Hate Me Like You Do, page 24
I don’t care that it’s cutting deeply into my palm.
Just as the thought blooms in my mind, I slam the sliver into the side of Ronan’s throat. His fingers slacken around my neck as wide eyes look down on me in disbelief. Crimson red stains bloom over my clothing, more blood pooling out of the wound than I thought possible.
His eyes are so big. Ronan Reyes looks… scared. Possibly the only time I’ve ever seen him not angry. Most definitely the last. I rip the glass back out and let the full heat of that gushing blood rain across my palms, my body, my face.
Breath scratches my throat at every inhale and exhale. Two strong hands pull me away, Knox and Landon flinging Ronan out of the vehicle. Blood gurgles in his mouth with every failing attempt at breathing.
Knox’s brown eyes, wide and searching meet mine. “It’s okay,” he whispers, holding his hands out as if to steady me from a distance. Wheezing, I lean into Reed and give Knox a small nod. My hands brush my own neck thinking back over the last reckless three minutes.
In that short time, I just killed my tormentor.
My bully.
My father.
Thirty-Eight
Dee
Red and blue flashing lights bathe the beautiful Reyes estate. Somehow it looks much less frightening with the colors bouncing off the old brick than when the sun hit it the first day I came here. Maybe that’s because the monster that lived here is dead.
Still other similarities can’t be ignored. Delores’ face is pressed against the iron fence between the houses. Though this time her eyes are more curious than warning. That is until she actually sees me. Her small mouth falls open and with a swish of her pearly white dress she runs away toward the safety of her house.
The front steps are littered with the staff that was present tonight. All of them completely, and thankfully, unable to confirm or deny if they heard anything. Mr. Heethers smiles at me reassuringly from the small distance.
“Mr. Reyes?” He looks at Knox.
Knox frowns, but glances his way, not leaving my side for an instant.
Mr. Heethers tilts his head. “Shall I get a sweater for... Violet? The wind is quite cold.”
Knox glances at me then nods in answer.
Nausea rolls in my stomach, bile threatening to come up. I glance at my hands. Both are still coated with blood, trembling. My face is wiped clean but I know it’s just as stained. My whole body is a shaky mess of nerves, dread, and a little bit of dare I say relief.
The staff doesn’t act surprised by the turn of events. While they first appeared stunned, most are now happily waiting on the four of us. Not that we have many, or any, requests. It’s like some sort of baton has been passed down and it’s landed right in Knox’s hands.
Nearby a stretcher rolls over the rocky driveway with the perfectly white sheet covering a body.
My father’s body.
Staring at it makes my mind flash back to every endless second in that car. Every terrifying moment where I knew I was going to die. The moment I likely should have died.
A soft hand interlaces through my fingers, pulling my hand away from my throat. I didn’t realize I was touching the places that are already bruising. Landon shakes his head oh so very slightly. A silent command not to draw attention like that.
No one has explained to the cops why my voice is so hoarse and my neck is already bruising.
Police and paramedics flood us with questions. I feel like I’m drowning in their inquiring skepticism. Somehow Knox evades their questions with ease. He dodges them like he’s lied to the police his entire life.
Officer Rowens keeps his pen hovering over his lined page as he glares at the tattooed teen in front of him. He doesn’t pretend that he believes us, with his fair features twisting in a judgmental annoyance and the roll of his blue-green eyes as if we can’t see him.
He doesn’t believe us. He doesn’t believe that our father was drunk. Again. Like he always is.
He doesn’t believe that we couldn’t get him out of his car or that Reed had to forcefully break the window to stop my dear, sweet father from killing himself slowly from the carbon monoxide poisoning seeping through the garage.
And he especially doesn’t believe that glass just randomly sliced open my father’s throat, spraying me with blood as I caught him and then foolishly thought to remove the glass and press the wound.
It’s a lot of coincidence.
But I know first hand that life is full of tragic coincidences.
I force a sob and the tears come surprisingly easy as I gasp loudly for a heap of air that I don’t really need right now. Landon untangles our hands, pulling me closer to his chest. I thrust sobs from my lips in muffled cries against his nice dress shirt. It’s likely ruined form the blood clinging to my skin.
“Daddy’s gone,” I cry, letting the raspy words come out as loudly as I can manage. Loudly enough I know the officer hears me.
“It’s alright.” Landon soothes, his big hand pushing down my hair in long strokes down my scalp to my back.
The quiet crunch of rocks underfoot has me peeking up from the sanctuary of Landon’s arms. Another police officer. One who looks all too familiar. He pats his friend’s arm who has hit us with question after question.
