Page 71 of Crave
I climbed in and started the engine. I’d been there a few times. Once to crash after an all-nighter. Once more to find dad when I was hurting and in need. Agony plunged deep, leaving me to close my eyes and lean forward, unleashing a moan. He helped me, talked to me even though I expected anger and disgust. But there was none of that. Instead, he stayed up all night, listenedwhile I wept and raged. He held me, one of the very few times in my life where he’d done that.
I needed that now.
I’d kill for that now.
But I couldn’t, could I?
Because he was taken from me.
By her…
Pain turned to anger, then plunged all the way to rage. My hands clenched around the steering wheel. My jaw ground tight. Lying fucking cunt. I shoved the car into drive. The tires squealing as I peeled out of the parking lot and headed deeper for the city.
By the time I pulled into the underground parking I was shaking. I parked, climbed out, slamming the door behind me and strode to the automatic doors. I punched in the code that opened the elevator and stepped in. The lift gave a shudder then climbed before stopping at the top floor and the door opened.
It was just like I remembered. I punched in the code once more, expecting to find the place empty when I walked in. But it wasn’t empty. In fact it was still the same.
The faint scent of my father’s cologne still lingered in the air. I breathed in deep, that brutal ache moving deeper as I closed the door behind me and stepped inside. Serenity filled me as I made my way through the apartment. I walked through, searching empty rooms until I stopped at the main bedroom.
He could almost be here.
Almost.
I turned around and reached for the top button on my shirt, unbuttoning enough to pull it over my head. My shoes tumbled as I kicked them free, then unbuttoned my pants. Hot water hissed as I turned the tap and stepped in. Heat raced along my shoulders, and down the back of my neck. I dropped my head and groaned, standing there long enough until the ache in my head moved to the back before I washed, hit the taps and stepped out.
Dark eyes found me as I stepped into the mirror. I looked like Hell…no, worse than Hell. I looked like me every single day. I wrapped the towel around my waist and headed for my father’s room, pulling on a pair of boxers before I climbed into bed.
Sleep came fast, dragging me down softly. I dreamed of him. His voice. His eyes. His…love. When I woke it wasn’t so softly.
Theo, get out!
Dad’s bellow was brutal, shattering the darkness and plunging me into the light. I jerked awake and opened my eyes to find the illuminated screen of my cell phone in my face. Five missed calls. Silas, Jude, more from Jude.
“Jesus,” I rolled over and closed my eyes, willing the image away.
Beep.
“No.” I squinted harder. “Go the fuck away.”
But the damn thing haunted me. No matter how hard I tried to get back to that place of oblivion I couldn’t. Instead she pushed in.
My stuck-up.
Lying.
Bitch of a sister.
The bane of my existence.
I hated her the day mom bought her home. I hated her cutting stare. Hated her pinched fucking nose. I hated the way mom was with her. Giving her a room under our roof, making her part of the family. Angelica gave mom something we couldn’t and even though I’d seen what my mother had done I still couldn’t hate her for it.
But I sure hated her.
I fucking hated her.
My sister.
I slowly opened my eyes as my breaths moved deeper. She filled my mind, every sneer she gave me with her turned up goddamn lip. A lip I wanted to bite until she winced. A lip I wanted to own, to make quiver, to part as she breathed hard. Just like I was breathing hard.
