NOVA
My wrist is still sore when I clock in for my shift on Wednesday. I was tempted to call off, but I want to know if the stranger will return, and let’s be honest, I don’t get much interaction with humans, and I’m feeling pretty damn isolated. At least at work I can have a friendly conversation, even if it’s fake.
Unfortunately, Mickey is far too observant and realizes there’s something wrong with me a few hours into my shift. “You all right, darlin’? You seem to be favoring your right hand.”
I smile. “Wrenched my wrist a few days ago, I’m okay though.”
“Few days ago, and it’s still hurting ya?”
“Not as bad as it was,” I tell him honestly.
“Might have sprained it,” he offers.
“It’ll heal.” I use my right hand when I grab the next bottle to prove a point.
“We haven’t been very busy tonight. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind heading out early,” he says, and I know it’s about my wrist and not because we’re slow. Or maybe he thinks I’m not pulling my weight and wants to send me home.
“Whatever you think, Mickey, I’m good to work, or I can head out whenever you want,” I agree.
“Let’s see how the next hour goes.” He pats my shoulder.
When Mickey makes his rounds again, I can see it in his face that I’m being sent home. “Go home and rest, Nova. I need you more Friday and Saturday,” he tells me solemnly.
“If it’s still bothering me tomorrow after school, I’ll get it looked at,” I lie. I don’t need any more medical bills, and an X-ray could cost me a couple hundred bucks. I’ll do some magic with an Ace bandage or a splint. He’ll never know.
“Take care of yourself, Nova,” he tells me as I clock out. I feel bad that the place is still pretty busy, but there’s not much I can do besides get pissed at Lucian all over again. I haven’t seen either brother since it happened, which is a relief.
Late that night, I started to think that maybe it was my own fault that I fell for not keeping my mouth shut, but I’m only mad that it was all a waste of time and I didn’t learn anything, because there’s no way I’m upset about what Lucian did. It’s something I expected from him, even if he caught me off guard. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
I slowly walk to my car, giving the woman time to make herself known if she’s here, but the only people I see are small groups and couples. Even after climbing into the driver’s seat, I still don’t rush to leave, but it’s not like anyone is expecting me anyway. I barely even see Rory and Astrid. It’s like they know I have questions and they are suddenly avoiding me.
The passenger side door opens, and I sit there stunned as Lucian pours his body into the seat. “You should really lock your doors.” He manages to insult me while he’s the one getting into my car without an invitation.
“Get out.” I didn’t know how mad I was at him until I saw his stupid face. At some point, I let myself believe he wouldn’t hurt me, despite him telling me he would, and that’s on me, but I’m not falling for it again.
“No,” he states calmly without even bothering to look over at me.
“Fine.” I fumble for the door handle and get out to leave him inside. I make it about ten steps from my car before he grabs my wrist and wrenches me around. I howl in pain, and he releases me, jumping back as if I burned him. Tears that I refuse to let fall prick at my eyes as I cradle my arm to my chest.
“What is wrong with you?” he accuses, but his eyes are wild.
“Nothing.”
“Fuck you. You’re lying.”
“I’m leaving,” I blurt out the words in a rush. I’m surrendering. I can’t do this anymore. I just want to go home where I know what to expect and I can think clearly. It’s like as soon as the words are out in the open, they take flight in my mind, and I have something to hold onto. “I’m leaving, okay?” This time I say it softer. “I’ll go somewhere they can’t find me, and everything will go back the way it was.” There’s a pleading note in my voice that hurts to hear, but I’m not going to pretend it’s anything else.
“Is everything okay here?” a guy asks, startling me because I had no idea anyone was around.
“Yes, it’s fine,” I say quickly, not wanting to set Lucian off on him.
“Do you need help?” He keeps trying, and any other time, I might be grateful, but right now, I just want him to leave. Lucian is just staring at me with an intensity that surprises me.
“No, please, just go. I’m fine,” I tell the man again, but I’m sure he can tell I’m not. I’m a long way from fine.
LUCIAN
It’s only luck that allows me to see her leaving the bar hours before her shift is supposed to end. I have to jog across the sand to make it to her before she leaves, and I only made it then because it was like she was waiting for something.
“You should really lock your doors,” I tell her with all sincerity. What if someone other than me got into her car with her?
“Get out.” She breathes fire into the words, and it lights something up inside me.
“No.”
I feel her staring daggers at the side of my face, but I can’t look her in the eye because all I see is her sitting in the sand, staring up at me in pain and shock. I didn’t mean to push her, I didn’t mean for her to fall, but it happened, and I don’t think I’ve ever hated myself more than I did in that moment.
When I tripped her by grabbing her leg, I convinced myself that it wasn’t my fault because I was drunk and all kinds of other shit, but the truth is I was careless. My dad would have beaten me to a pulp. I almost wish he could, because maybe then I would feel better.
“Fine,” she says and gets out of the SUV, practically running away from me. When I catch up to her, I circle her wrist, and she screams in pain as she spins to release the pressure on her arm. Her eyes are all watery, and her chin is quivering, but no tears fall.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” she denies, but she’s holding her arm up to her chest.
“Fuck you. You’re lying.”
