𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐒
Haverhill was meant to be a fresh start for me. What I didn't anticipate was attracting the attention of Carter Knight and his friends, the wealthy, enigmatic boys who seem to own the entire town. After my parents' death, I t...
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Elle
"Madden kissed me." The words slipped from my lips before I could stop them, and the moment they did, Carter's eyes darkened, his expression shifting into something almost unrecognizable.
"He did what?" His voice was tight, as if each word was forced through clenched teeth. He inhaled sharply, trying to steady his breath, but the tension in the air was palpable.
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his gaze on me as he stepped forward, closing the distance between us. With every movement, the space that had once existed between us vanished, and soon, there was no more room for air. Our chests were so close, I could feel the heat radiating from his skin.
"I'm so sorry! I..." I trailed off, unable to finish voicing my thoughts as he wrapped his hand around my throat, silencing me.
I didn't dare to move, my back pressed against the wall, heart racing. His fingers hovered near my lips, tracing their outline with a delicate but intense touch. His dark, almost expressionless eyes followed every subtle movement, locking onto me with an unnerving intensity.
"Did you stop him?" His voice was low, but the weight of the question hung heavy in the air, and not once did he break his stare.
"I did!" I almost shouted, my chest tightening with a mix of fear and frustration. "I pushed him away! I would never have kissed him! He came over last night—said he wanted to 'talk,' but then, while we were talking, he just did it." My words stumbled out in a rush, my teeth clenched as if the very act of speaking them was painful. The sting in my eyes grew unbearable, tears threatening to spill.
His silence was crushing. His expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he took a step back, his gaze lingering on me one last time.
"I'm gonna fucking kill him, Elle." He responded, his anger radiating off him in threatening waves, his posture rigid, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might break.
"Carter, please don't!" I pleaded, my voice desperate, almost frantic. "Don't hurt him! He's your brother, and my friend!" The words tumbled out, frantic and pleading, as I took a cautious step toward him.
A burst of laughter drifted up from downstairs, the sound interrupting the tension in the room, as though mocking the fragile moment between us.
"Brother or not he isn't allowed to touch my shit and he fucking knows it." He affirmed as he leaned in, his breath hot against my ear.
An unmistakable spark of shivers jolted through me, unwelcome yet undeniable. I hated the way he spoke about me, as if I were nothing more than a toy for his amusement. The possessiveness in his tone grated on me, and yet, he'd never shown me anything that proved he truly liked or cared for me. It was always just this—domination, control, and empty words. I was lost, caught in a web of confusion, and I couldn't continue down this pointless, painful path any longer.
