Page 59 of Twisted Kings

27

Thea

“You have a stocking downstairs, hanging over the fire, but no opening anything until we’re all there, OK?” The guys had picked up some small gifts for Verity, nothing expensive. I felt bad about that. Everything I owned was still at college, including my bank card.

Eden had been kind enough to give me a bunch of clothes, mostly items that were too small, not that the guys were complaining. She had tried to give me some money too, but I refused to take it. I’d also not spent the cash Kyril gave me. It wasn’t like I could go shopping anywhere. The risk of being spotted was too great.

Speaking of Eden, I was still mad she’d called the guys. Without her interference, I could have been half-way to Dublin by now. But maybe she was right to stop me. Cassian hadn’t attacked me yet, verbally or otherwise.

Maybe he’d forgiven me?

“Cool,” Verity smirked and then yawned sleepily. “I like it here, but I miss Mrs. Gia,” she said in a small voice.

“I know, Ver. Dar’s trying to find out what happened to her and the other staff.” I hoped Mrs. Gia was alive. The woman didn’t deserve to die.

“Will you stay with me until I go to sleep?”

“I will, pumpkin.”

Verity waited until I lay down next to her before she closed her eyes. It reminded me of the many nights we’d slept wrapped in each other’s arms, squished together in the narrow single bed in the attic room she called home.

Eventually, her breathing evened out and she fell asleep. I kissed her soft cheek and closed the door behind me as I left. Despite being pulled from the only home she’d ever known, my sister had settled remarkably well. Better than me, in fact. In the short time we’d been here, she’d bloomed.

It was a relief to know my father’s evil hadn’t tainted her soul in the same way it had mine. At least she had a chance of living a normal life once our father was six feet under, along with Torrance.

When I re-emerged in the kitchen, the guys had all disappeared. The fire still burned in the grate, but from the sounds of gunfire and explosions, they had decided to watch a movie.

I debated whether to join them and then shook my head. Now Cassian was here things felt awkward.

Dario’s presence had already made things difficult, not that he hung around with the guys much. He spent most of his time either working out in the small gym, watching DVDs with Verity, or in his room.

I figured he’d probably leave after the holidays. If his father was on our side, which I assumed was the case since he’d provided vital information before Dar and Kyril rescued me, then he had access to money.

Nothing was keeping him here. Certainly not me. Yes, he seemed to have quit hating on me, but he hadn’t tried to talk to me other than one half-assed effort when I first arrived.

Part of me was relieved. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what had happened all those years ago. Dario was in my past. Yes, I’d cared for him.More thancared. But I didn’t know if I could forgive him for how he’d treated me. For all the nights I’d cried into my pillow while grieving the loss of my best - and only - friend.

If he left tomorrow, I’d be fine with that.

Thoughts churned inside my head as I stared at the flames. Outside, the wind howled around the thick stone walls of the old house. Being here felt like we were inside a bubble, cocooned from the rest of the world.

Mrs O’Malley came and went, but aside from her, we saw nobody. The locals assumed this was an Airbnb from what Eden had told me. They weren’t interested in who stayed here, and Mrs O’Malley had signed an NDA. My father would find me eventually, but for now, we were safe.

The sound of footsteps caught my attention. When I looked up, Cassian stood by the table, watching me. His caramel-colored hair gleamed red in the light from the fire. It was longer than usual. Long enough to touch his shoulders. With his unshaven jaw and crumpled clothing, he looked a million miles away from his usual immaculate self.

“If you have something to say, get on with it,” I snapped.

“What would you like me to say?” He took a step closer, his face blank.

Did I want an apology? No. He was right to be angry with me.

“It doesn’t matter,” I muttered. It was late. Verity would probably be awake early and I needed to sleep. It wasn’t fair to leave the guys to entertain her while I enjoyed a lie-in like a princess.

I moved toward the door that led to the stairs, but Cassian blocked my exit. The sound of dramatic music and more gunfire echoed from the living room. They’d chosen an action movie. How surprising.

“Let me pass.”

“No. We need to talk.” He made no effort to touch me, but it was clear I’d have to be more forceful if I wanted him to get out of my way. If it was anyone else, I would quickly disable him, but tonight, I lacked the energy and the motivation.

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