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Chapter Four
TRISTAN
Apparently, in addition to leaving doors open, no one knocks in this apartment even when they’re closed. I look over from the vanity, heart pounding at the thought that it might be Isabel. But of course it’s not. After what I did to her earlier this evening, it’ll be a miracle if she ever talks to me again. I feel bad about messing with her, but I’m just so damn tired of watching the watered-down remains of that spirited woman sulk around. I needed to see her fire, even if it was just a brief flash and would result in her hating me more. I needed to remind her that life—passion—still flows through her veins.
Right now, though, it’s my sister’s fire that bursts into the room. She shuts the door behind her, turning on me like I messed up again. Crap, did Iz tell her what I did? No wonder she’s pissed.
“I know, okay?” I say through a mouthful of toothpaste. “I—”
“We need to tell her.”
Shit.
I brace against the blow and focus on brushing my teeth to buy time. She can’t be serious. But man does she look serious right now.
After rinsing my mouth, I lean back against the counter and cross my arms.
“No,” I say firmly.
“No? She’s begging me to kick you out! Demanding it, really. She despises you for what she thinks you did.”
I suppress a wince and remain stoic. I’ve gotten good at that. Hiding shit. All of it buried and safe where no one can use it against me.
“Good. Sheshouldhate me.”
Isabel’s anger is better for both of us and probably the only way we’ll survive this. I can’t seem to stay away from her, so I need her to be the strong one.
“How can you say that? No one should hate you. If they knew—”
I grunt and try to reach past her for the door.
“Will you just…” She grabs my wrist and flings it back at my side. Clenching my fist, I force calming breaths.
“She can’t know the truth,” I say matter-of-factly.
“She has to!”
“I said no.”
“It’s not just your story to tell.”
I stare at her, my blood simmering. Is she serious? She’s questioning my choice? Taking one ounce of the truth for herself after I brutally paid the entire price?
“I did four years,” I hiss at her. “Four fuckingyears. Idecide how this story plays out and I’m telling you,no one can know. Not a soul or it was all for nothing! Don’t you get that?”
“But everyone hates you! Blamesyou. The things they say, the way they treat you… it’s killing me! I know what happened to you in there, Tristan. You won’t tell me, but Iknow.”
I tighten my jaw, trying to breathe through the crushing pain in my chest. It was a weapon in prison, fuel for the anger that kept me alive. Now? I just feel lost. I couldn’t wait to be free, and it turns out my prison will follow me forever.
I press the heels of my palms to my eyes, clawing back from the edge. I can’t break here. Not like this. Not when I need to do everything I can to convince her this horror show is what I want.
“They hated me before all of this.Blamed mefor everything anyway,” I manage in a hard voice.
“Don’t say that,” she says, deflating.
“Why not? You know I’m right. I was always the black sheep. The hated son.”
“Stop!”
