Veronica's POV

"Ugh," I sigh out loudly. "I just can't fucking understand this."

My head falls on the textbook on my desk and I close my eyes for a few moments, frustrated that nothing sticks to my brain, not even simple concepts.

Suddenly my phone rings. I decide to ignore it for a few moments and then I pick it up when I think it could be Derek. He left so hurriedly this morning, I don't even know where.

It's Shanice. We've gotten closer but she never calls me without a reason.

"Ronnie... I know I shouldn't tell you this-"

"What? What do you mean?" I interrupt her.

"Derek is my friend and Irène is—I don't know, even though we are fighting... but I have to tell you."

I put away the textbook knowing damn well I won't study anymore. "Tell me already!"

"Dominic slipped and told me they found your... you know... and they are going to kidnap him or something at Irène's house."

My mouth falls to the floor convinced I didn't hear correctly. Irène's house?!

"So it's just Dominic and Irène?"

"No... I'm worried... it's Derek and Cyprian too."

I gulp down hard, preventing my heart from sinking into my chest as a bitter taste takes over my mouth. Derek broke his promise and now they could all be in danger.

"You- you said Irène's house. Why there?"

"Irène lured him there by calling the company he works for... turns out he works for a shipping company for yard stuff... that's why he knew how to open your garage. And he doesn't live far away from your mom's house."

I squeeze my eyes shut. When I start believing that everything is okay and now I can live at least a quarter of what's left of my life, something comes up again. I feel betrayed by all of them. I knew Irène wouldn't stop but I begged her to stop. It was never her problem.

Derek... how could he do this to me?

"Are you sure Derek is there?"

"Veronica. Derek will fucking kill him."

I shudder, hanging up the call. I know she is worried about Irène but what I'm most worried about is Derek going to prison because he decided to be the hero once again.

I can't think clearly. I don't know if I can forgive the broken trust but for now I'll only think about saving him from prison... otherwise there will be nothing to forgive.

The Uber car stops near me, I make sure to double check the plate number. I couldn't wait for Shanice to come. She was too far.

Luckily the Uber driver doesn't talk much but I can't help feeling unsafe in the back... you just never know. I press my phone hard, knowing I left it on 911 call.

I will never feel better, I will always be paranoid but I wanted Derek to be safe... and he chose me over him again.

Time passed by fast as I find myself in front of Irène's house. It's only been thirty minutes since Shanice called.

I don't know if I'm ready for this. A part of me hopes it's all a nightmare.

The lights are suspiciously turned off. I thank the Uber driver and I rush out of his car.

I look for my keys in the purse so I have something to fight with if I need to. With steady but fast steps I advance to Irene's door when I hear a loud cry coming from the garage.

My heart thumps out of my chest. I stop breathing for a few seconds to hear the silence.

I run towards the garage back door and I walk inside her garage.

Derek, Irène, Dominic and Cyprian all stop to look at me. There is a man with the back turned on me on a chair, tied up. Vividly reminding me of what we did to Alexander.

I put my hand to my mouth, terrified of what the hell they are doing there and the man who slowly turns his head towards me and smiles.

But the smile doesn't last for long. Derek punches him in the face, spilling blood all over the floor.

I instinctively run towards Derek but my gaze averts to the tied man and I can't believe my eyes when I see what that piece of shit looks like. 

His nose is practically destroyed. Dark blood all over his face and his busted lip is horrifying but yet still-

"Now you truly look like the monster you are," Irène says as she keeps the gun pointed to his head.

Yet still I recognize him.

Even just by his disgusting hands.

He laughs.

"You got me."

Derek kneels to look into his eyes. "Yes, and I will fuck you up."

I try to grab him and to force him to look at me.

"You promised," I repeat like a little girl afraid of the consequences of their actions because... this man is disfigured.

Derek's cold eyes meet mine. He is unrecognisable. He doesn't care that he broke the promise or that I will never speak to him again. Not if he kills this piece of shit.

I cup his face. So cold. His skin is ice. My hands are shaking on his stubble.

"Don't do this. It's enough," I mutter through tears. If Derek gets one more report he is done. He is completely done and will go back to prison.

Derek grabs my wrist and frees me from holding him, taking me by surprise. He then makes me follow him outside the garage. The wind hits my teary face making me realize how cold it actually is outside.

"Derek, I beg you, don't do this!" I repeat as he grabs my wrist and takes me to Irene's home. He searches for the keys in the pocket of his jeans.

