When The Grave Calls (The Veil Diaries #9) - B.L. Brunnemer Page 0,13

Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck as my trembling hand turned the doorknob. Heart pounding, I opened the door only a little before lifting my head.

Scowling, Jason towered over me. “You can’t just break up with me.”

I swallowed hard. “I already did.”

He stepped closer.

Fear beat at me as I braced my foot against the door so he couldn’t push it open. “What do you want?”

His eyes narrowed at me. “I want you back.”

Stunned, I gaped up at him. He couldn’t be serious. “No. Not now, not ever again.”

He gritted his teeth. “You love me.”

Come on, Jess, you can do this. I lifted my chin and met his gaze. “And all that got me was pain and bruises.”

He eyed me. “That’s not fair. You know how you are—”

“And blame.” I pulled the door open and stood fully in front of him, no longer cowering behind anything. “You always blamed me for everything that went wrong in your life.” I shook my head. “I’m not taking it anymore.”

His nostrils flared as he slowly cracked his neck. Teeth bared he moved closer, looming over me. Something caught his attention behind me but there was no way I was turning to see what it was. In a low whispered growl he threatened, “If you don’t come back, I’ll make sure everyone at school sees our sex tape, Jess.”

My heart dropped. Oh fuck. Oh God. Everyone? I swallowed hard as my palms began to sweat.

“Now, you’re going to get back together with me and put an end to the rumors going around.” He met my gaze. “Understand?”

I looked down at the floor of the porch and took several deep breaths. How could he hold that over my head? What kind of piece of shit would do that? Squaring my shoulders, I looked him right in the eye. I remembered that video. We had been doing anal for the first time. It had hurt, and I had told him that. An idea sparked to life.

“Go ahead. Show the entire school that you liked hurting me in bed.”

His eyebrows drew down. “What?”

I smirked. “I remember that time, Jason. I told you that it hurt, and you just told me to shut up.”

I could almost hear the grinding of his teeth as his jaw flexed and a vein began to pulse on his forehead.

I shook my head. What a pathetic piece of shit. I was better than this. Better than he ever made me feel. I wasn’t trash, and I was done with him. “Give me your phone.”

The scowl was back. “Fuck you.”

“Give me the memory card or I’ll tell your football coach to test you for steroids,” I stated simply.

His face went slack as he looked me over more carefully. “You wouldn’t.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Try me.”

We stared at each other for several heartbeats before he finally reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone. He jerked the card out of it and tossed it to me.

Relief flooded me as I caught it. I met his gaze. “Get lost. Don’t ever contact me again.” I stepped back and slammed the door in his face, then made sure to lock it.

Stunned at what I’d done, I stood there shaking until I heard the squeal of tires as his car roared down the street. It took several slow, deep breaths, but eventually I turned around.

Isaac was standing at the base of the stairs. He must have come in the back door. I hadn’t been alone with Jason after all. My lips trembled as he took a step towards me. I all but jumped into his arms as tears began to fall. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I know.” His hand rubbed my back. “You did good, Jess.”

“I was scared,” I whispered.

“I know. But now he’ll leave you alone,” Isaac said, “or he’ll deal with the rest of us.”

I wiped my face and stepped back. “I missed you, you brat.”

He grinned. “We missed you too.”

Lexie

Uma pulled into the crowded drive in front of Miles’ house. She had her own cabin further down the property away from the chaos. With how full the house could get at times, I envied her that little cabin.

“Don’t forget, I want to see those books tomorrow,” she stated as she stopped.

“I won’t,” I muttered as I got out of the car. Shuffling my way to the front door, it was all I could do to stay upright as I went inside.

On pure instinct and muscle memory, I continued my shuffle through