Aggro - CoraLee June Page 0,59

crying in her hands.

“Where are you?”

“Chase’s house,” I whispered.

“I’ll be right there.”

I hung up the phone, and the uneasiness coursing through my body was slightly calmed knowing that Kai was on his way. I didn’t particularly care for Celeste, and I knew how she felt about me, but I couldn’t just leave her alone, crying at the kitchen table. I sank into the chair next to her and stared at her sobbing as I searched for the right words.

Chase’s behavior was becoming more erratic, unpredictable, and violent. I had seen him unraveling, but this was vicious, and I was coming to terms with him being capable of putting his hands on a woman. I felt a deep sense of betrayal that cut down to my core. I had known Chase almost his entire life and had secretly loved him since I was ten. Now, I felt like I didn’t even know him. Just like I didn’t really know Violet.

“Celeste,” I said gently. “I’m so sorry that Chase did this to you. I know he’s hurting and that he’s mad, but that doesn’t give him the right to put his hands on you.” Doesn’t give him the right to wrap his hands around your throat, I thought but didn’t say out loud.

“Just get out,” she shrieked through her tears. “You don’t understand how much he needs me. You’re just jealous that he doesn’t need you.”

In that moment, I saw Celeste for who she really was. She wasn’t just a mean girl who used to torture me, she was a woman so desperate for affection and unknowing of her own worth that she defended the man who treated her like dirt and hurt her. I felt a surge of compassion for her.

Two of Celeste’s friends came crashing into the kitchen and saw her in tears. They immediately sat with her, holding and comforting her, saying the words that I didn’t know how to. I stood up from the table and went to the other side of the kitchen. I grabbed a box of tissues and passed it wordlessly to one of Celeste’s friends as I walked out of the room.

I went back outside and sat on the steps to wait for Kai. I wanted to go find Chase and demand an explanation, an apology, or something from him. I didn’t even know what I wanted; nothing was going to make this right. I didn’t have to wait with my thoughts for long before I heard the rumble of Kai’s truck pulling into the driveway.

He got out and immediately jogged up to where I was sitting, his face a stormy mix of concern and rage. “You okay?” he asked while cupping my cheeks and peering at my face, as if looking for bruises or scratches.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, my voice defeated. “I know you and Chase aren’t close, but I’m worried. He is drunk off his ass, and he hurt Celeste…”

Kai dropped his hands. “What did he do?”

“He got rough with her. Sh-she has bruises around her neck…”

Kai’s face soured, and he stared at the front door of the house, where a group of guys were stumbling out of the threshold and laughing. “Did he do anything to you?”

“No. It’s not like that. Chase is hurting. We need to shut this party down. He needs to grieve. Hell, he needs to speak to a therapist. Celeste insisted that it wasn’t a big deal, but I saw the marks. I don’t know what to do.”

Kai propped his hands on his hips. “Entitled bastard. He choked her? Don’t you think that is suspicious?”

“What are you saying?”

Kai shook his head, his tongue poking at his cheek in disbelief. “Chase was here, wasn’t he? The night Violet died—the night she was fucking strangled.”

I felt my skin grow cold as Kai started stomping inside. I followed after him, calling his name as he started searching the party for Chase. He was like a bull running toward a red flag. Single-sighted. Furious. Determined.

I couldn’t help but feel like this was going to end badly.

Kai ran into a laughing dude that had lipstick markings all over his bare chest. “Whoa, man. Watch where you’re going,” the guy said with a lazy drawl.

Kai shoved him into the wall and closed in on him. “Get the fuck out of my way. This party is over.”

I watched wide-eyed and trembling. “Whoa. Calm down!” the playful drunk yelled, but Kai kneed him in the balls before stalking off. I stood in shock as