Page 16 of Beautifully Shattered
Marcus flinches at my admission, but he shakes it off a moment later.
My voice is flat and clipped. There’s bitterness lacing my tone, yet I can’t find it in me to check myself.
I’m nothing but toxic energy after all.
Bad things happen to good people when they are around me. Maybe it really would be better if they just leave.
If Jols hadn’t been babysitting me at Ringo’s house, she’d still be here. Alive.
Stoner too.
Shit. Even Millie got shot.
Did she survive?
The door creaks open, and everyone’s heads snap towards it as Ringo pops his head in.
“I need everyone to leave. We need to speak with Abbey.”
Shit.
This is it.
He’s going to tell me what protecting me has cost his club. Cost him.
How can he even stand to look at me?
I half expect my friends to argue, but they don’t. They just nod and exit, Lexi pressing a kiss to my forehead before retreating, too.
Well… I wanted them to go. And now they have.
So why do I want to scream for them to come back?
Because you’re not strong enough to hear the truth fall from Ringo’s lips.
Remaining in the doorway, Ringo talks quietly to Lexi, who nods and glances back at me, offering me a small wave before leaving.
And then… just like that. We are alone.
No.
I don’t want to hear this. I can’t take any more bad news.
I need to go.
Throwing back the sheets, I swing my legs over the side of the bed when Ringo’s voice interrupts me.
“What are you doing?"
“I need to leave. I can’t do this, Ringo. I can’t bear to hear what you have to say. I know I wanted to know, but now I know I’m not strong enough to handle it.”
Ringo sighs. “You can’t leave. You have a guest.”
I shake my head, lowering my feet to the cold floor.
“No more visitors. I don’t want to see anyone.”
“Seriously? You’re really going to turn me away?”
