Page 16 of Rent Free

“Probably not good based on how her face looks,” Tarrant drawled.

I’d Facetimed both of them so they could be my alibis in case Sage tried to pull some bullshit on me like saying that I had hurt her in some way.

This way, they could see that I’d left free of any scrapes or bruises, relatively unharmed.

“It went splendidly,” I grumbled. “I’m just calling to establish an alibi.”

Both of my brothers laughed.

But they knew just as well as I did that I was being serious.

My sister liked to make up sensational stories and blame me for stuff I didn’t do. I wouldn’t put it past her to file a police report for hurting her in some way.

Jerk.

The only thing I want from the streets are tacos.

—Atlas’s secret thoughts

ATLAS

“What?” I asked, voice incredulous at Sage’s words.

“You heard me.” Sage gritted her teeth. “My sister is in town, and she’s working at that bakery that y’all love.”

Pie Hard.

Maven’s place.

Then a sick sort of understanding started to fill my gut.

That’s why the woman had looked so familiar.

Because she was Sage’s sister.

Fuck.

“Why is she here?” I asked, trying to hide the disappointment I felt.

I’d heard all about Pepper Solomon.

And what I heard, I didn’t like.

That’s when I felt my belly sink to somewhere below my knees.

I didn’t like tears. I especially didn’t like tears from someone I cared about.

And Sage was full on crying now. “She came to rub it in my face that my mother passed away, and they didn’t tell me, and I missed her funeral.”

That fuckin’ bitch.

“What?” I asked, voice aghast at her words.

“How fucking hard was it to make a phone call?” she sniffled.

I pulled her into my arms, patting her on the back.

I wouldn’t say that Sage and I were best friends, by any means. But I cared about her. I was worried for her safety.

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