Hate Me (Black Mountain Academy)

by Ashley Jade

“Damn, girl,” Heather says when I open the door of the dressing room. “There’s not a dry seat in the house after that little performance.” After placing my bag of money on the counter, I put my bra on. “Well, hopefully it paid off—” “You can’t go back there,” Bubba the security guard shouts before the door of the dressing room swings open. My mouth drops when Knox rushes inside, looking like a deranged psychopath as his gaze lands on me. “What the hell are you—” I don’t get to finish my statement because Knox picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder like some kind of unhinged caveman. “Are you crazy?” I slap his back when he turns to walk out of the room. “Do you know him?” Heather calls out as we pass the counter and I reach for my cardigan. “Should I call the police?” Bubba asks, sidestepping Knox as he leaves the room. No, you should fucking stop him. Then again, now that I’ve seen Knox fight…it wouldn’t end well for poor Bubba. “He’s my stepbrother,” I settle on because the club has a strict rule against boyfriends being here. Not that Knox is my boyfriend. He’s nothing to me. He made that perfectly clear the other night. “Put me down,” I demand, but the asshole ignores me as he trudges down the hallway. At least he’s headed for the back exit instead of trekking through the club. I try squirming out of his arms, but that only makes his hold on me tighten. “Jesus. Are you deaf? Put me d—” “No,” Knox growls. “You’re done.” He can’t be serious. “My shift...