Page 211 of The Invite
Fuck knows she’s done it plenty of times to me.
I find her lying on her stomach on her canopy-style bed and scrolling on her phone. She jumps at my presence and snaps her head in my direction.
“Jesus! What did my door to you?” she yells and sits up straight. At my livid expression, apprehension crosses in her bright eyes. “Gus…”
I don’t reply. Instead, I cross the room to the nightstand, where her laptop sits.
“What happened to your back… wait, what are you doing?”
The sudden panic in her voice gives her away even before I tap at the keyboard, bringing the screen to life. Betrayal cuts deep and blistering as the evidence of her treachery slaps me in the face.
Right before me, sits a folder full of several pictures she took of Nessa and me from outside her home. Any shed of sympathy and protectiveness I felt for my sister turns to ash in the wake of her actions.
“Augustus,” she says cautiously. “Let me explain—”
“I gave you a specific instruction, didn’t I?” I whip around. “Not only did you go against it, you even went a step too far.”
Rather than show remorse, she juts her chin out and gives me a perplexed stare. “I did do as you said. I made up a lie about Kaid. This—” she points at the laptop. “—is backup for when shit goes sideways. I kept your word while making sure we’re safe.”
“You didn’t do shit!” I roar, flinging the laptop at the wall until it shatters into pieces on the floor. Scarlett jumps. “You just ruined Nessa’s life.”
“You were plotting to do the same. It’s what you told me this morning,” she accuses like I’ve lost my damn mind. “You were pussyfooting around, probably fucking her until you got bored. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to move things along.”
“I also told you to stay the fuck out of my business,” I hurl back. “How conveniently you forgot about that.”
She blinks up at me in utter confusion. “You’re… mad?”
Christ! Is she that dense?
I run a hand through my hair in frustration.
“I thought you’d be ecstatic. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
If she’d asked me this on the first day I met Nessa, my answer would’ve been different. I would’ve been proud and victorious. However, my intentions have flipped upside down.
I don’t want revenge on Nessa, but on the people who have crossed and hurt her.
Never thought my sister would be one of them.
“I did it to protect us. Don’t you see?” Approaching me, she shakes my shoulders as she gazes up at me. “Now you have proof to undo the stupid suspension and put Miss Davenport in her place.”
I thought regret is what I felt after I walked out on Nessa. It’s nothing compared to the guilt coursing through me today.
Scarlett flinches as I throw her hands off me and curl my lip in a snarl.
Anger twists her features at my reaction, and she snaps. “Why are you so upset? I handled your mess. You should be thanking me.”
Throttling her is what I want to do. The more she talks like she’s done me a favor, the closer I am to acting on the violent urge.
“You betrayed me, Scarlett. Broke my trust. I thought I could count on you, and it was my mistake. You acted the way you always do. Selfish and impulsive.”
She stumbles back like I slapped her, and yells, “All because I did what you were too chickenshit to do? Why do you care about her? Nessa is a fucking nobody. A lying little bitc—”
I slam Scarlett against the nearest wall before she can even finish her sentence. She gasps underneath my grip on her throat as I get in her face. Fear flittering across her expression as I grit out, “Watch how you talk about her. Nessa isn’t a nobody, she’smy woman.Insult her again andI’ll expose our secret myself.”
The threat makes her eyes go round and she chokes out in disgust. “Do you like her or something?”
A hollow laugh builds in my throat and I let her go, putting distance between us.
