Page 188 of Fatality

I told them someone had broken in and cut off Liam's hand after he tried to strangle me, that Liam had been tipsy.

That was it.

With my family name, they didn't question me, they simply took my statement and wheeled him away.

I think I was already walking out before they even finished saying,

‘Don’t worry Miss Laordie, we will take care of him. Maybe you should get that neck checked’.

They tried to stop me, telling me they could call someone, even my father. I told them no, there was no fucking way they were calling my father.

He would've hung up anyway, not caring an ounce.

I didn't get it checked.

I just needed to get out of my own home, so I walked.

Without thinking, without even knowing where I was going until I ended up here.

And I didn’t even think of taking my comm.

Idiot.

Earlier, before I left with Liam, Charlie was at Jules’.

I look around, her loft is different from mine or Jules’.

It’s more cyber, more in our time, but she still keeps it real.

Charlie's loft is darker than mine. Concrete, black steel, purple neon, candles burning where no one else would think to put them.

Somehow, she always makes cold spaces feel lived in.

Exactly how Charlie lives and likes it, dark with feminine hints here and here.

I'm alone right now.

I sigh and rub my face in pure frustration.

I need to see them, I need my girls.

I walk over to Charlie's desk, where all of her Smart Panels are still set up for gaming.

I log in—she never puts passwords on any of her stuff.

That's actually insane.

I send a message on her comm, telling her I'm at her place and that I need them.

I don't know how much time passes, I don't think I move a muscle, I don't even think I blinked.

I just stare at the damn screen for God knows how long.

Every breath hurts, every swallow burns.

Liam really fucked me up and I don't know what to think about Evren.

I don't want to think about him at all.