Page 51 of Deliria

Christ, the way he talks about her.

“Scarlett won’t be around forever, though, will she?” I point out. “What exactly have you got to offer once your wife’s pretty cunt is gone?”

Alexander’s eyes flash with fury, and before I can react, he lunges at me, fists flying.

What he lacks in skill, he makes up for in speed. It’s what catches me off guard. He used to be slower. I guess the fucker has been working out more than I realised.

His knuckles connect with my jaw. My head snaps back, but my reflexes are good. My own right hand comes up swiftly and even harder. I pound my fist into his face, hoping he feels every single bit of my hatred for him.

He stumbles back, and then our father appears out of nowhere, stepping between us and grabbing Alexander by the collar to stop him from landing flat on his arse.

“Enough.” he shouts, his voice loud and commanding, taking on that tone we both know so well. “We need to stop the petty bickering. We need to work together now, focus on the end game.”

I wipe the streak of blood from my lip and scowl at my brother, then turn my attention to my dad. “What end game?” I demand, my voice low and menacing. “The one where we all get to live happily ever after?”

Our dad smirks, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Something like that,” he replies, and it’s hard not to miss the sarcasm in his voice. “Scarlett won’t be around much longer, and once she’s gone, once everything is as it should be, we can all start afresh.”

I roll my eyes at that tone of his. “I hope you’re all happy when it’s done,” I mutter under my breath.

“Talking of Scarlett,” Alexander says, glancing from me to our father. “It’s late, she’s already in bed, waiting.”

Our dad lets out a little chuckle and I swear I see his hand move, see him rub his groin like he already can’t help himself.

“What are we doing out here then?” He says, heading for the door.

“Exactly my thoughts.” Alexander says, pointedly meeting my gaze. “Have a good night brother. I’m certain we will.”

As he follows our father out the door, it’s all I can do not to pick up that wrench and hurl it at his damned head. Not just for Scarlett’s sake, but for my own.

But that’s not the plan, is it? She’s not meant to be saved. At least, not by me.

My stomach twists with disgust, and the thought of walking back, of being inthatfucking house right now?

My skin prickles with that old sensation and even though I know it’s in my head, that that part of me has no feeling, I rub my chest anyway. I rub over my heart, right where the old scar is.

I need space, I need freedom.

I need out of this damned fucking situation.

I let out a snarl, storming over to the Triumph. As the engine roars to life, my mind goes blank, those thoughts in my head seem to fade and I speed off into the night, away from the horror I know is already unfolding.

Scarlett

My head feels heavy. My eyes seem to focus on the wrong things. On the air instead of the objects that surround me.

I try to sit up, to move and my body lurches forward like I have no control.

A wail seems to echo around the room, and it takes a full moment for me to realise that it’s me making that noise, making that awful sound.

Shut up.

Shut up.

They’ll hear you. They’ll find you.

Words whisper in my head. Faces seem to leer down at me like ghosts. And I know they too are just a figment of my imagination. That I’m alone right now. No one is here. Yet.

From the deep depths of the house, I swear I can hear music. Playing that same haunting lullaby that seems to taunt me.

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