Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 753(@200wpm)___ 602(@250wpm)___ 502(@300wpm)
Her eyes drift up to Vaden. “I’m sorry. I know I should have come to you—”
He shakes his head. “We can play nice for one night, I’m sure.”
Halen smiles up at him. “Good. Come, I’ll show you the armory.”
Halen
The night feels young, even though it’s fifteen minutes to twelve. The full moon hangs brightly in the sky as I lean over the concrete barrier that lines the mini-Italian-inspired Renaissance garden. I copied Mom, a little, but it was only for this part here, not her extravagant masterpiece. This is my favorite part of this island and one of the first places we designed. To get here, you walk down a pathway from the backyard, right where the clear cube is placed.
White pebbles direct you down until you’re beneath a bridge that arches over your head from the slant of the cliff, to where the island ends, connecting to the articulately designed concrete barrier. Greenery and herbs grow over every inch of the concrete, camouflaging it with nature, and statues carved as skulls are placed evenly over the top. I threw in a Tuscan-style outdoor sitting area too, because I’m pretty sure I’ll be spending more time out here than in there.
I peek over the rail at the man-made steps that slowly descend until they disappear into the angry waves of water.
I’ve thought about this night a lot over the years. How it would be done, what would happen when everyone found out. I didn’t expect it to be like this. For what we have planned.
I rest the goblet glass against my chest, swirling the red wine around and losing focus on the endless abyss of the ocean. During the day, the sun is hot, but at night, the moon is cold. Fitting. I don’t even know if I’m dressed for the occasion. I kind of thought I’d be in Jimmy Choos.
Wearing flared denim-wash jeans, sneakers, a white crop top, and a beige mid-jacket with straps around the cuffs and hips, I don’t know. The simpleness of it bothers me. This is the night I’d been dreaming about. I could have at least been in Jordans.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” Mom’s voice lures the smile on my lips. She rests beside me, her hand next to mine.
“I’m okay.”
“Wow. It’s really pretty down here.”
“Mhhmmm…”
“Nice designs.” She jerks her head forward as if making a point.
“Yes, Mother, it’s similar.”
She laughs, snatching the glass of red off me. Her eyes close as she buries her nose in the bowl and inhales. Her head tips back as she takes a mouthful, wiping the edge of her lip.
“I’ve never told you this, but when I was young, something happened to me, too.”
My heart drops. She must know my question because her head shakes from side to side.
“I don’t want to talk about it much today, but I just want you to know that you’re not alone.” She rests her hand on mine. “Okay?”
I squeeze her hand as a silent agreement. I want to, though. I want to ask her how, what, and fucking who. But I don’t, because I know how it feels to have someone force words out of your mouth.
She swallows more wine, remaining fixed on the ocean. Even at this age—not that she’s old, she’s beautiful. She has grown into an elegant kind of beauty that reminds me of Nanna Scarlet, more than her own mother.
The pain in her words cut deep. “I’m just really sorry, baby. Your father and I, we—” She shakes her head. “I don’t want to make this about me and him, because it’s not.” She turns to me, and I reach up to wipe her tears. “I just need you to know that I am always here. We are always here, and it doesn’t matter what you do, your father and I will always love both you and your brother.”
I roll my lips behind my teeth. “What about Deacon?”
“We’ll take that day by day. He’s your father’s son, so he’s mine. I’ll be whatever he needs me to be.”
My lips stain red when I sip on my wine. “He’s not a bad person. He’s a pain in my ass and really fucking annoying, but he’s not a bad person. He tried, you know, to get me out of there. One of the nights that I tried to take my life, I fell from the rooftop of one of the buildings.” Another gulp. “He caught me.”
She pats my hand just as we both hear footsteps from the side.
Priest and War stare back at me and Mom. “Ready?”
I nod as Mom takes my hand with hers. We walk slightly behind the boys, back up the path that leads to the yard as “I Need You” by Jelly Roll plays from the surround system. I move in slow motion as I feel everyone’s eyes on us. Trust my family to make an event out of murder.