Page 38 of Black Hearts
All Markus could do to that was glare, clearly not believing Will and what he’d said.
I set the Styrofoam container I was eating out of on the bed, working to scoot off it. All the guys stopped what they were doing, turning to stare at me, and I was pretty sure they were wondering what the heck I was doing. So I said, “I’m going to the bathroom.” Based on the looks on their faces, they might just offer to come with me and help, but thank goodness, they didn’t.
I think I could go to the bathroom by myself.
I walked to the small room in the back, shutting the door behind me before flicking on the light. I sighed when I looked at the old porcelain toilet, and I took my time in doing what I had to. Every move I made, I was greeted with a stiffness in my midsection, and not because of the bandage. My body wasn’t happy being stabbed, go figure. Even my muscles were sore.
It took me entirely too long to do what I needed to do, and that was partially because I took my time. Getting up off the toilet was the worst part, but I managed. Shuffling my feet to the sink, I washed my hands. As I did so, I tried my best not to look at myself in the mirror, worrying about what I’d see.
A fatigued girl who was, again, so tired of everything. Someone who’d seen more than they’d ever wanted to, heard things they never thought they’d hear. This life of mine was the very opposite of easy, and I didn’t think it would get easier anytime soon.
But, somehow, my eyes flicked up and met my reflection, anyway.
God, I looked exhausted. I looked like I hadn’t slept in days, even though that’s all I’d been doing ever since getting stabbed. It was like everything was too much, like all of my strength had been sapped by that knife. Giant bags hung under my eyes, and I knew I looked the very opposite of a pretty girl.
And yet I still had a motel room full of guys out there, waiting for me. Markus, Jaxon, Will, and Bennet. And I couldn’t forget Theo, who was holding down the fort at the house.
I closed my eyes, my fingers curling around the edge of the counter. I couldn’t wait to get back to him, to have each and every one of my guys near. No matter what happened with my father, I’d never leave them again. I wouldn’t let anyone take me away from them, or them from me.
I decided to splash some water on my face before heading out. When I rounded the corner out of the bathroom, I walked in on a conversation that died the moment I appeared. All four of the guys stopped and looked at me, even Markus.
“What?” I asked. I didn’t like the way they looked at me, like they were trying to protect me from something. “What were you guys talking about?” How long was I in the bathroom? I mean, I knew I took my time, but I didn’t think it was enough time that they could be knee-deep in an entirely different conversation.
Markus was the one who responded, “We were discussing what must be done when we go back.” He got up, reached into his pocket, and pulled out his cell. “I have a few calls to make, and I’m going to run to the store. Do you want anything?”
That last part was directed at me, but that didn’t stop Will from saying, “Yeah, could you get me some caramel popcorn? I have the strangest hankering—” When Markus only glared at him, he shrugged. “Hey, caramel corn’s good shit, okay? Besides, I doubt Juliet’s ever had caramel corn before.”
That got Markus to turn his glare to me, and I said, “Uh, I haven’t, but you don’t have to.” Outside, the world was in a state of twilight, night slowly creeping up. I wanted to ask him who he was calling, but I also knew he would only call those he’d think would help us in getting back the house.
Markus said nothing as he left the motel room, and Will asked, “So does that mean he’s not getting the popcorn?”
Bennet muttered, “Shut up about the fucking popcorn already, man.”
“Why don’t you make me,” Will shot back.
“Maybe I will—”
Jaxon noted how worried I looked, and he was quick to say, “Both of you, calm the fuck down, okay? No fighting, especially over caramel corn. We’re here for Juliet, so get along or get out.” Turned out, he could sound just as authoritative as Markus. Who knew? I kind of liked it.
I was slow to sit back down with the guys. “Who do you think he’s calling?”
With a shrug, Jaxon said, “Probably whoever he thinks would back him up over the old man. He doesn’t want to kill him. If we do, we might have everyone else on our doorstep. There are… more Scotts out there than you know.”
“Markus mentioned his aunts and uncles. Have you ever met any?”
Will shook his head, while Bennet said, “No, and I barely know the old man as my fucking father. He sends his kids off to live at the estate as soon as we’re off the fucking tit. From what it sounds like, I didn’t lose much not knowing him.”
Jaxon sighed. “Yeah, I don’t know any of them, either. The Scotts are so huge, there are plenty I’ve never met before, and I’m twenty-three. Even when I was adopted into the family, it’s not like they threw a huge party for me. If they don’t visit the house, odds are I’ve never met them.”
Hearing that the Scott family was even larger than I initially thought made my head spin. How many could there be? I knew Markus’s and Bennet’s father had a lot of wives and girlfriends, which I guess lent to popping out a lot of kids, but still. It was hard to wrap my head around the idea that the Scotts were everywhere, not just at the house.
The guys continued to eat, but I didn’t touch any more food. I watched them eat, just happy to have them with me. Markus remained gone for a long while, and twilight completely turned into night. I started the pills I was prescribed, and I even did my best to shower without getting the bandage wet—next to impossible, but at least my hair wouldn’t be so greasy. It was difficult for me to take my shirt off by myself, but I managed. Just had to move slow. No sudden, jerky movements.
By the time I’d stepped out of the bathroom with a towel on my shoulders, the guys had cleaned up dinner and lounged around, though Jaxon said he was claiming the shower next. I spotted a bag near the door, a white plastic bag I hadn’t noticed before.
“Is Markus back yet?” I asked. Again, moving so slowly in the shower had meant time crawled by; more time must’ve passed than I realized.
“He’s outside, on the phone,” Will said. “But don’t bother with him.” He reached over to the nightstand and yanked over a loud bag of what must be caramel popcorn. “Try some.” He held out the bag to me, the top end already ripped open.
