Under Your Scars (Under Your Scars, #1)

by Ariel N. Anderson

He presses me against the wall so hard my head knocks against the brick, but his hand cups the back of my head to soften the blow. “Ow!” I mumble, rubbing the spot. “What do you want, asshole?” “I need your help with something. And don’t be dramatic, I made sure to protect your pretty little head.” I roll my eyes. “You need my help? With what?” “Frank Valenti is up to something, and I want to know any information you can get me about this place. If you see or hear anything weird, I need to know.” A knot twists in my stomach and I rip my arm out of his grasp. “How exactly do you expect me to get this information? Why don’t you just break in, since you seem to be such an expert at that?” I mock, bitterly pointing out all the times he’s broken into my apartment. “I’m not exactly welcome here. It’s not as simple as walking in the front door.” I chew on my bottom lip. “What did you do?” “Exactly what I told you I would. I killed all Valenti’s friends. Spelled his name in their blood so he knows I’m coming for him next.” I shudder. “You can’t just keep killing people for—” “I can and I will, Elena. Until there’s no one left that can hurt you. That’s a promise.” I push him roughly away from me. “So, what, next time my father and I get in an argument are you going to run to Texas to kill him too?” He huffs, pressing himself into me and caging me between his body and the brick wall. He softens his voice. “No, angel. I would never hurt your family.”