Bitter Kisses (It's Just High School #3) - Thandiwe Mpofu Page 0,49

a fool. If anything, he sees things is a way most people don’t, so for him to be bested by these bastards? I don’t see that happening.

“Yeah,” Shane says. “Not only that. I heard a little interesting tidbit that Liam is roaming the house, screaming our names, demanding we come out.”

“Good, did you disable the security system?”

“You fucking bet! I think we have a few hours before they discover we’re not even there and neither is their precious little whore.”

“Did you hear that, Ice Queen?” Sean says above me, his voice full of evil mirth and obvious enjoyment at my plight. “You think they’ll be your dazzling knights in shining armors who will come in and save you? Well too bad, Ice Queen, that’s not going to happen. Did you hear how stupid they are? They think I’d keep you in my house, then crowd it with people for a fucking show? How dumb do they think I am?”

As dumb as a fucking rock, to be honest, but I don’t dare say a word, my body in pain from the beating.

“Now, set it up, Shane and let’s get this show on the road,” Sean says, laughing still.

With my eyes shut, not knowing what’s about to happen but pretty sure it’s going to be bad for me, I feel hands on me, then suddenly, I’m being flipped onto my back.

Immediately, shame crashes into me and I start trembling, fresh tears welling up in my eyes as the stench of my vomit permeates my nose.

The cold gust of wind somehow inflames the wounds the pain comes back with a vengeance, but that’s not all that has me about to break.

When I was lying on my stomach, I wasn’t feeling as exposed as I am now.

Now, I’m weak, defenseless and the fight is gone from me. I want to fold into myself, make myself smaller and maybe let the earth swallow me.

“Shit, you didn’t have to beat her this hard.” I hear Shane saying. “You broke the skin there.”

“She fucking deserves it,” Sean says. “Besides, it makes for good visuals when we send Fitz the next drop.”

They both start laughing.

I stare up at the ceiling, wishing Julian wouldn’t have to see me like this. I wish he’d not get involved with this. I wish they didn’t have to use me to taunt him and most of all, I wish I could protect him for whatever they have planned for him but if what they’re saying is true, then the party at their house is where they plan to trick Julian like what Kristine told me.

I’m so in my head that I don’t feel I’m being touched until Shane comes in full view, staring down at me with a smile so chilling, a shudder runs through me.

He smirks, then I feel him holding both my arms down and then he ties both to the bed posts.

Then he moves down to my other leg and the next thing I know, I’m effectively tied down, with no way of escaping.

There’s vomit next to me, covering my face. My body is in agony and still, all I can see when I close my eyes is Julian’s captivating, gorgeous green eyes, lulling me into some semblance of security.

Please be all right wherever you are, Julian. Please.

“Aw, what happened Mia? I was hoping you’d fight like you did with my brother,” Shane leers, then he uses the sheet to wipe most of the vomit off my face. A simple mercy that I’m pathetically grateful for. But still, I don’t say a word.

I keep my eyes shut, conjuring up every moment I ever had with Julian, feeling like my life is about to end soon.

This is made all too real when I head Kristine gasp and the unmistakable sound of a gun being loaded.

My eyes fly open. I immediately see Sean holding some kind of handgun as Shane sets up a camera on a stand.

My heart goes haywire, my mind firing all sorts of scenarios.

“W-what are you doing?” I stutter, my voice full of fear.

“Don’t worry your pretty head about that,” Shane says. “This will be fun.”

Just then, a phone pings in the warehouse and my heart stops.

“It’s Darren. The cops have been called at the house,” Shane says. “Should I go and check.”

“How the fuck is that possible? We paid those bastards!”

“Sean…”

“This just means we’re out of time!”

“But Sean, I… I haven’t set up the next phase yet,” Shane stutters. My eyes almost bulge out when I hear the