Page 185 of Like Grim Death: Part One
Excuse me?I feel the flush in my cheeks extend down to my neck as I hug my body tighter and force myself to hold eye contact even though I just want to sink beneath the tiles and disappear. “What?” I manage to croak out, nerves zipping through my veins as my pulse thunders in my chest. “What are you—”
“Sid.” She says her name with distaste, like it pains her to do so, even though she didn’t seem to mind her in the car. But I already knew who she was talking about and hearing her confirm it makes me feel sick. She drops her hand, shrugging narrow shoulders. “My brother. Lucifer.” She pauses, her slender throat bobbing as she flicks her gaze to the floor for half a second before it’s back on mine.“Jeremiah.”There’s a world of hurt beneathhisname. “They all adore her, don’t they?” I actually hear empathy in her words, and it confuses me, but despite what olive branch she may be trying to extend beneath her bitchy remarks, I just feel angrier.
“Maverick isn’tfascinatedwith her.” I try to keep the spite out of my words, but I know I’m failing. “She’s…his sister.”
At that, Brooklin laughs, a tinkling sort of sound. Everything about her is delicate, but there’s so much anger and bitterness in her words, and she’s Mavy’ssister,I don’t underestimate her.
“So am I,” she says, sniffing as she shakes her head. “Trust me. He’s never once looked at me like he looks at her.” She wrinkles her nose, like the very idea makes her feel sick.
She’s not the only one.
I square my shoulders and stiffen my spine. “We’re together,” I say, wanting to defend him, even though I know what look she’s talking about. “I know you two have some stuff you need to work out, but he’s not in love with Sid. He’s—”
She takes a few steps toward me, heels clicking on the tile, silencing my retort.
It takes everything in me not to back up, but I don’t, forcing myself to stay planted exactly where I am. When she’s inches from me and I can smell the sweet scent of her perfume and see the fact it looks as if she has zero pores in her face, she crosses one arm over her chest, propping her elbow in her opposite hand.
I feel more nervous here with this confrontation than I did in Sid’s car. Frankly, I kind of wish Sid was with me right now.
“Stuffwe need to work out?” She repeats my words, her blue eyes searching mine. A shade darker than Maverick’s, they’re just as beautiful as his. “Do you really think you’re cut out for this life, Ella?”
I don’t know what to say. She’s too close to me, poking at my insecurities. I don’t want to hear the way she’s going to answer her own question, but I can’t get any words out, so she keeps going.
“Jeremiah Rain isn’t a fucking picnic.” She steps even closer, and I have to tilt my head up to meet her gaze. “You think my brother is bad? You have no fucking idea.”
I wonder what Jeremiah did to her.
Does she mean he hurt her? Is that why she asked me if Maverick hurts me? Or does she mean something else?
“But in some ways,” she continues, her eyes flicking along my body, and it’s almost as if she can see the long-faded bruises on the back of my thighs, even though I know it’s impossible. I feel naked under her gaze as it slowly travels back up to meet mine. “I think Maverick is worse. He left me with the Order of Rain foryears.”
I swallow down the lump in my throat, wondering where she’s going with this.
“Because loyalty means more to him thananythingelse.” Lowering herself so she’s at my level, her eyes inches from mine, she keeps going. “I don’t mean to be a bitch,”but you are,“but if you aren’t sure about this, about him, in any way… just save him the heartache, and leave him.”
Surprise jolts through me. I take a shaky breath in. “I love him.” It’s the one truth I can hold onto.
Her eyes soften and she straightens, taking one step back. She studies me for a moment, unspeaking.
Then she says, “Sometimes love isn’t enough. Not for this life. Not to be with one ofthem.And if you ever want to leave, I could help you.” She lifts a brow, keeping her eyes on mine. “Just say the word, and I could get you out.”
“What?”I think of Atlas’s warning, that I should run. His eerie verbal history of RC yesterday and the things they do to people without anything to their name.Are you the crazy one, Ella? Or am I?“I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leavehim.I don’t care what it takes. Ilovehim.” It’s like she doesn’t understand the meaning of the word, and maybe with a life like hers, it’s impossible to comprehend. Or maybe it simply means nothing in these shadows.
She spikes her fingers through her hair and shakes her head. There’s something in her face, the way her brows pull together, her lips turned down. Like she’s sad as she stares at me, or she’s pitying me. “I loved him too, and you see what happened to us.”
I stagger half a step backward, as if her words physically harmed me. As if she reached into my brain and pulled out my fears.That he’ll leave me.
She doesn’t even blink at my reaction. “Anyway, I have to get back to Rain. Just… Have a good night.” She walks past me, leaving me confused.
I don’t turn to watch her go, my heart racing and mind spinning.
My phone vibrates in my jacket pocket, and I pull it out, for something to do with my hands, something to occupy my mind.
I have two texts, from two different people.
Mavy: I’ll be up soonnnnn.
I think he must be drunk or high, considering the typo. My heart leaps to my throat.
