07
ETHAN WAS SLEEPING in the armchair when I woke up. I winced, sitting up as a dull throbbing erupted in my temples.
What a great way to start Tuesday. No, honestly. Life was a fucking ray of sunshine.
It was snowing outside.
One day. I wanted one day where I felt perfectly fine. Perfectly happy.
"You're up," I jolted, looking to my left. Lucas sat up from the sofa and came forward. He had a perturbed look on his face as he glared at my duvet.
What the fuck is going on? Why is he here? Did I do something wrong? Fuck.
"Um, yeah. School," I finished lamely, trying to rack my brain for what I had missed. "Um, is everything okay?
Again, and I cannot stress this enough, what the fuck was going on?
He let out a humourless laugh before sitting by my feet. I instinctively pulled them closer.
"Do you not remember last night?" Ethan asked quietly, making me look up, startled.
He too came closer and sat on the bed, posture tense. This was even more nerve-wracking than taking the pills Amara-
Oh, shit.
I looked down at the comforter with wide eyes as last night's events came rushing back to me. Did I really just out myself? God, how much of a fuck up can someone be? I needed to take control of this situation before it got out of hand.
And I'm never drinking again. Fuck that.
"Look-" I paused, trying to formulate what I was going to say, "-what I said yesterday...it's not that big of a deal, alright? I fucked up-"
"You? You fucked up?" Lucas asked incredulously before shaking his head. "All these years I've been treating you like shit, Emile. Remember that? Every single time you tried to explain yourself, I'd cut you off! Remember that? How can you sit there and act guilty? Do you really think it's your fault I brought a rapist-" he paused, eyes closing as I flinched as the word before he continued, "-that fucking bitch near you? I don't even know how I'd redeem myself..."
For the first time, I saw his shoulders hunch as he stared at his hands, a murderous expression on his face.
Ethan gave me a small smile before speaking.
"We didn't tell mom and dad but I think you should Emile-"
"Over my dead body," I interrupted hotly, shaking my head. "There is no way I'm telling anyone shit. It's done and over with. I don't want to be dragged into anything, alright? I'm happy with the way things are right now. Please...can we just forget about last night?"
No one spoke, making my heart rate pick up.
"Please, guys. Lucas that's the only way I'll forgive you." I wasn't really mad at him ever but I'll take whatever gets me out of this predicament.
They didn't answer for a few minutes before Ethan shrugged.
"But if I see her, I'm fucking her up."
Lucas looked up at Ethan.
"Not if I do it first."
I rolled my eyes, laughing inwardly. If only they knew that I had managed to get involved in an even more fucked up situation.
"What do you want for breakfast?" Lucas asked, making me blink in shock. He hadn't asked me that in years. In fact, he made sure to make my least favourite food just because.
You're not innocent. Don't act like it, Emile. Your guilt will only worsen.
I shrugged, pushing down the thought of steaming pancakes. I don't think I'll even be able to keep them down.
"An apple is fine, Lucas. I'm getting late for school. Coach is going to have my ass if I don't maintain a ninety-five per cent attendance."
Ethan looked at me wearily.
"Are you sure - maybe you should stay at home for today-"
"And do what?" I couldn't help but interrupt. "I need to go to school so I can get stress lines. Maybe that'll keep whores off my back..."
I shook my head at the bitterness that seeped into my tone. Whatever.
"Text when you reach, alright?"
I only nodded.
.
.
Walking to school helped clear my mind and I could feel my frown disappearing. Even the headache was mostly gone. I started to wonder what Rose was doing. Probably already in school. She was obsessed with getting perfect grades like her sister so she could become a doctor. That was her only goal. She didn't want anything else in life; no car, no gadget, no boyfriend, no kids-
Of course, she didn't want kids.
Her mother had offered Rose as a peace offering a few years after Isla Winters was killed by her husband. Mr Winters would have never found out she was with Isla's bastard husband if he hadn't caught his wife speaking with said bastard on the phone.
How he could still have an heir...just a better one.
Mr Winters had made her spit out where Rose was whilst she was gurgling on blood from his blows. But a month had passed and the damage was already done when Rose was brought back home.
If she didn't laugh often before, she didn't even smile after that.
I still hadn't gathered the courage to ask her what happened. Maybe I didn't even want to know. Isla Winters condition was indication enough of what the man was capable of.
And just like me, Rose was allowed to have secrets. Her dedication to her goal showed just how capable she was.
I was brought out of my reverie when a tinted black car pulled over to my side and Matias stuck his head out.
"Get in please, sir."
His tone was polite but I knew it was an order.
"I have school," I said as I got into the car, my heart thrumming wildly in my chest. The motherfucker was going to jump out one of these days.
Matias didn't answer and neither did the guard who sat in the front or the one who sat next to me. Well, at least the one in the front wasn't looking at me creepily.
"Madam is right..." he said after a while. His thick accent made it hard to understand what he was saying immediately. "Fuck, Matias...you're lucky you've seen her fuck this beauty. How did he look like?"
Matias didn't respond and I just looked out of the window, face red.
"I heard she loves guy on guy action...you might have a taste of this beauty soon. Do share all the details-"
"Shut the fuck up," I snapped, finally.
His eyes narrowed before he yanked me closer by my shirt and slammed me face down on the black leather seat.
"She said we're allowed to use force if necessary...and fuck, I want to use the kind of force that'd have you limping for days-"
"Get off, you motherfuck- ah!"
I yelped as his hand unzipped my pants, making me stiffen.
"Carlos stop. If she found out she'd mount your head and balls on the wall. Balls first." Matias' tone was light.
Asshole.
I thought he was slightly more sane. He finally pulled his hand away, making me collapse from the pain in my groin. What was the point of showing dignity when they'd seen it all?
We rode the elevator up before Matias pushed me inside and the other two men left.
Her back was towards me, posture tense.
Fuck.
She finally turned around after a few, long minutes. Her eyes were bloodshot with tears streaks down her face.
"You didn't attend my call."
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