Page 32 of My Only Luna

Scarlett

“Hey.”

I look up to see Indigo standing at my door. She’s been quieter since everything happened. And I won’t deny I amenjoying it for as long as it lasts.

“Hey.”

“What are you doing?”

“Well, the salon fired me.” I pull a face. “I guess not showing up to work for days on end isn’t the smartest thing, right?”

“Oh, well, I’m sure you’ll find another job. So uh, Mama and Dad wanna speak to you and Elijah. Grandma Amelia demanded to be here for it too,” she explains.

“Oh, now I guess?” I’m glad Grandma Amelia is going to be there. I could use some backup. Goddess, I’m grateful for her. I haven’t seen Elijah since our makeup sex, if that’s what it was. He went to deal with the four men. I only told him to go easy on Derek, but I did agree that he does need some sort of punishment, too.

I had gone for a walk after that makeup session, pondering over everything that went down at the trial, then with Elijah, and the future that we want before returning home. The fresh air always does me good.

Zidane is the biggest issue that we need to handle. It feels strange saying us rather than me, but I have seen the stubborn will in Elijah’s eyes and know he won’t drop it, nor will he let me do this alone. Candace has yet to message either of us with any updates despite it being a while, so I dropped her a quick message. I really hope everything is okay with the elder woman.

“Yeah… now; they’re in the lounge.”

“Thanks, Indy.”

She gives me a small smile, but her eyes are still full of worry. I sit up, taking a deep breath before I head downstairs. I’m almost to the bottom of the steps when the front door opens and Elijah steps inside. As always, he looks effortlessly hot.

Our eyes meet and my heart skips a beat. He crosses the hall, eating up the distance between us swiftly before cupping my face, and pressing his lips against mine in a deep and pleasurable kiss. My eyes fly open, not expecting him to do that in our own hallway!

But my shock is soon consumed by the addictive sensation of his lips against mine, and I melt into his touch. A low, dangerous growl makes me tense.

Dad!

My heart thuds, but even when I try to pull away, Elijah doesn’t let go of me until he has kissed me breathless. He loosens his hold on me but doesn’t let go as we both turn to see Dad standing there, looking beyond angry.

“Get in here, both of you!” he snaps, his eyes burning teal. I glance at Elijah.

“He’ll get over it,” he says, unfazed, and takes my hand. His eyes trail over me, checking me out unapologetically as we step into the lounge.

The first thing I notice is the state Mama is in. Her face is blotchy, her skin grey, her eyes red and hollow. Grandma Amelia is holding her but she looks horrific. I hurry to her side, worry filling me as my stomach twists. I know the reason behind this, and I feel guilty for telling her.

“Mama, look at you.”

“Scarlett, my baby, tell me why?” she whispers, pulling away from Grandma Amelia and hugging me tightly. I glance at Grandma Amelia, whose eyes hold sorrow but understanding. She gives me a nod and a motion to tell Mama what she wants to know.

The door closes and I glance back to see Dad is the one toshut it as he glares scathingly at Elijah. I wish he didn’t treat him like this. Doesn’t he see he too lost a parent? Dad’s always been attentive of me and Indigo, but I feel he’s always been harder on Elijah.

“Scarlett!”

“Why what?”

“Tell me why you didn’t say anything. He hurt you, didn’t he? He abused you, didn’t he?!” Her voice cracks, and she stares at me distraught. “He knew you healed fast; he figured it out.”

It’s a statement, not a question. I nod slowly as I tug free from her hold and sit on the sofa beside her, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Yeah, he treated me the same way he did you and Indigo, and when he found out I was a much more… durable target, he enjoyed it,” I say quietly, looking at my hands that are now intertwined with Mama’s. She closes her eyes, her heart thundering.

“And here I was trying to tell you to always be patient with Indigo because she had been abused, not knowing you were too. Goddess, I thought he was going to make you his heir. I’m so stupid.” Her voice is barely audible as she rocks gently. A move to comfort herself.

“Tell me what he did and don’t try to protect me by lying. I am your mother, Scarlett; it was my job to protect you! Not the other way around!” she cries, standing up in frustration as fresh tears of sadness, guilt and anger spill down her cheeks.

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