Beautiful Fiend: Chapter 10

The hood makes my skin damp and sticky. I can feel my own breath in there and the way it staggers every time I hear a movement. There must be two or three of them going back and forth between my car and theirs. I can’t believe I’m in this situation. How many times is Caden going to make me do this? It’s the first without him, but I must admit I felt safer when he was in the passenger seat. It was easier to pretend nothing else was happening when I was busy focusing on his hand between my legs.

I couldn’t take Murder with me. What if they shoot her for barking at them? The Wolves spare no one. I hear the tap on my window and focus. As soon as I hear their car leaving, I take the hood off and exhale. This whole ordeal is fucking terrifying.

I start the car and drive to the other spot where I know I’m meant to meet the men who take whatever is in my trunk and turn it into money. I’m guessing they’re the buyers of whatever Caden is selling. Or another type of middleman who hides it while they wait to distribute the product.

Like last time, the guy disappears with my car and brings it back before leaving in another vehicle. The bag of cash is in my back seat and it’s time to bring it to Caden.

I get into my car and drive to Sawyer’s house. A cop car overtakes me on the way and my heart almost explodes. I might not have the product on me anymore, but I could never justify the amount of money I’ve got in my car.

I stop behind whoever is parked in Sawyer’s driveway and text Caden. I have to wait fifteen minutes for him to finally text back.

Is he for fucking real?

I start my car again, but someone is right there as I look in my mirror.

“Oh my god,” I startle with a loud gasp. Sawyer walks around and taps at my window.

“How we doin’ over here?” he asks lazily as I roll it down the slightest.

“Um, fine.”

“That my money in the back?”

His?

“I thought it was Caden’s,” I reply with as much calm as possible.

“Potato, pot-ah-to. It’s Kings’ money. Give it to me.” His voice is a little more violent. He hooks his fingers in the small gap in my window.

“Caden just told me to bring it over to his house.”

He smiles and lets go before stepping back and putting his hand up in a sign of innocence. “Must be a misunderstanding. Give it to him, then. I’ll make sure he and I are on the same page next time.”

I frown at him, my finger tapping against the wheel. It’s obvious he can’t be trusted. Apart from being a King, he also seems to want to fuck his own crew over. I start my car and pull out of his driveway.

I’m not sure if I should tell Caden that Sawyer tried to take the money. Maybe it’s all truly a misunderstanding, except the guy gives me all kinds of bad vibes.

By the time I get to his house, I conclude that this is a Kings problem. They can destroy themselves from the inside for all I care.

Caden’s house is noticeably busy when I park in front of it. He comes out quickly and barely acknowledges me when he grabs the bag.

“That’s a real good girl,” he mumbles to himself, peeking at the amount of cash. Somehow, even when he’s not addressing me directly, he manages to mock me. Once he’s done, he finally gives me the time of day. “Get out of the car.”

I eye his steamed windows. There must be a lot of people in there but there is no party going on or anything. I step out of my car, but I stay close. “I don’t want to go inside your house.”

“You’re not invited to go inside my house, little Scott. Maybe when I fuck you, I’ll give you the honor.”

I clench my jaw, trying to hold my insults back.

Just give him the money and go home, Billie.

Dropping the bag next to him, he brings a hand to my face and caresses my cheek. I slap it away and look at anything but him.

“Billie,” he says softly, still portraying the danger he hides within himself. It’s too soft. The calm before the storm. “You know I can make you do whatever I want, right?”

My heart drops, my stomach catching and throwing it back to my throat. I don’t answer, so his thumb comes to caress my lips. “Imagine your sister and your dad getting that video on their phone. Your entire crew losing respect for you and your family. You guys would be fucking killed in public for the simple fact that you let a King shatter you to pieces with his tongue.”

“Stop it,” I grit. He pulls his thumb away from my lips and caresses my throat, where my heart is beating so harshly my skin is trembling.

“I like that I scare you.” The confession sounds desperately honest, and it terrifies me. “I like that you have no choice but to do exactly what I say because I’m not someone who ever takes no for an answer.”

“The fact that you have to blackmail me for that makes you a coward. And weak.” My throat is tight from the fear, yet my small voice still resonates with truth.

“You’re making me sound like a bully,” he laughs. Then his eyes light up with excitement. “Am I a bully?”

“Are you proud of that?” I scowl at him, not understanding what goes on in his head.

