AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Everett stops in his tracks, throwing my suitcase to the floor as he grinds his teeth. He swivels back towards his brother, so slowly that I wouldn't be surprised if Elliot jumped out of the window in fear. Everett walks toward Elliot, caging him against the wall. Elliot’s nostrils flare as Everett grips his throat, cutting off his airway.
“What thefuckdid you just say?” Everett grits out.
“I… c-called… her… an… ungrateful… b-bitch,” Elliot wheezes through clenched teeth, struggling to get out a word as his face turns to a bright shade of crimson.
I don’t even have a chance to blink before Everett’s fist flies into Elliot’s face as a piercing crack echoes through the room. Elliot’s head whips against the wall before he gathers the strength to bring his gaze back to Everett. Blood trickles from his nostrils, dripping down his lips and staining his teeth red.
“Don’t youeverspeak to her like that again,” Everett threatens, his other hand still clenched tightly around Elliot’s throat.
“What… e-else… do you… got, brother?” Elliot gasps, his lips turning up in a bloody smile. I’ve never seen someone look so evil in my entire life. It sends shivers down my spine.How did I ever love this man?
Everett lifts his fist again, showing Elliot no mercy. Blood sprays from Elliot’s mouth as Everett’s fist collides with his jaw.
“That was for being such a lying sack of shit. For taking advantage of every single person who’s ever cared about you,” Everett seethes.
Elliot’s eyes widen in fear as Everett raises his fist for a third time. His eyes screw shut as Everett’s knuckles strike his nose.
“Everett, that’s enough!” I scream. “You’re going to seriously hurt him!”
As angry as I am with Elliot, I have no interest in watching Everett beat his head into the wall. I also don’t need my only form of transportation to be locked up in a jail cell.
“And that,” Everett exhales, removing his hand from Elliot’s throat while taking a few steps back. “Was for making her feel like a stranger in your life for the past three years. For treating her like any less than the angel she is.”
“Don’t touch her, don’t contact her, don’t even fucking look at her again,” Everett warns in a low tone. “She deserves so much more than my sorry excuse for a brother.”
Everett spins around to face me before grabbing my suitcase and charging for the door. I take one last look at Elliot’s naked body as he slides down the wall. He sits on the floor, running a shaky hand through his gelled hair as blood trickles from his nostrils down to his knees. He pulls his legs against his chest, resting his elbows on his knees as he attempts to bury his face in his hands. I try to feel sorrow for him, but I can’t find it in me. I only see a deceitful man who’s finally having to face his own demons.
“Goodbye, Elliot,” I whisper.
I suck in a deep breath before following Everett out into the hall.
EIGHTEEN
Everett
All I see is red as we walk back to the truck. I don’t feel the cold sting against my cheeks as we rush out of the hotel and into the frigid night. I pay no attention to the blood dripping from my knuckles, painting a crimson trail behind me. I don’t feel an ounce of regret for my brother, lying naked and beaten on the floor of his room. I’m not usually a violent man, but he deserved every fucking hit.
My only focus is getting Skylar the hell out of here. Far away from my brother and this ridiculous hotel that I’m sure he charged to a maxed-out credit card.
Once we make it to the truck, I open the passenger door for Skylar before placing my palm to the small of her back as she climbs in. After she buckles her seatbelt, she stares up at me, giving me a weak smile that cuts me to my core. Her cerulean eyes are rimmed with red, her skin all puffy and swollen. Her cheeks are stained with dry tears, her lips trembling as she tries to stop the salty drops from falling.God, I hate my brother.He deserves a special place in hell for this.
I lean in, sliding my hand across her damp jaw before threading my fingers through her silky hair. She closes her eyes as I gently massage the back of her head, her damp lashes resting against her smooth skin.
“Look at me, angel,” I whisper. When she opens her eyes, I’m all but drowning in her ocean eyes.
“You don’t have to put on a fake smile, Sky,” I rasp. “You don’t have to hide. Not from me.”
She purses her lips, nodding her head before tearing her eyes away from me. I slowly remove my hand from her hair before gently shutting her door. I run my hands through my hair as I think about what I’m going to do. I come up with a plan as I load her luggage into the back of the truck.
When I’m finally behind the wheel, a deafening silence fills the cab. I almost turn on the radio to fill the quiet air, but I quickly decide against it because there’s no middle ground with music. There’s something about happy songs that makes sadness seem louder, and there’s something about sad songs that makes sorrow more debilitating. After the emotional roller coaster she’s been through, I don’t want to add any fuel to the fire.
I can tell that she’s not ready to talk because she can barely make eye contact with me. She’s staring blankly out of the window, looking completely speechless. My heart breaks as a heavy tear falls from her dark lashes before rolling down her cheek.
I try to put myself in her shoes as I think about how broken she must feel. She just walked in on her fiancé ruthlessly fucking a strange woman, when he hasn't given a shit about where she’s been for the past two days.
I can tell that she’s blaming herself for this… relating what happened between us years ago to tonight. I should probably just keep my mouth shut, but I need her to know that I’m here when she’s ready to talk.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