He doesn't say a word as he makes me follow him inside the house. I try to resist but he is adamant.

When we go upstairs, I already know what he is planning to do.

"Please! He is not worth going back to prison!"

Before he shoves me into Irene's bathroom, he holds my wrists as if it's the last time he will feel the warmth of my skin against his.

"But you are."

He locks the door.

I scream and punch the door. Over and over again until my hands bruise and I can't feel them anymore.

He doesn't leave yet. He waits for a few seconds and I keep screaming and crying for him to not do this.

Ten seconds later I hear the door to the house close.

I stop hitting the door, realizing it's useless. I try to look for my phone but it's not there anymore... my purse.

How did he even get it?! I didn't notice.

"Fucking, no!" I scream as I try to climb the bathtub to get to the window. I can't get him killed or jailed. I don't want to accept this anymore.

The window is big enough but the distance is too much. I can't jump from the first floor without breaking my ankle even though there are a few bushes down there.

"Derek! Please!" I scream out the window for a few times but I give up. It's useless.

Then a loud bang trembles the house.

I almost fall back into the bathtub. I grab the window to try to regain my balance. I can't breathe.

The second bang.

Someone's been shot.

Without thinking I rip the curtains from the bathtub and I roll them, bringing them closer to the window.

I don't even know what I'm doing, I just tie it around the window handle and hope that it will support my whole weight. It's not even long enough to get safely to the ground but at least I won't have to jump high.

With the adrenaline pumping in my body, I climb the window and I try to not fully support myself on the curtain yet. My fingers are digging through the wall but I don't feel any pain.

I have to do this.

I wrap myself around the curtain and lower myself to the point where I can jump safely on the bushes.

I close my eyes and I just jump.

When I land, I don't even know if I'm still alive, I just know I landed on the bush and a stick went up my pants, slightly tearing them.

I get up. I look down at my legs. Everything looks fine.

I start running back to the garage but everyone is outside now. No one looks at me.

Everyone is looking at Irène.

She is the one holding the gun and the monster is laying in front of her in a pool of blood.

He was shot in the stomach but before that he was beaten to the point his face was unrecognizable. Derek's bloody fists tell me everything I need to know.

My eyes sting. I physically can't breathe and I don't know what to do, where to go, where to look.

I walk towards my rapist, now laying on the cold, limp ground. How ironic life is.

His eyes are wide open and red from his blood vessels exploding. He is looking at me but he is obviously dead.

"I will always be with you."

His voice keeps repeating in my head and I can't believe he isn't here anymore.

Irène is shaking, Dominic tries to free her from the gun but she is holding it tightly. This is the second time she is taking a life.

No twenty years old girl can survive such thing.

Derek comes to me and tries to look for scratches, because he knows the only way to escape that bathroom is by jumping out the window.

When he grabs my hand, I push him away.

"Don't touch me."

His previous cold stare finally cracks but I don't care. I knew my friends would continue this manhunt but he was the love of my life and he broke my trust.

The shock of what happened hits me.

Derek lied to me. He broke his promise. He locked me in the bathroom against my will. He beat up my rapist.

But it was Irène who ended up killing him.

I shake my head in disbelief. Irène doesn't even look anywhere. She is lost.

"He deserved it," she keeps repeating as if to convince herself.

We all know he did but it still feels wrong we did it this way... the police won't care.

The sound of the sirens flood the air, making my ears ring.

I run towards Irène, trying to calm her down and make her think clearly before the police shows up.

"It's ok. You did what you had to do," I repeat, mostly trying to convince myself.

He was a monster. He deserved it.

I accidentally glance at Derek, who is panicked but seems pleased Irène killed him. I shake my head in disbelief.

"You. Leave this place," I say with the most bitter tone I can gather, but despite all of it I still love him. I always will. But I can't forgive him for betraying me.

I just don't want him in prison.

Derek tightens his jaw but doesn't make me repeat twice. He leaves before it's too late. He turns around to look at me one last time. Who knows when I'll see him again.

I even live with him.

The police bursts into our yard and before I know it, all the lights are on us.

The men scream at us to get down on the floor with our hands visible. Irène takes too long to comply but luckily she first throws away the gun.

The cop presses my head against the concrete and hand cuffs me. A tear rolls on my cheek as I'm forced to stare at the dead monster laying in front of me, with his eyes fully open.

"I will always be with you."