Shattered ✓

F O R T Y - F O U R

Alexa

Benny grinned at us from his perch on the fence, completely at ease, like he had all the time in the world. The dim glow of the porch light only made him look more sinister—half of his face cast in shadow, the other illuminated just enough to show that wicked glint in his eyes.

My stomach twisted.

This wasn't a dream.

This wasn't a nightmare I could wake up from.

He was really here.

I instinctively stepped back, pressing my body against the railing. My breath hitched, and I felt my heart hammering against my ribs, every beat like a countdown to something I didn't want to face.

Ryder, on the other hand, didn't move away.

Instead, he took a step forward. Toward Benny.

I grabbed his arm immediately, yanking him back. Was he out of his damn mind?

"Ryder, stop," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

But he ignored me, his jaw tight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"What the fuck do you want?" Ryder snapped, his voice shaking—not with fear, but anger. Pure, unfiltered rage.

Benny just tilted his head, watching him like a scientist observing an experiment. "Oh, Alexa, is this your smallest guard dog?" He smirks.

Ryder tensed. I could feel it in the way his muscles locked beneath my grip. He wanted to lunge, to fight. Like an idiot.

I squeezed his arm tighter. "Ryder, don't."

Benny let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Oh, I like this. You finally grew a backbone, huh? Guess being ignored by your own siblings finally did something useful for you."

Ryder froze.

I felt him stiffen, and my blood ran cold.

That was intentional. Benny had been watching us. Listening. How much did he know?

Ryder took a sharp breath. "Go to hell," he spat.

Benny simply smiled, hopping down from the fence with eerie grace. He started walking toward us slowly, like he had no doubt in his mind that we weren't going anywhere. I pressed harder against the railing, my breath caught in my throat.

Ryder didn't move.

Benny stopped a few feet away, shoving his hands in his pockets, tilting his head as he studied us. "It's cute, really," he mused. "You thinking you're safe here. That locking your doors, keeping close to your brothers, playing house with your friends—" His grin widened, his teeth flashing. "—would keep me away."

I swallowed, forcing myself to breathe. I needed to keep him talking. Needed to stall.

"Why are you here?" My voice came out steadier than I expected, but my insides were trembling. "What do you want?"

Benny sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. "God, Alexa, you always ask the same questions." He took another step forward, and I instinctively pulled Ryder back with me. "You already know the answer. I want you."

The world seemed to tilt.

No.

No, no, no.

"I'm not yours, Benny," I snapped, my fear momentarily overshadowed by anger.

Benny's smirk didn't fade. "Oh, you are." His voice was so soft, so calm, it made my skin crawl. "And I always take what's mine."

Ryder jerked forward again, but I yanked him back harder this time.