“I’ll take it from here,” he says with a grim smile.
Officer Rowens doesn’t move an inch, but watches carefully. The new cop extends his hand to Knox.
“Knox Reyes. I’m Officer Michelson. I am… was, a friend of your father’s.”
Knox doesn’t move. He eyes the man’s outstretched hand as if it is poison until Officer Michelson drops it back to his side.
“It seems you’ve just inherited an awful lot.” The officer gestures to the house and staff waiting.
Knox feigns offence, his palm rising to press to his chest. “You think I care about the money and this waste of space mansion when my father has just passed away?”
Officer Michelson raises a brow. “No, I’m sure you will manage his business and affairs justly when the time arises.” He pauses. “Should a time such as that come about I’ll be around.”
It’s a hinting phrase that makes me want to pull back from the officer. It’s as though he might pull us all right back in to the chaos we just escaped.
Officer Rowens sets down his pen, pocketing his notebook with a shake of his head. The whole atmosphere around us has shifted.
“Come down to the station tomorrow morning. All of you,” Office Rowens says sternly.
Knox nods but I can see he’s already plotting something in the glint of his eyes.
He always is.
Epilogue
One year later.
Knox
Her laughter rings out in a happiness that consumes me entirely. A fuzzy feeling I never let myself enjoy before. Now I indulge in it. Beg to bathe in her joy daily.
Together Reed, Landon, and I are content to have her feel this way for the rest of our lives. We share. We’ve shared our messy pasts and we’ll share our future.
Violet only brought the future to life for us.
Jealousy is there between us from time to time. But it’s quiet for the most part. A deeper more meaningful relationship. Not that the ugly feeling doesn’t rise up, it does, we are human after all. It’s just easier to stifle when she smiles like that. Glows. Really, she glows.
Snow falls lazily over the busy streets in a small dusting. Wind funnels between the tall buildings blowing at us in challenge. Dee walks backwards, her books held tightly to her chest with one hand while the other draws a line against a black railing in the snow.
“I can’t wait for there to be enough snow that they call off classes for a day.”
“I thought you loved your major and can’t get enough of the classes?” Landon tugs his long brown coat over his chest.
“Oh, I don’t want to miss the classes. No. But I really, really want to play in the snow. Reed taught me how to throw a football once. Maybe he can give me pointers on how to throw a snowball.”
Reed chuckles. He jogs ahead of us smacking Dee right on the ass as he passes her with a taunting grin.
“If I recall, teaching you that ended with the three of us having to be nursed back to health. Sounds dangerous to me.” He collects what little snow has accumulated on a green bench against the building next to us and tosses it right at Dee.
“Oh no you didn’t.” She scrambles dropping her books to the ground and runs after him.
Reed’s sneakers shift on the slick ground with skill as he avoids her. The new letterman jacket with our college’s maroon coloring on it opens in the wind he creates. Easily, he dances behind her before twirling her around and planting a sloppy kiss right on her lips.
She melts instantly.
God, I want to kiss her. Watching this scene for now though will do. Landon scoops her books up from the ground drying them with his shirt.
“You really should take better care of these.”
Dee mocks him, walking up to take them back.
“Uh-uh.” He pulls her close before she can walk away.
“You all are so needy.” She kisses his lips slowly, pretending like she isn’t loving all the attention.
Landon hands her the books back and we pause finally reaching the nice apartment building we call our own.
“Ugh, can’t we just stay outside a little longer. It’s so beautiful.”
“It’s freezing out,” I finally say after we all watch her tip her face up to the snow fall.
“I’ll keep you warm, I guess.” She takes a few steps closer until her chest brushes mine.
My heart patters in my chest like it always does when she gets this close. Especially in public. It feels so weird letting whoever see us act this way. I shouldn’t care. No stranger has any clue who or what we used to be.
We’re different now. I’m different.
Because of her.
I wrap my arms around her and she sinks into me. I can’t actually feel her body heat through the black pea jacket she wears. I’ll act as if I do, just to hold her a little longer.
The four of us loiter outside the building, basking in the cold weather. Everything in New York is new. A new state, new names, new identity, new life. Some hand me downs from my father’s unlawfully successful business happened to come in handy. Works out great when I can testify against him and all the people who took his bribes.
I shattered his business. His Kingdom. I took swing after swing with the help of Officer Rowens. Now we are here. Happy.
Free.