“Oh, come on.” He smiles. “It’s fun. Remember how you were the bully in our sophomore year? NSC had the Cosa Nostra’s protection, and you were such a fucking bitch.” He looks around. “Lik used to make me fucking eat dust, and I couldn’t get back at him because I knew Sawyer and my dad would kill me if I started something they couldn’t finish.”

“Lik isn’t me. I minded my own business.”

“You beat up my sister,” he snaps before his hand slams against my car window, making me shrink into myself. “You started minding your own business after Bianco was put away. After I made you suck my cock. You started minding your own business because you were scared. Before that, you were a proud bitch who loved beating up Kings girls for no reason and laughed when her stepbrother knocked my head against lockers.”

“Okay,” I nod. “Thinking your crew owns the North Shore makes you feel invincible,” I admit. “I was a bitch. Happy?”

“You don’t even remember that you once stole Jade’s lunch money and made her crawl around the cafeteria if she wanted it back. Like a real bully.”

“I had never met Jade before seeing her at your house. That wasn’t her.”

“It was her.” He runs a hand across his face, getting pissed off at me. “It was her, Billie. Her teenage years weren’t exactly kind to her, and she had the biggest fucking glow-up of all times since, but it was her.”

Well.

Fuck.

He chuckles to himself and steps away from me. “Oh, the things I could do to you.”

“Stop it, Caden. We’re not in fucking high school anymore. Plus, you got more than your share of revenge.” I wish my voice didn’t come out as the most pathetic squeak, but here I fucking am. A tiny mouse fighting the giant predator Caden has become over the years.

“Get on all fours,” he says calmly.

“You can’t be serious,” I scoff. “That was more than two years ago.”

Grabbing his phone from his jeans, he unlocks it and starts scrolling. “I can’t wait for everyone to see the videos. Which one should I start with? I really think your orgasm is the worst one for you.”

“Stop!” I try to grab his phone as he pedals back.

“Get on all fours, Billie. Show me how you crawl.”

“You’re…I…fuck, I hate you,” I snarl.

“There are a lot of Kings inside my house right now. Should I invite them to watch?”

I’m hyperventilating, anger and humiliation making me shake. “Caden, stop,” I plead.

“You don’t want to do what I tell you, little Scott?” I don’t know what it is tonight, but he’s angry. This morning he fixed my car and told me he’d make an exception if I wanted to be his girlfriend. Insane, yes, but at least he wasn’t hurting or humiliating me.

Tonight, his wicked side is out to play, and I don’t know what to do to escape him alive.

“I’m just…” I take a deep breath. “I’m just trying to make you see sense right now.”

“I don’t want to see sense. I want to see you on all fours. Do you prefer here or inside the house?”

“Caden!” I rage. “Just drop it. It was a long time ago. Get over it.”

“You want me to get over it?” he scoffs. He grabs the bag of money and straightens up before his hand shoots to my ponytail. “I tried to keep this between us, Billie.” He’s close enough this time that I can feel his breath, and there’s no mistaking what’s happening.

He’s drunk.

“Let go,” I shriek as he starts walking and dragging me along.

“I do love that hairstyle for you. It’s a nice little leash.”

He pushes his front door open and brings me inside with him.

As I assumed, it’s not a party. It’s worse. They’re having some sort of small get-together with their closest friends, and all their heads turn to me as we cross the threshold of his house.

“Everyone,” he exclaims. “You know Billie Scott.”

“What the damn hell are you doing, Caden,” his dad scolds as the son drags me into their living area.

“Getting over some stuff.” He drops the money in the corner of the room and drags me with him to the middle. “Billie said I should get over what she did in the past. I thought, hey, why not all do it together, right?”

Caden’s sister, Kayla, looks right at me, her hatred for me buzzing in the air. I can’t talk anymore at this point. Any begging or pleading is a weakness not only for me but for my entire crew. Fighting is stupid and will make my situation worse.

I’m stuck.

I’m stuck with ten or so people looking at me, sharing a need to make me hurt.

Still holding my ponytail, Caden grabs a beer on the table and downs it. “Kay,” he slurs. “Wanna remind us of what happened that time you went to the Scott’s house to ask for a truce.”

“No, Cade,” his sister huffs. “I don’t want to get into the details, thank you.” I notice she’s the only one not drinking. Could she help me?

She smiles at me, obviously seeing the hope in my eyes. “But I will very much enjoy you teaching the bitch a lesson or two.”

“Okay, well, whatever.” He waves a hand in the air. “I know how we found you. No one is allowed to beat up Billie, though, ‘cause she moves shit for me. Need the girl alive and all. But we can find other stuff, don’t worry.”

