Page 65 of Rules

“I’m the one who says when enough is enough, John!”

Her hysterical words are accompanied by another loudsmash. I cringe, my hand covering my rapidly beating heart. Everything in me wants to run away before things escalate further, but it’s like I’m glued to the spot.

“I gave you everything you asked for.Everything.And you didn’t even give me the proof to know that what you’re saying is true.” His voice rises with every single word, the accusation obvious in his tone. “For all I know, you could be lying just to get the money!”

Moving closer, I push the door open just a little bit further so I can see them more clearly. They’re standing in the doorway of the living room. They’re close, smashed glass on the floor between them, as they stare at each other, anger and fury oozing from their bodies.

“You want the proof?” Josephine asks, taking a step forward so she’s in his face. Her hair is wild, just like the look in her eyes. Even from here I can see she’s on something. Booze or drugs, probably both.

I’m not sure what happens next. Maybe I move or make a sound, but those dark eyes with dilated pupils are on me, her lipstick-smeared mouth curling into a smug smile, loud, frantic laughter falling from her lips. My whole body stiffens under her watchful stare.

“Just look at her.” She tilts her chin in my direction. The guy’s back is still turned toward me, and I can see his wide shoulders tense. “Just look at her eyes and you’ll get your answer.”

As if in slow motion, he turns around. My mouth falls open as we stare at one another through the gap in the doorway. Just like before, he’s in an expensive, dark, three-piece suit that costs more than this whole building. But that is where the resemblance to the man I saw at the rink just weeks before ends. His dark hair is a bit longer and disheveled, like he ran his fingers through it one too many times. The wrinkles on his face are more prominent, revealing his age, and his jaw is covered in a five o’clock shadow. The bags underneath his eyes are dark, standing out on his otherwise fair skin. And then there are his eyes. His light, surrounded by thick, dark eyelashes,greeneyes.

“Do you need more proof than that?”

I shake my head at Josephine's loud snicker. It can’t be true. This isn’t happening.It can’t be happening.

I want to look away, but my eyes have a will of their own. They’re glued to the guy’s face, just like his are glued to mine. Cold sweat covers my skin, and I can feel the fine hair at the nape of my neck rise.

“You’re lying,” I whisper weakly, my head still shaking in disbelief.

This isn’t true. All my life… She wouldn’t have done it. She wouldn’t have hidden it from me for so long knowing…

“Brook…” That deep, raspy voice calls my name as he takes a step forward.

Still refusing to believe any of this is happening, I step back, rejecting his touch or whatever the hell he was thinking about doing.

This isn’t happening.

“Whatever sick game you think you’re playing, Josephine, it ends now.” I lift my finger and point at her, the words come out through my gritted teeth.

“This is no game, little girl.”

“You’re lying, and I want no part in this.”

“What? You’re not interested in playing house with your old man?” She laughs that crazed laughter of hers that’s making me sick to my stomach. I knew she was losing it, but this is going too far, even for her. “No worries. He doesn’t want you anyway.”

Even though I don’t want to believe her, her words are like a slap to my face. Worse even, but I don’t let it show. With one final look at the man standing shell-shocked between the two of us, I turn my back to them. If I stay here even a second longer, I’m going to throw up. But no matter how fast I try to run away, it’s not fast enough.

“Believe me now? If you want this to stay our dirty little secret, youwillpay up…”

I don’t wait around to hear more. Stumbling down the stairs, I return back outside. The snowstorm is even stronger than it was before. Icy wind is blowing the snow in all directions, making it hard to see, but the cold that’s settling outside is nothing compared to the cold surrounding my heart.

She knew it. All these years she knew it, but she never wanted to tell me.

He doesn’t want you anyway…

He’s not the only one.

Chapter Twenty-Three

MAX

I turn to my back, rearranging the pillow underneath my head as I huff in irritation. Even without looking at my phone, I know it’s fucking late, but that doesn’t help me fall asleep any more than counting sheep would. My eyes ache with the need to shut them, but my brain has decided tonight’s the night to work overtime.

My room is dark; I was hoping it would help ease me to sleep, but no such luck. Giving up, I tap for my phone, which I left on my nightstand, and unlock the screen. A bright light blinds me for a minute, but my eyes adjust enough to dull it.

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