Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
“Excuse you,” I mutter before closing the door and following after her. “Why are you here?”
“We need to talk, Atlas.” She glares from Ellis to me and back again, as though simply sitting in his own living room is somehow offensive to her. “And I’d like to do so without an audience.”
Reaching behind me, I grip the back of my neck and squeeze. “Now’s not really a good time,” I say, hoping like hell those are the magic words to make her leave.
If the snarl curling her lips is anything to go by, they’re not.
“No.” She stomps her foot like a child. “Absolutely not. You will talk to me, and if he won’t leave, we can talk in your room.”
She darts around me and takes off down the hall before I can stop her.
“Atlas!” Ellis snaps, but he doesn’t need to—I’m already giving chase.
“If you take one more step, Scarlet, I swear to God—” I’m panting by the time I catch up to her, not out of exhaustion but from worry. The last thing any of us needs is a confrontation between the woman in my hallway and the one in my bed.
“What?” She hisses the word like a cornered cat as she grips the doorknob. “What are you going to do, Atlas?”
I cover her hand with mine, forcing her hand away from the knob. “I’m begging you, please just stop. You don’t understand what’s going on—”
“Of course, I don’t!” She throws her hands wide. “How could I? I haven’t heard a damn word from you since you left me at The Creek Friday night. Not a call or a text. Nothing. And God knows I’ve called you, so excuse the fuck out of me for wanting some answers.”
The sound of the bed frame creaking followed by soft footsteps padding across the floor filters under the door, and despite praying for Scarlet not to hear, her eyes widen in accusation.
Fuck. Could this get any worse?
“It’s not what you think.”
“Isn’t it?” Her eyes flash with hurt. “I swear to God if you’ve been ignoring me because you brought some whore home from the bar—”
“Shut. Up.” I grit through clenched teeth. “There is someone in there, but it’s not what you’re thinking. Please, Scarlet, I am begging you, just be quiet.”
“Then tell me. Right now. Tell me.”
“It’s Nora—”
“Your sister?” Her deadpan tone gives way to almost manic laughter. “You blew me off to play house with your sister? Wow, Atlas.”
“Stepsister,” I growl. “Nora is my step—”
My bedroom door opens, effectively shutting me up. Nora looks up at me with sad eyes before focusing her attention on Scarlet.
“What the fuck, Atlas?” Scarlet hisses.
“It’s fine.” Nora looks down at her bare feet. “I’ll just, um. I’ll go.”
“What? Why?” I know I can’t keep her here against her will, but the thought of her leaving sends icy dread pumping through my veins.
“I don’t want to intrude…” Her voice breaks, and my heart shatters right along with it.
“You’re not,” I insist, shooting Scarlet a dark look telling her she better back me up.
“I’m trying really hard not to flip out right now,” Scarlet says, a slight tremor to her voice. “But you look like someone went Mortal Kombat on your ass, and I need to understand. Did…” She swallows roughly. “Did Atlas—”
“No!” Nora shouts. The way she doesn’t hesitate to rush to my defense has me feeling some kind of way. Like I’m the king of the fucking world. “No, he…he saved me.”
“You saved yourself, Pip. I’m just helping you get back on your feet.”
“Then who did this?” Scarlet fists her hands at her sides, as if it’s taking all of her willpower not to reach for Nora.
Get in line, Scar. I know the feeling well.
Nora looks away, and I can’t decide if it’s out of shame or some misguided attempt at protecting my honor. I decide to rip the Band-Aid off for her.
“My dad.” Venom infuses my tone, making it quite clear how I feel about the situation. “My fucking father did this to her.”
Scarlet gulps as tears fill her eyes. “You weren’t lying when you said you were worried, huh?”
“Nope.” I wish I was lying. More than anything, I wish I was, because then none of this would be real. Nora wouldn’t be hurt, and my dad wouldn’t be a colossal piece of garbage. But that isn’t how life works—wishes don’t mean shit.
Scarlet wraps her arms around herself. “I-I’m sorry. God, I feel like such a rotten bitch.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that’s exactly how she should feel, but Nora speaks up before I have the chance.
“You didn’t know.” She offers us both a weak smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
She tries to slip between us, but I block her path. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t want to cause any more trouble for you. So, I’ll just get my things and be on my way.”