Page 121 of Unholy Bonds

“That was Kat’s nickname for me.”

I understood.

“You-you can’t go back to the dorm. I know you hate me, and I know you blame me for all of this, but you can’t go back there. I can’t let him hurt you.” I wiped my nose, sniffing, and her eyes widened for a second before the shutter came back up.

“Let him come. I’ll kill that bastard for Kat,” she spat out, her green eyes going dark.

“You don’t understand.”

“I do. I understand you lied to me. I’m not a fool, Yara,” she said, her voice sharp and distant.

“I didn’t lie.”

“You kept things from me,” she said, her voice accusatory. “How long have you known?”

“I… I wanted to protect you, Irene. You don’t…”

Her smile was mocking. “And yet here we are. I’m fucking done.” Her voice was resolute. “I don’t want any part in this madness.”

“No,” I said, grabbing her hand. “You’re allowed to be angry, but I won’t let your anger kill you. I need to keep you safe.”

Ryden, standing a few feet away from us, cleared his throat. “Enzo’s house. She’ll be safe there.”

“I don’t know who the hell this Enzo is. I’m not going there,” Irene grunted. “Are you fucking insane?” she snapped.

“I can’t focus on The Strangler if I'm constantly worrying about you, Irene.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Please, Irene. Just until I find The Strangler.”

“You’ve been trying for four years. What makes you so sure that you’d find him now?” Her voice was bitter, and the bitterness coated my heart with desperation. She was looking at me as if I were the enemy now. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was the reason for all of this.

Darkness birthed more darkness.

If Katelyn hadn’t befriended me, she wouldn’t have been in The Strangler’s trajectory. She’d be alive now. Alive, and unaware of my demons and those I brought with me.

“You’ve been trusting me for four years. Trust me for a few more weeks?” I asked, and she huffed.

“Whatever.”

“Will you go and stay with Enzo?”

I couldn’t ignore how my life and Ryden’s were becoming increasingly intertwined, almost involuntarily. But I couldn’t delve deeper into that thought at the moment. That was a whole other mess, and I’d deal with it once this was over. Until then, I’d be selfish and take him up on his offers.

“I’ll go, only because I don’t want to keep talking about it with you.” She walked into her room and slammed the door shut behind her, and the sound of it echoed in the silence.

Such a fucking drama queen, my sister, Kat said. She’ll get over it.

46

BERRY RUSH

Ryden and I stood in the echoes of silence, neither of us daring to break it. I could hear Irene move about inside her room, opening and slamming shut with enough force to shatter it.

When she finally came back out, after ten minutes, she had a small backpack with her.

“Let’s get going,” she said, staring only at Ryden.

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