AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Elle…she called you?”
I jerked my eyes open, forcing myself back into my body. The bed shifted again, and this time Tobias muttered. “What is it?”
Our room came into focus, sharpening at the edges, drawing me away from sleep. I rolled, then pushed myself upwards, and found Nick sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Of course she wants protection. It’s not like she’s ever fucking shown she cares about Ryth.”
I flinched at the words. My pulse raced, tearing me further and further away from sleep.
“We want to talk to her.” Nick pushed up from the bed.
Caleb rolled over, shoved upwards, and slipped out the other side as Tobias followed Nick, leaving me all alone with the sheets sliding from my body.
“What is it?” Tobias growled, his voice husky.
“Where? The Pier. How long until they get there?”
The Pier? Why was mom going there?
“You want us to head there?” Nick turned away, shielding his face from me, not that I could see anything in the dark. Still, it hurt, the tiny pang of rejection raw and real.
I knew it was because of Mom, and fought the need to touch my cheek.
“Okay, well, we’ll just wait for them. You’ll call the moment you hear…yeah…yeah, she’s okay. I get it. Sure.”
He lowered his hand and I was riveted by the movement. No one spoke…not for ages, until Tobias broke the tension. “What is it?”
Nick turned, his focus aimed at me. “Ryth’s mom reached out to Ben, apparently she’s in fear for her life and needs protection.”
“Of course she did,” T snarled.
I swallowed hard, hating how I was caught on every word. “Did she…did she ask to see me?”
Silence.
Silence that spoke louder than words ever could.
I turned away.
“Princess.” Nick started.
“It’s okay.” I pushed the sheets away. “I don’t know why I expected anything different.”
“Maybe she’s just scared right now,” Caleb offered. “Once she’s safe, she might want to reach out.”
The memory of her palm burned on my cheek. I knew the truth. “I don’t think so.”
“Even if she doesn’t want to see us, we sure as hell want to see her,” Tobias snapped. “And I don’t give afuckif she doesn’t. We want answers.” He was riled, pacing the floor at the foot of the bed. “We want to know what the fuck she’s hiding and why she’d send her own daughter to that fucking place and leave her there…but mostly…we want an explanation of what’s in that goddamn diary.”
“Diary?” I whispered, looking from Tobias to Nick as he flinched.
“T,” Nick snarled softly. “You fucking idiot.”
“What diary?” I asked again.
“Shit.” Tobias turned away.
But I was already striding toward them, naked and growing cold. “What fucking diary, Tobias?”
