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“But I didn’t do it,” Pierre shot back.
“I know.” I left the bed, and started pulled back on my clothes. “But you wanted to. That’s what matters.”
I had to say it. There was no excuse for what he had wanted to do. He could say he loved me all he wanted, that he would only do it for me. But that wouldn’t cut. Not in my world, not in anyone else’s. I watched as both boys glanced at each other before moving to replace their clothes over their own bodies. Even though fucking had let off some steam, years of pain wasn’t evaporating so easily.
“We should go,” Elliot said, looking at me. He zipped his pants up, but her shirt was still off, his chest gleaming with sweat. His hair looked as if he’d been riding eighty on a motorcycle with no helmet. “The NA meeting starts soon.”
“Seriously?” I glared at him. “You’re really falling for her shit? What else is she making you do, other than trying to get people killed and pretend you’re a junkie?”
I let out a huff, putting my hands on my hips as I continued to look at him.
“I mean, are you even certain that she’s going to hand over any money to you at all? This all seems like a ploy to get money from Felix’s family for herself. She’s using you.”
“Why would she do that?” Elliot muttered, reaching for his jacket. “She has enough of her own.”
“Then why would she make you plan to kill Felix’s dad?” I tried to keep my voice level, even though I knew there was no one else in the house. My mom was at work, and Leo … I didn’t car where he was. Didn’t care if he was listening. “There’s something more going on here, can’t see that?”
“Does it matter if there’s more going on?” Elliot said. His voice was low, tired. “All I care about is getting my family back together. And she’s promised to get my father’s savings back as long as I help her out.”
I moved toward him, putting my hands on his shoulders, trying to get him to look me in the eyes.
“Elliot,” I murmured. “Listen to me. You can’t solve your family’s problems. You don’t have to burden yourself with that.”
Before Elliot could say anything more, I heard heavy footsteps approaching us. Pierre bumped Elliot with his shoulder as he walked past us, headed for the hallway.
“You’re a fucking cliché, Kat,” he muttered. Pierre yanked open the door. And slammed it behind him just as I turned.
“Excuse me?”
Narrowing my eyes, I yanked open the door and started after him. Just before he could leave the apartment, I grabbed onto his wrists and pinned him against the door, my gaze burning into his.
“You think you can save a bad boy from his sins, is that it?” Pierre breathed. “You see right through his tough outer shell. No one else understands him but you. Well, guess what—you can’t change the fact that he ruined our lives, and who knows how many others’.”
He took in a deep breath.
“I love you,” Pierre murmured, “but I can’t watch you come apart because of him. That’s all I wanted to say.”
He opened the door, and staggered into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind him with a heavy rattle. Drawing in a breath, I turned to face Elliot, putting my hands to my temples.
Pierre was right, of course. He knew me too well not to be.
But I couldn’t change my feelings, no matter how much he wanted me to. At least now he was accepting it with a chip on his shoulder. That’s as good as it was going to get.
“All right,” I muttered, sniffing as I forced my eyes up to meet Elliot’s. “Where’s this meeting at?”