She winces at my words and cries, “I’m leaving.” I try to make sense of what she means, but I can’t. “I’m leaving, okay? I’ll go somewhere they can’t find me, and everything will go back to the way it was,” she appeals, and I realize I’ve taken something from her. I’ve stolen her fight, that thing that makes her who she is. I think about the day she showed up here in ratty clothes that no one on this island would be caught dead in, but she held her head high, as if nothing and no one else mattered.
“Is everything okay here?”
“Yes, it’s fine.” She’s watching me and the older guy a few feet away as if she’s not sure what I’m going to do.
“Do you need help?”
“No, please, just go. I’m fine,” she reassures the guy I couldn’t give a fuck about.
“You’re not leaving, lamb. There is nowhere you could go to hide from me,” I tell her.
“I’m going to call the cops, buddy.”
“Just leave!” She turns and yells at the guy, and I see a glimmer of hope. That fire is still there, hidden under her pain and sadness.
“I’m sorry,” I confess, but the words feel like glass in my throat. It’s not that I don’t mean them, it’s just that I know apologies aren’t worth shit. Actions speak louder than words.
My lamb snaps her head around to look at me again. Her eyes are slits of suspicion. There’s something else under all that hurt, but I can’t name it, yet.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you. I won’t let you fall again.”
“Nox? No, no. I know it’s you.” She shakes her head in disbelief. I’m not going to lie, that one bothers me a little. It’s clearly much easier for her to believe Nox would come here and apologize for me than it is for her to believe it’s me. I can’t blame her. I don’t know if I’ve ever uttered the word to anyone outside my family before, let alone meant it.
“He won’t change, young lady, and it sounds like next time he might really hurt you,” the guy warns. I would like to hurt him for opening his mouth, but he continues, “You should get away from him while you can. There are places that can help you.” He delivers the last part while walking away. I suppose he thinks he’s done his duty. I’m just glad he left before I had to shut him up.
“You’re not leaving. I won’t let you.”
“Are you delusional?” she asks with complete sincerity. “Isn’t me leaving exactly what you want? Wouldn’t that solve all your problems?”
“No. What’s wrong with your arm?” I ask to change the subject.
“I hurt my wrist in a fall when some jerk shoved me.” There’s clear irritation in her tone, which is a hell of a lot better than the defeat from just a few moments ago, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I’ve never been one to be careless with my toys, but I have been with her.
I look down and notice the slight swelling of her wrist. When I reach for her, she damn near jumps back. “May I see it?” I ask, barely unclenching my teeth.
“For what? To make sure it’s broken this time?”
“Lamb.” My voice is soft, but it’s a warning, and she must hear it, because she slowly extends her arm while looking up at me as if she thinks I really will snap it. I cradle the back of her hand in my palm and see some bruising on her inner wrist. “Did you get this X-rayed?” I lift my eyes to hers.
“No.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because X-rays cost money, and I’m fine.” She pulls away from me, and I let her because I don’t want to grip her hand and risk hurting her more.
“Get in the car.”
“What?” she splutters.
“We’re going to get this looked at. Get in the car.”
“No, I’m going home,” she argues while tipping her head back to look up at me as I get closer to her. I bet she’s not even aware of what she’s doing. Most people wouldn’t hold their ground against me, but she does, even after I was careless with her.
I ball up my hands at my sides so I don’t give into the urge to pick her up, throw her over my shoulder, and put her ass in the passenger seat. “Give me what I want, and I’ll give you something you want in return,” I offer.
“You don’t have…” She reins in her initial biting response, then poses a question laced with curiosity. “Anything?”
“Within reason.”
“Examples.” She barters better than most of the other founding families, and they have years of experience.
“It needs to be reciprocal, even.” I reach up and tug on a lock of hair dangerously close to her tit. Her eyes drop to my fingers, but she doesn’t pull away.
“I want information,” she announces.
“Information is expensive, lamb. What else do I get?”
She steps back abruptly, forcing me to release her hair or risk pulling it. I immediately hate the distance between us. “Nothing. It would seem we’re at an impasse, pretty boy.”
“What information do you want?” I’m going to regret giving in so easily later, but when I step forward and she doesn’t retreat, I know it’s worth the sacrifice.
“I want to know what you know about my parents and the Umbras.”
“Okay,” I agree rather easily because I don’t know much about her parents, but I’m not going to admit that to her now.
“I want to know more about the founders’ rules or the creed, whatever it’s called.”
“Why not ask the Umbras?” I challenge, then give her a few seconds to mull over my question before adding, “Don’t trust them?”
“I don’t trust you either.”
“Yet here you are, lamb, asking me.” I almost whisper the last part in her ear, and I don’t miss the shiver she tries to hide.
I encourage her to head toward my car. “Come on, we have an appointment.”
“No, we don’t,” she argues pointlessly. “There’s no appointment.”
“Semantics.” I open the passenger door of my Bentayga and wave her in. It’s another first for me, but I want to make sure she doesn’t run off.
“Try not to slam my legs in the door,” she grumbles as she lowers herself into the seat. I bend down, putting my face right next to hers.
“Someday, I’m going to shove something in your mouth to keep you quiet.”
“I’ll bite it.” She’s glaring up at me with unrestrained rage, but that’s not all. Her nipples are hard, and her pupils are blown wide. She can pretend she doesn’t like me all she wants, but I know the truth. She probably wants me just as badly as I want her, and it’s killing both of us.
“I can’t fucking wait.” I slam the door on her shocked expression.
