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TEN
The first thing I saw when I walked into the room was Fallon, surrounded by my friends, her eyes huge, scared but determined. The ice around my heart cracked almost imperceptibly as I struggled with the urge to go over to her, to wrap my arms around her and hide her away from the entire fucking world. No one should be allowed to hurt her. Not after I had. We’d all known loss, but the pain of hers had been so sudden and so fucking brutal, and it had come from the man who was supposed to protect her, to look out for her, to make sure that no harm ever came to her.
Cassius stopped dead, and I gave him a push, earning me a half-hearted glare as he stepped aside so I could get all the way into the room and close the door behind us.
“Bloody hell,” he whistled, as unsubtle as a ton of bricks dropping on someone’s head. “I wasn’t expecting this blast from the past. Feels like I’ve seen a ghost.”
I could see the moment he realised what he’d said when we all winced, and Fallon let out a quiet gasp.
“Shit. Sorry.” His tone softened. “It was a surprise to see you, that was all.”
Fallon nodded, accepting his words, but she was hugging herself, her shoulders hunching over. Her gaze flicked to mine, just for a second, and she bit down on her lip. Her eyes fell closed, and she sighed before opening them. “Caiden asked me what I was doing here. I’m back in Alstone because my father has been locked up, at last. I don’t owe any of you an explanation, but I’ll give you one anyway. We never got on with each other. He’s never been interested in me, other than…” Her voice cracked. “Other than to ensure the future of the Hyde name, to marry me off to someone who could benefit the family.” Her words were bitter but resigned, and from her left, I saw Jessa step forwards and place a hand on her arm.
“We know what the world of the elite is like,” she said softly. “You don’t need to explain it.”
“Thank you.” Fallon gave her a small, genuine smile and then met Cade’s eyes again. “I’ve said this to Winter and Jessa, and I’ll say it again. I know what my dad and Joseph did to you all, and I want you to know that it makes me sick, to be honest. There’s no justification for anything they did, and I’m so sorry that—” Tears pooled in her eyes, and she sniffed. “Fuck. Sorry.”
Winter was instantly there, putting her arms around Fallon and murmuring something I couldn’t catch, and I had to grit my teeth because I should have been the one to comfort her. Fuck.
“She’s staying with James at the moment, but he’s away for the weekend,” Jessa spoke up.
“Fucking Granville, again,” Caiden muttered, and Winter glanced up, treating him to an eye roll.
She shouldn’t be alone, she mouthed to Caiden, and he shook his head. Winter frowned at him until he sighed. “She can crash here if she wants, but no trying anything.”
“What, are you planning to lock her in, like you did with me?” Winter raised a brow, and he smirked at her.
“No, because I don’t think she has the same purpose for being here as you did that night.”
“Which was?”
“To drive me completely fucking insane.” His smirk widened into a shark-like smile, and Winter’s pupils visibly dilated. He crooked a finger at her, and she stepped up to him, winding her arms around his neck while he slanted his mouth across hers.
“Get a room,” West muttered. “I don’t wanna see my siblings kissing.”
“That sentence sounded so wrong, mate.” Cassius elbowed him, grinning.
“Fuck off.” He elbowed Cassius back, and I watched in bemusement as they began mock fighting with each other. There was a time and a place for pissing around, and now was not one.
Caiden disentangled himself from Winter for long enough to lock eyes with me. “Z. You’re on duty tonight. I need you to keep an eye on things.” He then turned to Fallon, almost apologetic. “I’m not trying to be an asshole about it. I’m just being cautious, yeah? This is my house, and this is my family. I’m looking out for them, and while I trust my girl’s judgement and I don’t think you’re up to anything suspicious, I wanna be sure. After all the shit that’s gone down—”
“It’s okay. I understand.” Fallon studied him from beneath her lashes. “You have no reason to trust me. We don’t know each other, after all. I’m not counting those times we saw each other at social events as kids. But for what it’s worth, I have no ulterior motives for being here. I heard about the party—”
“I invited her,” Jessa interjected with a smile, which Fallon returned.
“Yeah, and I thought…I guess I was curious. I haven’t been back in Alstone since…”
She trailed off, and we all heard her unspoken words.Since Tim’s death.
This was fucking excruciating. We shouldn’t be here interrogating her; we should be fucking begging her for forgiveness. If we hadn’t gone to the abandoned house that night…
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine on my own, honestly. I’ve been fending for myself for long enough already.”
“You’re staying here, and I’ll be watching you.” My words were directed at her, but I couldn’t look at her. I looked at Cade instead, feeling her eyes boring into the side of my head.
Cade gave me a nod. “It’s settled, then. The guest room’s available.” He turned back to Fallon. “If you want to stay, that is. You’ll be making my life easier if you do. Winter won’t let me hear the end of it otherwise.”
“Neither will I,” Jessa said. “When I… When I was going through all of that shit with Petr, being here… It helped me, more than you could know.I know it’s a different situation, but the thought of leaving someone alone…I mean, it has to be difficult coming back here after all this time—”