Dee nestles into me when the breeze flicks her blonde hair across her face, her winter hat snuggly pulled over her ears. She’s not that little girl who killed her father last year but she’s a strong woman who knows that sometimes if you don’t strike first, you leave yourself open to be hurt.
That’s what all of this mess of a life has taught us.
That’s what she taught me.
I lean down, speaking low and quiet, my emotions held in my chest just for her. “Violet Demure.”
She hums at me but doesn’t stop the roaming of her gorgeous green eyes. She’s innocent and pure but in a way, she’s so much like me.
“I love you,” I whisper against her lips.
She’s the only person I’ve ever said that to. She’s the only person who made me understand what love is.
She gave me all of this: A family, a life, and a real fucking future.
And the four of us are never looking back now.
The End
Thank you so much for reading our very first contemporary romance book! We hope you enjoyed Violet’s journey and if you’d like more details on the love, the hate, and all the angst, just join the reader group below!
AK Koonce Reading Between Realms Facebook Group
Also by A.K. Koonce
Reverse Harem Books
The Hopeless Series
Hopeless Magic
Hopeless Kingdom
Hopeless Realm
Hopeless Sacrifice
The To Tame a Shifter Series
Taming
Claiming
Maiming
Sustaining
Reigning
The Origins of the Six Series
Academy of Six
Control of Five
Destruction of Two
The Royal Harem Series
The Hundred Year Curse
The Curse of the Sea
The Legend of the Cursed Princess
The Harem of Misery Series
Pandora’s Pain
The Severed Souls Series
Darkness Rising
Darkness Consuming
Darkness Colliding
The Huntress Series
An Assassin’s Death
An Assassin’s Deception
An Assassin’s Destiny
The Villainous Wonderland Series
Into the Madness
Within the Wonder
Under the Lies
Paranormal Romance
The Mortals and Mystics Series
Fate of the Hybrid, Prequel
When Fate Aligns, Book one
When Fate Unravels, Book two
When Fate Prevails, Book three
Standalone Paranormal Romance
Resurrection Island
About A.K. Koonce
A.K. Koonce is a USA Today bestselling author. She’s mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance writer by night. She keeps her fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular, but demanding, fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.
About Rebecca Grey
Rebecca Grey is a mom and wife, but also a Friends nerd. When she’s not writing she spends her time binge watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers while making her husband crazy.
A K Koonce, Hate Me Like You Do
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Just as the thought blooms in my mind, I slam the sliver into the side of Ronan’s throat. His fingers slacken around my neck as wide eyes look down on me in disbelief. Crimson red stains bloom over my clothing, more blood pooling out of the wound than I thought possible.
His eyes are so big. Ronan Reyes looks… scared. Possibly the only time I’ve ever seen him not angry. Most definitely the last. I rip the glass back out and let the full heat of that gushing blood rain across my palms, my body, my face.
Breath scratches my throat at every inhale and exhale. Two strong hands pull me away, Knox and Landon flinging Ronan out of the vehicle. Blood gurgles in his mouth with every failing attempt at breathing.
Knox’s brown eyes, wide and searching meet mine. “It’s okay,” he whispers, holding his hands out as if to steady me from a distance. Wheezing, I lean into Reed and give Knox a small nod. My hands brush my own neck thinking back over the last reckless three minutes.
In that short time, I just killed my tormentor.
My bully.
My father.
Thirty-Eight
Dee
Red and blue flashing lights bathe the beautiful Reyes estate. Somehow it looks much less frightening with the colors bouncing off the old brick than when the sun hit it the first day I came here. Maybe that’s because the monster that lived here is dead.
Still other similarities can’t be ignored. Delores’ face is pressed against the iron fence between the houses. Though this time her eyes are more curious than warning. That is until she actually sees me. Her small mouth falls open and with a swish of her pearly white dress she runs away toward the safety of her house.
The front steps are littered with the staff that was present tonight. All of them completely, and thankfully, unable to confirm or deny if they heard anything. Mr. Heethers smiles at me reassuringly from the small distance.
“Mr. Reyes?” He looks at Knox.
Knox frowns, but glances his way, not leaving my side for an instant.
Mr. Heethers tilts his head. “Shall I get a sweater for... Violet? The wind is quite cold.”
Knox glances at me then nods in answer.
Nausea rolls in my stomach, bile threatening to come up. I glance at my hands. Both are still coated with blood, trembling. My face is wiped clean but I know it’s just as stained. My whole body is a shaky mess of nerves, dread, and a little bit of dare I say relief.
