Page 34 of Fatal Collision
I know what’s going through her head: I’m from the Heights, and she’s from the Falls. We shouldn’t be together. Technically, she’s right. My father would blow a gasket if he found out about my involvement with a girl like her. It is one thing to fuck Falls women as long as it’s just sex. Obsessing over them? Begging for their attention? Texting them late at night because you can’t stop thinking about them? No, that could get me into trouble with the society.
“Text me back,” I whisper, tracing my thumb down the column of her neck. She’s got the smoothest skin, and I could spend forever exploring every inch of her body if she’d let me.
Before I can whisper all the filthy things I want to do to her, the bells sound above the door.
Two meaty guys—Malice and Jackson, according to my research—enter the room. They spot us in thecorner, and Jackson storms over with vicious murder in his eyes while Malice trails behind like a lazy cat.
We stand up, and I meet him halfway. Jackson is a tall fucker. Possibly the only one I’ve met in a long time who has a couple of inches on me. Malice isn’t quite as tall. He’s about my height and stacked with muscles and tattoos.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Jackson seethes.
I look around the cafe, faking confusion. “We came for coffee.”
“The fuck you did!”
My cocky smirk comes out full swing, and Jackson narrows his eyes, puffing up his chest as he steps closer.
“Stay away from our women.”
“Or else?”
“Or else,” he warns, close enough for his minty breath to fall over my lips, “I’ll kill you in your sleep… Youandyour fucking trust fund friends.”
Oh, the guy has guts. I appreciate that.
My lips twitch, just for a second, as we size each other up.
It’s refreshing to see this darker side of Falls. I had started to think the people here had all lost their edge while they were busy mowing our lawns and cleaning our pools. It turns out some of them have a backbone, after all. I like it.
Smacking him on the shoulder, I head for the door with the others in tow.
Jackson turns. “You’re not welcome on our side of town, Ravencourt.”
He knows who I am.Even better.
I spin around and ignore him and his entourage as I push open the door with my back. The others shoulder their way past Malice and Jackson, all cocky swagger and dimpled smirks.
I wink at Jessica. “See you around, princess.”
TEN
JESSICA
The nurse behind the desk looks up from her notes when I walk up to the counter, having shaken my umbrella and propped it against the wall.
A faint smile pulls at her lips, and she closes the file. “Your sister came by the other day.”
Guilt is gnawing at my insides. I place my elbows on the counter and scratch my brow with an apologetic smile that’s even weaker than hers when I first walked in. “I was busy.”
She must see the guilt-ridden look on my face because she places her soft hand on mine. “It’s okay to take a day for yourself. You can’t be strong all the time.”
I appreciate her touch and the reassuring, empathetic smile she offers me, but Mom won’t be with us for much longer. I can’t let myself get distracted. The little time that we have left is precious.
“You’re warring with yourself,” she says, dipping her head to look me in the eye when I struggle to meet hers. “You’re strong, Jessica. But you’re human. And you’ve been here every day since the day your mother got admitted. You’ve watched her progressively get worse, and that’s tough on anyone. It’s okay to rest.”
My eyes prick when she squeezes my hand.
“How is she?” I ask. “Summer says the new medication is making her sleepy.”
