Page 2 of Heart Sick Hate

Finally, his stare lands on where my fingers clutch the black leather chair I jumped out of when he walked into the room.

Releasing it, I quickly cross my arms over my chest. “No.”

At least, I don’t think I was. Not intentionally.

He continues to circle until he closes in on me. Ten feet away. Five. Until he’s right in front of me, drawing out the length of my neck, so I can look up at him.

Close enough to smell cedar and old oak trees. The chill of midnight in fall sends a shiver up my spine. He’s cold and splintered.

“Sure you weren’t.” He dips his chin. “I’ve got two brothers. Planning on testing us out next?”

Heat floods my veins as he pulls back. His tilted smirk is a challenge as his gaze drops to my warming cheeks. And I’m sure he doesn’t miss the bob in my throat as I try to swallow.

The nerve of him.

My fingers clench.

Crew is probably used to precious, sweet girls, and how it's so easy to ruffle their feathers. Ones who wear pleated skirts and walk around school with golden spoons in their mouths in a display of their parents' money. And maybe he thinks I’m one of them, with my blonde hair in a tight ponytail on top of my head, and a white dress that hits me at the knees.

But my elegance is a mask, just like the one I sense he puts on for those who underestimate him.

I’m Echo Slater.

I’m rotten.

I’ve already seen the worst, which means I don’t get caught off guard or surprised. And I don’t let boys get to me.

“Let me guess.” I narrow my gaze, smoothing my fingers over the front of my dress and rolling my shoulders back. “You’re the one that’sjust right?”

Amusement ghosts his cheeks. A beautiful sight if it wasn’t unholy.

“No, Goldie.” He shakes his head, cool eyes darkening their focus on my lips. “I already know I’m too much for you. Not that I’ll turn you down if you want to see so for yourself.”

“Give it up, Crew.”

Another person walks into the room, and he must be the middle brother, Rhett. He’s early twenties, handsome, overly confident.

Crew’s jaw clenches and his back stiffens as he turns, positioning himself between us. It’s a move that would feel protective if Crew didn’t strike me as someone more interested in making me his captive.

Rhett smiles, softer and not as menacing as his brother. He has a golden-boy aura with his styled hair and collared polo shirt. He looks like he belongs in this mansion, unlike Crew, wearing faded jeans and a Nightmare on Elm Street T-shirt.

And as Rhett walks toward us, brushing his sandy brown hair off his forehead, he’s almost welcoming. If only I didn’t find better comfort in darkness.

“You’re Echo?” He stops in front of me, and I nod.

Rhett offers a warm smile, while Crew stands like a cool steel wall between us. They’re opposites, while I’m a girl torn down the middle.

The girl I was born, and the girl who was saved.

My dark and light battling the same as these brothers.

Crew turns at my silence, examining me as his brother does.

Which part of me are they looking at? What I show or what I hide?

Rhett tilts his head and offers another soft smile. A gesture that would be sweet if I was capable of trust.

“Your father’s looking for you,” he says.

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