Page 81 of Tarnished Vow

“Admit the only reason you came is to stalk me!” Ceci yelled back. “You’re so pathetic! Get your own life!”

“Cecilia, don’t speak to her like that.” Nikolai stood up.

Rome seemed ready to grab Ceci, knowing damn well she wasn’t above jumping across the table.

“Fine, I’ll be pathetic as long as you don’t end up killed by him!”

The next second, Cecilia threw her glass at Sofia, hitting her in the face. Sofia screamed so loud in my ear. Deafening me.

“Enough!” I hit the table, standing up.

Pure white fucking anger goes through me as I see Sofia’s face. The blood wouldn’t stop. Split open right beside her eye. Taking the cloth Bastion handed me, I held it to her face.

“How bad is it?” Nikolai walked to the other side.

Nik took over, holding pressure. He’ll take her to the hospital, while I find out this fucker's name.

Looking at Cecilia, it was the lack of guilt in her eyes that made it worse.

Madeline stood up. “I’ll go with Sofia.”

“Wait,” I cupped her face, “I’m sorry.” I saw her flinch, well more like jump. Fuck. I should have known better. “I’m so–”

She cut me off, kissing me. “I’ll see you at home.”

Bastion, Luca, and Rome left the room, leaving me with Cecilia.

My eyes were glued to my little sister. We raised her better. Well. I thought we had raised her better.

Cecilia sat down. “Okay, get to it then. They’re gone. Scream at me.”

Out of all of them, she had always been the hardest.

Slowly counting to twenty, before walking around the table to sit next to her.

Was this fucker the reason she had been so distant, her need to party so hard? Three times she had been held by the police. I’d put it down to her having fun, but clearly I’ve fucked up. We gave her too much freedom.

“Explain.”

Reaching for my cigarette packet. Once I know this man’s name, my night is about to get a lot busier.

“Does it matter?”

Flicking my lighter. If I make it to thirty, without having my first heart attack, it will be a miracle.

“It matters to me, bug.”

She continued to stare at the table. “Can you please just yell at me instead?”

Well, maybe I hadn’t failed her completely. At least she is showing some guilt.

“It’s over okay. Months ago. Just go with Sofia.” Her knee suddenly started shaking. “They woke up one morning and decided they were done with me.”

Practicing my breathing techniques.

“But you can’t kill them. I think um I love them. So. I’d never forgive you.”

“Them?” I repeated, “Is that their pronouns or?—”

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