Page 95 of Overcast

She pulls back again, harder this time, but I'm an asshole, and she's stuck right here. "Stop calling me that."

"That was a one day agreement," I retort. "Unless you do something for me."

"Then I'll eat your pizza, just let go." She pushes off me again, and I let her this time.

There's no point in being an asshole that's stronger than her by genetics and piss her off even more.

I don't get the comforts of her being around. My only job is to be sure she makes it out of this unscathed.

Rising from the ground, I don't bother tugging her along and back in the direction of the house. Instead, I say," If you run one more time, I'll make sure you're the one who lands on their back to break my fall."

A scoff leaves her lips as I give her my back, making the quiet walk back to the house.

The crickets sing around us, the moonlight sets the lighting for an easy trail to lead us, and when I don't hear her behind me, I turn to see her staring at the lake.

I watch her peer over the glass-like surface reflecting the trees surrounding it and the moon. She shakes her head gently, crossing her arms along her chest because a cool breeze comes through and hits her body from off the water.

"How are you able to look at this every time you pass it? To have to keep reliving memories of fear and helplessness of a loved one?"

Her questions catch me off guard, but the quick answer is because I have to.

Because it'll never happen again.

That it can't because I'll turn into Satan himself if something happens to my sister.

"You just do," I croon.

"I wouldn't be able to do it," she replies. "It'd sink too deep within my veins." She slowly peers over at me. "What are you going to do with my dad?"

Shit.

So, I'm not ready to have this particular conversation yet. Bishop is adamant about offing him, and even though my word is the final one, I'm not ready to let him go just yet.

Not only that, but I'm not sure I could look Stormi in the eyes and tell her that not only did I tip her world upside down with this experience, but I killed her dad too.

"Hollis," I mutter instead. "I saw him with another blonde. Who could that be?"

"I don't know." She shrugs. "We're not close like that. Like I've been trying to tell you."

I step closer to her as she squeezes her arms tighter around her midriff. "I need you to think hard. I saw a woman walk into that house with Hollis. You were the only one there when I came in. If you're not who you say you are, I need—" Her face flashes over before her eyes widen. They steer towards the lake again, and she takes another step back.

Her face contorts into something I can't put my finger on, but this time I don't think it's because of me.

"Stormi." Her name is the overture to get her to focus back on me. She does, and the moment her eyes hit mine—she's pissed.

"Bianca."

My breathing quickens as goosebumps line my forearms. "Who?" Her expression hardens as she shrinks away from me some more. "Who is that?"

Her shoulders begin to tense, and I can see her mind running a mile a minute. I feel uncomfortable, needing to push but aware that it might cause more stress for her.

Unfortunately, it doesn't pull away what needs to be done.

"Who is Bianca?" I ask again, staying grounded to my spot. I want her to help me on her own accord and not frighten her into spilling. However, if she doesn't tell me who she is, I may have no other choice but to.

"She's..." Shifting her body weight around, her bad leg gives out, and she begins to fall to the ground. Catching herself, she attempts to straighten, but I'm already in her space, hands on her biceps.

"C'mon," I urge gently. "Let's get you inside and look at that leg. Lucien is going to come back tonight and look at it."

She wrings out of my hold, her chest heaving inconsistently as she rubs her bicep with her hands. "I want to go lay down."

She doesn't pause for a reply, striding towards the house in a tight little ball of unsettled nerves. I blink a few times before peering over my shoulder to watch her ass sway in my sweatpants that are gigantic on her.

Like I said before, I preferred her sweet pleas and begging to the bad memories that seem to stew inside her.

They're about Hollis.

I just don’t know how bad they are yet.

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