Second Chance Boyfriend (Drew + Fable #2)(68)

But before I can so much as push Adele out of the apartment, the door swings open and Fable walks in, stopping short when she sees who’s standing in front of her.

Fable

Seeing Adele in Drew’s living room nearly sends me stumbling backward. Luckily enough I’m able to gain my footing so I don’t make a fool of myself.

Also luckily enough, I find my voice immediately. “What the f**k is she doing here?” I ask, looking pointedly at Drew.

Adele laughs her bitch cackle. “As crude as ever, I see. The epitome of class, aren’t you, Fable?”

“At least I don’t pretend to be full of class when so clearly you’re not, considering you like to molest teenage boys.” I slam the door, realization dawning on me, and I look at Drew. “Where’s Owen?”

“In his room,” Drew says, his voice gentle. “He’s safe. I promise.”

“You two treat me like some sort of common child molester out to pick up little boys off the street when you couldn’t be further from the truth.” Adele sends Drew a warm smile, which totally creeps me out. “He seduced me as well, you know. I mean, look at him. He’s always been a beautiful boy.”

The bitch just crossed a line and now I’m crossing one right back. I don’t know what’s come over me, what possesses me to do something so crazy, there will be an eventual price to pay.

But here I go. It’s like it’s all happening in slow motion and I know I’m going to do it before I actually complete the act.

I launch myself at her. Take her to the ground so hard, I hear her scream of pain when her body hits the floor. I’m sitting on top of her, tugging at her long, sleek hair, trying to scratch her beautiful smug face like I’ve always wanted to do. I want to beat the crap out of her and leave her as bruised and battered on the outside as she left Drew bruised and battered on the inside.

Doing all that, I know I still won’t be satisfied.

“Fable, Jesus, stop!” Drew is yelling at me but I won’t listen. I’m ready to tear this bitch apart. I’m pulling her hair, scratching at her, cocking my fist back as if I’m going to punch her square in the face, and that’s when Drew grabs hold of my arm, stopping my fist from making a connection with Adele’s jaw. “Get off her. Now.”

I’m shaking, full of rage and fear and adrenaline. Both of us are panting, the sound filling the otherwise quiet room. Adele stares up at me with her dark, mysterious eyes and I wonder what happened in her past to turn this woman into such a complete f**k-up.

“Fable.” Drew tugs on my arm so I have no choice but to climb off of Adele and stand. Drew’s fingers are clasped tight around my upper arm and we both watch as Adele gets up, the expression on her face nothing short of murderous.

“I should call the cops,” she says, pointing her finger at me. “And press f**king charges, you lunatic bitch!”

“She didn’t touch you,” Drew says in that scary menacing voice of his.

“What are you saying? She was all over me!” Adele holds out her arms. I suppose there might be a few scratches there but nothing I can see. “Look at me!”

“Get out. Just get out,” he says, ignoring her outstretched arms, her plea for help. All of it. “Before I’m the one doing something I’ll regret.”

Her eyes go wide for the quickest moment and then she’s gone. Fleeing the apartment like some sort of terrorist in flight after dropping a major bomb in the middle of a crowded room. The door slams behind her and I fall onto the couch, my entire body shaking with anger.

“Why did she come here?” I look up at Drew. Misery is written all over his face. His brows are drawn, his mouth a thin, grim line.

“I don’t know. To tell me she’s going to confess to my dad everything that happened between us? She claims she’s going to tell him about Vanessa too.” He sits down heavily beside me, tension radiating off his body in waves. “Should I call him? Should I be the one who tells him first? Dr. Harris says I should.”

I part my lips, but the words clog my throat. I still can’t believe what I did. How quick I jumped her, how bad I wanted to hurt her. I may act like I’m tough but I never resort to violence. I never got in physical fights at school.

That woman makes me want to lose my mind.

“I can’t make that decision for you,” I finally say. I know it’s harsh, but I won’t be responsible for Drew telling his dad or not about what happened. He needs to come to that conclusion on his own.

“You’re right. I know you’re right.” He blows out a harsh breath. “I don’t know how to tell him, though. I’m scared.”

I hook my arm around his shoulders, trying to give him comfort. He’s stiff beneath my touch, though, and I end up running my hand down his back before letting my arm drop. “It’ll be okay,” I murmur. “Don’t let that bitch bother you.”

“Easy to say, not so easy to do.” He looks at me. His gaze is bleak, his face pale. “She’ll ruin everything, Fable. She’s trying to destroy my life.”

I stare at him. He’s giving her so much control still. I thought he was starting to move past this. Clearly, she still had her claws in him. He looks terrified. “We won’t let her, Drew. I’ll stand by you no matter what. I’ll support you. It doesn’t matter what she says.”