The staff doesn’t act surprised by the turn of events. While they first appeared stunned, most are now happily waiting on the four of us. Not that we have many, or any, requests. It’s like some sort of baton has been passed down and it’s landed right in Knox’s hands.
Nearby a stretcher rolls over the rocky driveway with the perfectly white sheet covering a body.
My father’s body.
Staring at it makes my mind flash back to every endless second in that car. Every terrifying moment where I knew I was going to die. The moment I likely should have died.
A soft hand interlaces through my fingers, pulling my hand away from my throat. I didn’t realize I was touching the places that are already bruising. Landon shakes his head oh so very slightly. A silent command not to draw attention like that.
No one has explained to the cops why my voice is so hoarse and my neck is already bruising.
Police and paramedics flood us with questions. I feel like I’m drowning in their inquiring skepticism. Somehow Knox evades their questions with ease. He dodges them like he’s lied to the police his entire life.
Officer Rowens keeps his pen hovering over his lined page as he glares at the tattooed teen in front of him. He doesn’t pretend that he believes us, with his fair features twisting in a judgmental annoyance and the roll of his blue-green eyes as if we can’t see him.
He doesn’t believe us. He doesn’t believe that our father was drunk. Again. Like he always is.
He doesn’t believe that we couldn’t get him out of his car or that Reed had to forcefully break the window to stop my dear, sweet father from killing himself slowly from the carbon monoxide poisoning seeping through the garage.
And he especially doesn’t believe that glass just randomly sliced open my father’s throat, spraying me with blood as I caught him and then foolishly thought to remove the glass and press the wound.
It’s a lot of coincidence.
But I know first hand that life is full of tragic coincidences.
I force a sob and the tears come surprisingly easy as I gasp loudly for a heap of air that I don’t really need right now. Landon untangles our hands, pulling me closer to his chest. I thrust sobs from my lips in muffled cries against his nice dress shirt. It’s likely ruined form the blood clinging to my skin.
“Daddy’s gone,” I cry, letting the raspy words come out as loudly as I can manage. Loudly enough I know the officer hears me.
“It’s alright.” Landon soothes, his big hand pushing down my hair in long strokes down my scalp to my back.
The quiet crunch of rocks underfoot has me peeking up from the sanctuary of Landon’s arms. Another police officer. One who looks all too familiar. He pats his friend’s arm who has hit us with question after question.
“I’ll take it from here,” he says with a grim smile.
Officer Rowens doesn’t move an inch, but watches carefully. The new cop extends his hand to Knox.
“Knox Reyes. I’m Officer Michelson. I am… was, a friend of your father’s.”
Knox doesn’t move. He eyes the man’s outstretched hand as if it is poison until Officer Michelson drops it back to his side.
“It seems you’ve just inherited an awful lot.” The officer gestures to the house and staff waiting.
Knox feigns offence, his palm rising to press to his chest. “You think I care about the money and this waste of space mansion when my father has just passed away?”
Officer Michelson raises a brow. “No, I’m sure you will manage his business and affairs justly when the time arises.” He pauses. “Should a time such as that come about I’ll be around.”
It’s a hinting phrase that makes me want to pull back from the officer. It’s as though he might pull us all right back in to the chaos we just escaped.
Officer Rowens sets down his pen, pocketing his notebook with a shake of his head. The whole atmosphere around us has shifted.
“Come down to the station tomorrow morning. All of you,” Office Rowens says sternly.
Knox nods but I can see he’s already plotting something in the glint of his eyes.
He always is.
Epilogue
One year later.
Knox
Her laughter rings out in a happiness that consumes me entirely. A fuzzy feeling I never let myself enjoy before. Now I indulge in it. Beg to bathe in her joy daily.
Together Reed, Landon, and I are content to have her feel this way for the rest of our lives. We share. We’ve shared our messy pasts and we’ll share our future.
Violet only brought the future to life for us.
Jealousy is there between us from time to time. But it’s quiet for the most part. A deeper more meaningful relationship. Not that the ugly feeling doesn’t rise up, it does, we are human after all. It’s just easier to stifle when she smiles like that. Glows. Really, she glows.
Snow falls lazily over the busy streets in a small dusting. Wind funnels between the tall buildings blowing at us in challenge. Dee walks backwards, her books held tightly to her chest with one hand while the other draws a line against a black railing in the snow.
“I can’t wait for there to be enough snow that they call off classes for a day.”
“I thought you loved your major and can’t get enough of the classes?” Landon tugs his long brown coat over his chest.
“Oh, I don’t want to miss the classes. No. But I really, really want to play in the snow. Reed taught me how to throw a football once. Maybe he can give me pointers on how to throw a snowball.”
