Page 105 of Raine
When I’m finally finished, I sit at the edge of the sofa, my nerves shot, and anxiety slamming through my body as I look at the three broody assholes in front of me.
Acheron’s jaw is tensed so tight that his lip is lifted in a snarl and is pulling on his scar. Somehow it makes my brother look like an avenging angel and not the killer he is. Arrow’s fists are clenched on his thighs, his legs spread so wide I can somehow see the rigidity from here and through his jeans. He glances up, and although it’s quick, I see emotions flicker through his eyes before he darts them away and stands up.
And Justyce. He looks thoughtful but downright fucking rageful. He’s standing up, his body stiff with his hand cupping his chin, and when he meets my eyes, I know I’m not going to like what he has to say.
“Why the fuck would you go off on a whim like that, especially seeing you only just got back?”
I look at Arrow quickly and find him studying me, so I dart my eyes away and look to Acheron instead. “I needed space.”
“You needed space?” Justyce replies slowly, the undercurrent anger riding through. “Raine, you just had two fucking weeks! Not to mention, you went alone and didn’t inform any of us. You didn’t call us when this happened, so who the hell did you pick up your phone and dial if it wasn’t one of us?”
I look away from them all because I don’t want to see the disappointment and suspicion glaring back at me. As soon as I mention Gabe, whatever slippery bubble I’ve been living in will pop and I’ll see the betrayal in each of their eyes. Moreover, Arrow’s than anyone. Acheron knows, but he’s staying quiet, allowing me a moment of reprieve before I shatter what’s left of this tenuous string line I’m balancing on.
My head falls forward and my hair curtains around me, but I’m not naïve; even though it hides me from their eyes it won’t stop their anger and knifelike words from being thrown back at me.
“Gabe.”
“Who?” Arrow asks, and I flinch at the intensity and conjecture behind that one word.
“Tell him, Raine,” Acheron says, his voice, unlike Arrow’s, having softened to a dull blade instead of a sharp one.
“Look at me, Raine?” Arrow demands, and I glance up, pushing my hair behind my ears as my eyes collide with his intense cognac pair. They’re darker around the outside, and I can see the pain radiating around the outer edge of his amber-colored hues.
"Gabriel Marx," I finish with a whisper, and I watch his eyes glaze over and then shatter like a piece of glass. There is so much affliction written in his face, and I feel the tears start leaking from the corners of my eyes.
“Gabriel Marx, the gun dude?” He looks to Acheron, and Ach nods.
He starts laughing, and it turns into full-blown mania leaving his throat. Goosebumps pebble my skin, and anxiety latches onto my flesh, scraping down it and leaving me raw. Gone are the anger, pain and hurt from moments ago. All that is left is a man in a carefully manipulated disguise, shielding me from the one I used to know.
When he stops laughing, his eyes snag on mine and I wipe the tears from my face, sitting up straighter. He stares at me coldly, his stare never wavering, and I see the moment he really lets me go — the moment he loses all respect for me.
If his distance, dismissal and harsh words hurt before, I know I’ll never be prepared for the man who’s hardened his exterior and closed off his heart to me for good right before my eyes. He shunned me before, but he still cared; now the man looking back at me is one I don’t recognize.
I swallow harshly, the saliva collecting in my mouth but not enough to wet my throat. Arrow shakes his head, and I see Justyce move from my peripheral. He places a hand on Arrow’s shoulder, but he shrugs it off.
“Don’t, Arrow.”
His eyes stay on mine, Justyce’s words falling on deaf ears. “Gabriel fucking Marx. The one that used to work foryourbiological father. You’ve been fucking around with that douche when we’ve been doing it hard and dealing with you disappearing, not to mention the rest of the shit that you continue you find yourself in.” He spits, throwing his hands in the air.
“You’re dead to me, Raine. Fucking dead to me!” he roars, and I see the pain swirling around his eyes, shattering what was left of my splintered heart.
“Enough,” Acheron snaps, and Arrow laughs, looking between us, the disgust evident.
“Arrow, please.”
He shakes his head and turns toward Justyce. “You need me; you know where to find me.” With that he leaves, throwing his middle finger up as he does.
A sob breaks through and Acheron is beside me in a second, his hands on my shoulders shaking me. “Look at me.”
Glancing up, his lips drop into a frown before his features harden. “Little sister, he doesn’t get to make you feel like this anymore. Let the asshole go and move on. If that’s with Gabe, then so be it. You and Arrow may have been close, but there was never a happy ending in sight. He’s not your forever after, Raine, so don’t give him power to control your actions or movements any longer.”
The room is eerily silent, but I know Justyce was listening and no doubt thinking the same thing as me…Where the fuck did Acheron go?
Looking into his ferocious, lapis-colored eyes, I notice the change that’s occurred between us. Our bond has formed and strengthened in such a short time, and I know without a doubt my brother would go to hell and back if it meant he could keep me safe.
Nodding my head, I wipe the tears away while knowing that doing what Acheron has demanded won’t be as easy as he would like. As I would like. There is too much history between Arrow and me — history I wouldn’t give up, but one I wish I could alter so we both didn’t hurt as much as we did right now.
“I need to go home. Is there anything more you need from me?” I ask, turning away from Acheron to look at Justyce.
