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It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (z-lib.org).epub

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He tilts his head and leans it forward a little bit. “Funny. You sound just

like your mother.”

His words sting. I immediately try to reach around him for the door,

but he grabs my wrist. “Leave him, Lily.”

I yank my hand away. I turn my back to him and inhale a deep breath. I

release it slowly as I face him again. “If it’s any comparison at all, I’m more

scared of you right now than I’ve ever been of him.”

My words make Atlas pause for a moment. His nod starts out slowly, and

then gets more prominent as he steps away from the door. “I certainly

didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.” He motions toward the

door. “Just trying to repay the concern you’ve always shown me.”

I stare at him for a moment, unsure how to take his words. He’s still

raging on the inside, I can see it. But on the outside, he’s calm—collected.

Allowing me to leave. I reach forward and unlock the door, then pull it

open.

I gasp when my eyes meet Ryle’s. I quickly glance over my shoulder to

see Atlas filing out of the bathroom with me.

Ryle’s eyes fill with confusion as he looks from me to Atlas. “What the

fuck, Lily?”

“Ryle.” My voice shakes. God, this looks so much worse than it is.

Atlas steps around me and turns toward the doors to the kitchen, as if

Ryle doesn’t even exist to him. Ryle’s eyes are glued to Atlas’s back. Keep

walking, Atlas.

Right when Atlas reaches the kitchen doors, he pauses.

No, no, no. Keep walking.

In what becomes one of the most dreadful moments I can imagine, he

spins around and strides toward Ryle, grabbing him by the collar of his

shirt. Almost as soon as it happens, Ryle forces Atlas back and slams him

against the opposite wall. Atlas lunges for Ryle again, this time shoving his

forearm against Ryle’s throat, pinning him against the wall.

“You touch her again and I’ll cut your fucking hand off and shove it

down your throat, you worthless piece of shit!”

“Atlas, stop!” I yell.

Atlas releases Ryle forcefully, taking a huge step back. Ryle is breathing

heavily, staring at Atlas long and hard. Then his focus moves directly to

me. “Atlas?” He says his name with familiarity.

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