking in the man skidding to a halt beside his brother. Dark jeans ripped and t-shirt skin-tight, revealing chiselled abs that I know all too well. I trailed my tongue over them many times, tasting the salty tang of his sweat after we fucked like rabbits in the dark. He’s filled out, grown into his looks since the last time we spoke. Five whole years ago.
It still hurts like it was yesterday.
All noise falls away. The can in Hudson’s hand falls to the ground, his face slackening with absolute shock. His crystal-clear blue eyes go so wide, it’s almost comical. The new eyebrow piercing disappears into his shock of dark hair. Locks I used to tangle my fingers in. Plump lips that used to worship me in the dead of night, when they weren’t whispering lies and manipulations to control me further. His corrupted soul took everything from me.
This can’t be happening.
Ever so gently, I set my fork down. A strange sense of calm is quickly descending. I’ve waited for this day, dreamt about it night after night while nursing my shattered heart. Plotting my revenge if I ever saw his face again. I stuffed the feelings so goddamn deep, they sank into the pits of my heart and poisoned everything around them. The memories haunted me for years to come, in every guy that followed him. He ruined them all for me.
“W-wha… Brooke?”
The table descends into heavy silence, all eyes on me. Kade’s glancing between the two of us with concern, Phoenix is poised to move closer. Even Eli is paying attention, his hood back and headphones out. They’re watching the car crash unfold in slow motion, unable to stop the disaster barrelling straight ahead.
“Hello Hudson.”
My voice doesn’t sound like my own. It’s dark, angry, accusatory. Of course, he’s here. It’s where monsters belong, I shouldn’t be surprised. He’ll fit right in with the other treacherous bastards that frequent these halls.
He continues to stare, hands quickly clenching into tight fists. “You’re here.”
“I’d think that was fucking obvious,” I lash back.
He swallows hard. “How? Why?”
I slowly rise to my feet. Sliding my dinner knife up my sleeve, I maintain eye contact, never once allowing him a glimpse of the chaos beneath my steely exterior. I’m cold as ice and razor sharp, ready to give him a taste of his own medicine.
“Not sure it’s any of your business why I’m here.”
“This is… Jesus. I can’t believe it’s you,” Hudson splutters.
“Bet you never planned to see me again.”
Jaw clenching angrily, Hudson finally breaks and looks away. He casts his brother a look, silently asking for assistance. Seems like cowardice runs in the fucking family.
“I never stopped hoping for that, I tried to find you,” he murmurs.
“Spare me the lies, Hud. And frankly, I’m glad you didn’t find me.”
A twisted memory comes back to me, filling my vision and solidifying my rage. My body is straddling his, wrapping the belt around my arm as he fills the syringe. He watches hungrily as I shoot up, quickly relaxing and slumping onto the thin mattress. Warmth and adrenaline surging with the substance in my veins.
Fucking and getting high. That’s all he was ever good for and inevitably, that’s what set us on course for a cataclysmic ending.
“Brooklyn?”
Kade stands, looking so confused, so lost. I almost pity him. He really has no idea about the kind of monster he’s related to.
“I didn’t realise that your brother was this guy.”
“How exactly do you two know each other?” Phoenix interjects.
A resentful laugh bubbles up. “You want to tell them or should I?”
Hudson’s mouth clicks open and shuts several times. He’s pale, too pale. Looking sick to his stomach, and I fucking love it. I want to pound on his body until his bones break and his skin cracks. Leaving nothing but a bloodied, crippled bag of dead organs behind.
Even then I won’t forgive him.