Read Online Love & Decay, Episode 11 by Rachel Higginson - Free Book Online Page A

at eye level. Hendrix put his hand against my back and let me know he was here to support me.
                  “No,” I confirmed for them- again. “But I think that’s part of his game. If he were pushy or overly aggressive, I could point to that and say, ‘See? You’re a monster.’ But his whole thing is proving to me that he’s not a monster, that he’s not a bad guy.”
                  The boys snorted almost simultaneously. Vaughan leaned back and rubbed his palms on his kneecaps and Hendrix pulled me close so he could press a kiss to my temple.
                  “What do you think his game plan is, Reagan?” Vaughan asked after a few moments of thoughtful silence.
                  “I think he wants me as his possession. For whatever reason, he’s latched on to me with this idea that I belong to him. He’s playing it smart, really smart actually. He does a great job with the non-threatening gentleness, he’s patient until I almost forget about him. And then he’s there for me, you know?”
    “No.” Hendrix was that unmoving rock again. “No, I don’t know what you mean by, ‘here’s there
    for you.’”
    “He waits for me to need something, or someone. And then he finds a way to make sure I need
    him.” I paused to gather my thoughts but rushed forward when I noticed the reaction my words were getting. “Not that I let him be there for me. I’m just saying, that’s what he tries to do.”
                  And Ok, sometime succeeds.
                  But they didn’t need to hear that last part.
                  Their murderous expressions softened into only extreme rage and hatred. So, that was a step up.
                  “He thinks he’s going to convince you to go willingly,” Vaughan decided. “He thinks he can make you want him.”
                  “He’s out of his mind,” I whispered. And then tried to believe it. He was. In some ways at least. But then he was also redeemable and vulnerable in other ways. Was his dad the catalyst to his fall? Or did he just understand how to use those endearingly humane pieces of him to manipulate and control and get his way?
                  I would never trust him.
                  I could never trust him- that would be the end of me. If I let Kane in in any way, he would take over completely. My small window to him would become his complete seizure of all control. That much I knew.
                  “But you’re right about him using you guys to get to me. I’m pretty confident that’s his plan.” I put my hand on Hendrix’s thigh and squeezed it. Or tried to squeeze it. His lean, solid muscle didn’t exactly squish easily.
                  “I thought as much,” Vaughan grunted. “What about Tyler and Miller? Did he say anything about them?”
                  “I think they’re safe. He knows what Matthias is like, he doesn’t want to see them punished for running away. He doesn’t think Matthias will kill them, but even Kane can’t be sure. He said he wouldn’t say anything about them being here.” I found that a little hard to believe, but Kane was hard to read in this circumstance. There were times he really seemed to care about his brother and sister.
                  And there were times when he only cared about himself.
                  And that’s when I decided not to ask about Tyler and Miller. It was better that I didn’t know where they were or what they were going to do while Matthias was here. That way when it came up- and I was sure that it would- I could be honest and convincing.
                  “Do you believe him?” Hendrix asked.
                  “Sure, until I don’t bend to his will. Then I’m sure he’ll give me a new incentive to be obedient.” I stood up abruptly, feeling antsy an responsible