I shift on my feet when he turns to Jade, and I have to turn with him. “Jade. We’re gonna get you settled, too, okay? I remember how she treated you in high school. Don’t worry.”

Jade smirks and relaxes in her seat. “I knew this evening was going to be good.”

He smiles at everyone, like a ringmaster about to present his circus. Ethan and Elliot are sitting on either side of Jade, taking in the situation with surprised yet happy expressions. There are a few other people, but I don’t know them.

“Well,” Caden nods to himself. “Billie, here, said we have to get over it. And I thought, why don’t we show her what she did and then see how she gets over it, huh?” In one sudden movement, he pushes me to the floor and I’m forced to catch myself on my hands and knees.

I attempt a deep breath that falls short and stare at my hands on their rundown carpet. If I do this in front of them, they will never let me forget it.

If I don’t…I don’t want to know.

My heart is beating loudly in my ears, pounding in my head, and shortening my thoughts. So much so that Caden’s voice is barely a ringing sound in my ears when he talks again.

“Come on, little Scott. Crawl.” Trying not to explode into tears or pass out, I take a tentative tread, glaring at the floor. “That’s it,” he says, satisfied. “All the way to Jade.”

I do it. It destroys the entirety of my pride, but I know I have no choice. Some people walk into this house and never come out alive. Caden broke me before, and I survived. I can do it again. He has the audacity to complain about me bullying Jade or beating up Kay when he assaulted me. Nevertheless, there’s no reasoning with him, and I want out of here. So I do it. I crawl to Jade and wait by her feet for Caden’s next order.

“Holy shit,” Jade laughs. “I’m filming this.”

“No.” Caden’s refusal is an order no one would dare to disrespect. “Go around the room, Billie. Show us how pretty you are.”

I don’t think he meant the last bit, because he chuckles to himself when there’s a short silence. Everyone must be looking at him with wide eyes, but I don’t want to lift my head and see them.

“What?” he insists. “She is fucking pretty. Go on, Billie. Crawl.”

I do it fast, my knees hurting and my wrists straining, but I don’t care. I go around as quickly as possible while they make fun of me and throw insults at me. When I’m by Caden again, he puts a foot on my back and my arms buckle. I manage to hold myself in position and I don’t say anything.

“The Kings have a new pet,” a random guy says happily. I hear two beer bottles clinking and want to die on the spot.

The nightmare is almost over. He can’t keep you here all night. You’re going to be home soon.

“For fuck’s sake, Caden.” His dad’s frustrated voice breaks through the sniggering and mockery of me. “Get her out of here. I want to enjoy my night.”

“Dad, don’t worry about it.” His drunken voice is full of feelings, so different from the emotionless monotone he usually has. “We’re just doing a little experiment to see if we should get a real pet or just keep Billie.”

“You want to use the girl for your jobs, be my guest. But don’t bring her to my house and abuse her like a stray dog when we’ve got better things to do.”

I peer up at Caden’s dad, trying to see if, against all odds, the leader of the Kings will let me out of here. But he’s up and putting his empty beer on the table. He turns around and heads toward the hallway.

“What,” Caden laughs, shouting at his dad’s retreating back. “Isn’t that what you did with Mom, though? ‘Cause I remember why she fucking left. I know why she doesn’t want to talk to any of us.”

“Stop it, Cade,” Kay intervenes in an angry hiss.

“Come on,” he keeps going. “I abuse my women because that’s what you’ve always shown me, Dad!” He keeps laughing maniacally before looking down at me. His voice drops, then. “Get the fuck out of here,” he spits at me, taking his foot off my back.

I’m up in a split second, escaping his house. But of course, he’s after me, following me outside.

“Little Scott,” he calls as I’m about to enter my car. “Didn’t I tell you you’d regret your words this morning?”

His smile is so devilish, it’s almost surreal. My jaw drops to the floor before I can get a hold of myself.

“This wasn’t about Jade or your sister,” I finally whisper as everything becomes clear.

“Aren’t you the smartest girl?”

“You just wanted to make me regret turning you down.”

He nods as he approaches me, cornering me against my car. “I just wanted you to understand something. Be nice to me, and I’ll be nice back. Refuse me anything, and you’ll pay the consequences.”

He leans down and leaves a surprisingly soft kiss against my forehead before straightening back up. “I’ll see you soon, Billie.”

God hates me, and only the devil welcomes me. His name is Caden King.