Perish: Book Three (bxb) ✔️

11. Huh, isn't that interesting?

August Luna

"We're done."

Those words echoed in my fucking ears as I drove through Los Angeles traffic, cursing every goddamn person, object, or invisible force that slowed me down. How did everything become so fucked up that fast? How did my entire world continue to twist on its axis, making me dizzy all in the span of a few hours? 

Because I knew, deep in my fucking heart, something was wrong, but I chose to ignore it. I chose to ignore him, and I was still so fucking confused! I felt like around every corner, I was being gaslit and led off the correct path, and I had a feeling that Kayax always knew when I was onto him. He held the bait, and he dragged me away to keep me off his trail.

But there was one thing I knew for sure; no, there were two things I knew for sure.

One, Kayax hated Davis.

Two, Davis hurt Kayax on more than this occasion. 

And no longer did I have to ignore the way it pissed me off! 

The second I parked the car, I beat my hands against the steering wheel. It felt like a punishment of sorts. Because how did he slip through my fingers so easily? I already had this insane need to protect him, and I hid it deep down in the darkest corners of my brain because it only ever felt like a betrayal.

Then I found out Salem was friends with Kayax? I had no idea how to even compute that. It felt like I kept getting thrown in so many directions, constantly confused, and I couldn't take it. It was too much for me to handle. What did everyone want me to believe? 

I was full-on ready to believe that little act Davis had on. He put on that great of a show. However, his kindness didn't match the way Kayax hopped in front of me as if Davis was a threat. Before Davis even said a word, that was the final nail in the coffin for me. I knew right then that Kayax hated his Father. Because the action Kayax took to protect me went against every word he'd ever said to me. 

I'd never been so fucking confused in my entire life. My life was simple until that little glittery superstar entered my life, and then he started destroying my brain space to the point I had to completely cut him off. I didn't trust myself to not fall into what I thought would be a trap where Kayax was concerned, but would that have ever been the case?

I didn't know anything anymore.

Because Kayax insinuated his parents were together, but then his Mom introduced herself with an entirely different last name. I was willing to let that go; not everyone changed their last name. But then, at dinner, she kept telling my Dad how fascinated she was with Los Angeles because it was her first time visiting, and I truly knew I couldn't ignore that niggling in the back of my brain.

Kayax had been lying to me, and it was to protect... my family.

But I still didn't know why. I knew nothing!

I quickly got out of my car, slamming the door shut before stomping through the hotel lobby. I had my hood up and a mask on because I was already widely recognized, and I wasn't about to draw attention to myself. So, I kept my head down and walked forward.

Once I pressed the button on the elevator, I quickly slid inside. No one was on there with me, so I pulled out the keycard from my pocket, shaking my head. There was so much noise inside of my mind that I couldn't turn it off. It was consuming me alive. There were so many questions that I needed answers to before it would even begin to settle.