SO COLD (18+) currently editing

Chapter 71.5

SO COLD

He was a recalcitrant teen; a contumacious spirit of humour and life. The transmogrification was grotesque, he was an ill-made version of himself. A misshapen, contorted figure created with impatient, clumsy thumbs and a spiteful mind. The split lip, the puffy, bruised eye were made with a heavy fist. His other eye remained open, a confession of his hour in the company of the devil's men. Weakened, hurt, his stare was heart-wrenching. A calamitous tale of the deplorable. The boy was broken.

Side-lined in the crowd of the perverted and the criminal, I found it impossible to stay quiet, hands behind my back, a worried coward in the back of the room. I pushed forward, free of the hand on my wrist that stilled me, in front of Irvin. I cupped his face tenderly, and he winced in pain, afflicted, eyes closing. My own eyes watered and I apologised, sorrowful. "I'm so sorry."

"Shay." Cole's voice was quiet, a condemning and malignant warning, a soft brush against my irritated temper. "Step out of the way."

My spine bristled at his tone, and I shot upright, spinning around, incensed, an impetuous charge. I shoved him with all the force I could muster, eyes slanted, facial expression contorted, maddened. "Are you out of your damn mind!?" I hit him again. "You heartless swine!" I raged.

He grabbed my wrist, a painfully tight grip. "Stay–" he spat through gritted teeth, murderous glint in his darkened gaze, tugging me towards him.

"I dare you to!" I challenged, tearing my arm away, as vicious as he was and unrelenting. "Shoot me, it's the only way I'll move." I was harshly breathing, fists balled, eyebrows knitted, refusing. "Shoot me first, Cole."

"He needs to be punished and held accountable for his mistakes," Cole's voice was lowered, a forced act at calmness. A splenetic black gaze locked onto my own. "Take a breather and step aside. I won't tell you twice. Now, Shay – before I take you out of the room."

"I wish you would," I scorned, chest tight with rage. I raised my voice, addressing the room, hateful. "Party's over. Leave."

Furrowed brows and questionable glances flitted towards Cole; subservient slaves to the man whose harsh gaze never strayed from mine, lips pressed together, quiet for a change. One of the younger boys, Thomas, or Jack, whatever his name was, was first to leave, making a quick exit. There was a shuffle of bodies, of unintelligible murmurs, and bottles that clinked against each other and then the room emptied out. Six remained: an unconscious Goldie, Vyacheslav, and Trevor in a strained ambiance of cold stares and violent tempers.

"Sweetheart," his tone was astringent.

I mimicked his intonation, cutting across. "Put the pistol down. I'm not in the mood to entertain you. You can fuck off and play King elsewhere. Find his clothes, Trevor."

"He'll need to see a doctor. You can't go to a hospital. They'll ask too many questions. Don't call McGowan: I pay for his services and I won't pay for his medication." Cole leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching as I helped Irvin redress, cruel and unempathetic.

My expression twisted into hatred. I opened my mouth to snap back when Irvin, with his hand on my arm for stability, squeezed slightly. "Don't," he muttered, thoroughly embarrassed. He met my gaze briefly; looking away almost immediately. He looked seconds from collapsing out of exhaustion but remained upright; trying not to wince as his sweatshirt contacted the wounds across his back. He swiped a tongue over the cut and bump on his puffy upper lip, and continued with a small inhale. "It's fine. I'm OK."

"I'm taking the SUV." I addressed Cole discourteously. "You can take the bus back home."

He laughed. "I have a bus pass."

"Come along, Trevor." An arm around Irvin's waist and with his weight leaning on me, I knew I was going to need help.

"Trevor's loyalty is to me, sweetheart," Cole stepped closer, standing straighter. "He'll stay where he is." He was swollen-headed. Infuriating.

A hot flash rushed through me. I lashed out. "I hope to God you'll suffocate in your misery, alone and afflicted, in desperate need of someone to help only to rot and die alone – just like you deserve. Karma always circles back."

"I highly doubt it; unlike karma, you'll always come back to me." He flashed a quick devilish smile and stepped out of the way for us to pass.

"I'll play you at your own game. Abandonment is your greatest fear. Don't test me." I called for Trevor once more; unsurprisingly, Cole didn't object, and for the first time in a long time, I won the fight.

***

as abusive as this shitty relationship is, they're not going to break up lmfao. all the warning signs were there and now shes stuck with cole. gang life and dat. 

anyway, listen to the song. its gr8