Reed chuckles. He jogs ahead of us smacking Dee right on the ass as he passes her with a taunting grin.
“If I recall, teaching you that ended with the three of us having to be nursed back to health. Sounds dangerous to me.” He collects what little snow has accumulated on a green bench against the building next to us and tosses it right at Dee.
“Oh no you didn’t.” She scrambles dropping her books to the ground and runs after him.
Reed’s sneakers shift on the slick ground with skill as he avoids her. The new letterman jacket with our college’s maroon coloring on it opens in the wind he creates. Easily, he dances behind her before twirling her around and planting a sloppy kiss right on her lips.
She melts instantly.
God, I want to kiss her. Watching this scene for now though will do. Landon scoops her books up from the ground drying them with his shirt.
“You really should take better care of these.”
Dee mocks him, walking up to take them back.
“Uh-uh.” He pulls her close before she can walk away.
“You all are so needy.” She kisses his lips slowly, pretending like she isn’t loving all the attention.
Landon hands her the books back and we pause finally reaching the nice apartment building we call our own.
“Ugh, can’t we just stay outside a little longer. It’s so beautiful.”
“It’s freezing out,” I finally say after we all watch her tip her face up to the snow fall.
“I’ll keep you warm, I guess.” She takes a few steps closer until her chest brushes mine.
My heart patters in my chest like it always does when she gets this close. Especially in public. It feels so weird letting whoever see us act this way. I shouldn’t care. No stranger has any clue who or what we used to be.
We’re different now. I’m different.
Because of her.
I wrap my arms around her and she sinks into me. I can’t actually feel her body heat through the black pea jacket she wears. I’ll act as if I do, just to hold her a little longer.
The four of us loiter outside the building, basking in the cold weather. Everything in New York is new. A new state, new names, new identity, new life. Some hand me downs from my father’s unlawfully successful business happened to come in handy. Works out great when I can testify against him and all the people who took his bribes.
I shattered his business. His Kingdom. I took swing after swing with the help of Officer Rowens. Now we are here. Happy.
Free.
Dee nestles into me when the breeze flicks her blonde hair across her face, her winter hat snuggly pulled over her ears. She’s not that little girl who killed her father last year but she’s a strong woman who knows that sometimes if you don’t strike first, you leave yourself open to be hurt.
That’s what all of this mess of a life has taught us.
That’s what she taught me.
I lean down, speaking low and quiet, my emotions held in my chest just for her. “Violet Demure.”
She hums at me but doesn’t stop the roaming of her gorgeous green eyes. She’s innocent and pure but in a way, she’s so much like me.
“I love you,” I whisper against her lips.
She’s the only person I’ve ever said that to. She’s the only person who made me understand what love is.
She gave me all of this: A family, a life, and a real fucking future.
And the four of us are never looking back now.
The End
Thank you so much for reading our very first contemporary romance book! We hope you enjoyed Violet’s journey and if you’d like more details on the love, the hate, and all the angst, just join the reader group below!
AK Koonce Reading Between Realms Facebook Group
Also by A.K. Koonce
Reverse Harem Books
The Hopeless Series
Hopeless Magic
Hopeless Kingdom
Hopeless Realm
Hopeless Sacrifice
The To Tame a Shifter Series
Taming
Claiming
Maiming
Sustaining
Reigning
The Origins of the Six Series
Academy of Six
Control of Five
Destruction of Two
The Royal Harem Series
The Hundred Year Curse
The Curse of the Sea
The Legend of the Cursed Princess
The Harem of Misery Series
Pandora’s Pain
The Severed Souls Series
Darkness Rising
Darkness Consuming
Darkness Colliding
The Huntress Series
An Assassin’s Death
An Assassin’s Deception
An Assassin’s Destiny
The Villainous Wonderland Series
Into the Madness
Within the Wonder
Under the Lies
Paranormal Romance
The Mortals and Mystics Series
Fate of the Hybrid, Prequel
When Fate Aligns, Book one
When Fate Unravels, Book two
When Fate Prevails, Book three
Standalone Paranormal Romance
Resurrection Island
About A.K. Koonce
A.K. Koonce is a USA Today bestselling author. She’s mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance writer by night. She keeps her fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular, but demanding, fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.
About Rebecca Grey
Rebecca Grey is a mom and wife, but also a Friends nerd. When she’s not writing she spends her time binge watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers while making her husband crazy.
A K Koonce, Hate Me Like You Do
