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I fly up the stairs and up to my bedroom, with nothing but the footsteps of my heart palpitations trailing behind.
I settled into Dad’s office chair and plugged in the USB. Shit. What the fuck could this be and why did he think I’d care? I’d met all of Dad’s friends, and they were more like family, except Mr. Paige, Evie’s dad. He and my dad were tight. They played golf together—weird! Dad never plays golf!
The file pops up on the screen and my finger hovers over the play button.
Shoving through the bathroom, I turn on the tap and collect cold water into my palms, splashing the puddle against my face to swipe away my tears.
Dabbing my wet face with a towel, I stare back at myself in the mirror, my fingers dancing across my cheeks.
Even if they knew. Even if Pop was right and it was time. Would I ever be enough? And I don’t just mean to the EKC, or to even Dad.
She had a baby with him? They had a baby together? Is that why they are the way they are? Why the only person who has ever pissed me off when it came to War was her?
I’ll never be enough. I’ll never be trusted.
Fear grips me around the throat and before I can think twice, I swipe up my phone from the bench and rush to my closet. Three minutes, and a flurry of stray clothes flying over my shoulder later, my suitcase is packed.
I’ve been strong. I’ve done what I needed to do like a good little princess. I’ve stood by every single person when they needed it. I’ve swallowed pain so that the people I love didn’t have to taste it.
I need to get out. If only for a little while.
I drag the zip up on my small suitcase and grab my charger and a hoodie, shoving it over my head. With fresh blood on the soles of my shoes, I kick them off quickly before reaching for a pair of thigh-high black boots.
Swiping the keys to my Hakosuka, I rush down the hall to the other side of Priest’s bedroom and all the way to the fire exit on this level.
It closes quietly with a click as I remain still. A black van pulls down the side of the Castle and toward the side entrance of the yard.
Maybe I should kill Katsia and leave them one more body to clean up on their way out.
Dashing down the stairs, I’m thankful I parked out the front as I throw my suitcase into the back seat and stare back up at my home with a swarm of mixed emotions stuck in my throat.
Just for a few days. I need a minute.
Even with the door handle in my grip, my chest tugs me back to the people inside. I don’t want to do this.
I shouldn’t do this.
I slam the door closed and fire the car to life. Shoving into first, I hit dial on Evie, and she picks up on the second ring. “Hey, girl. How was the dinner party? Anyone die?”
I almost laugh. “Well…” I direct the car out the gates and onto Elite Boulevard, before hitting the main road that leads to downtown Riverside.
“You okay?” she pipes up, and the noise in her background dies down. She must be watching reruns ofTheVampireDiariesagain.
My eyes fly to the rearview mirror. “Yes. No. Not really. Look, I’m going to be away for a while, and I need you to know that I’m okay.”
“Is this one of those things that you told me about? Because if it is, I thought we both agreed—Daddy Bishop too—that I get my own passport as well!” I can see her lip dropping from the other side of the phone.
“It’s not that.”
Silence. “Shit, Hales. Are you running from your family?”
My heart skips in my chest as the realization of what I’ve just done hits me. I should pull this brake up and spin around. “Shit. I am not my mother.”
Evie doesn’t attempt to hide how funny she thinks that is. “Uh, no. I don’t believe you are. Why? What’s Mama Mad got to do with this?” I hear a fridge open and close in the background.
“Nothing. Old joke. Keep talking to me, please.” I pull to the side of the road, just before the witheringLeaving Riversidesign.
My car idles beneath my ass.
