Page 49 of Infernal

But she could. She absolutely could. She was simply choosing not to.

More rage. More raw emotion I couldn’t handle. The lights sputtered chaotically as I glared at her, my hands shaking with anger—with energy. I could barely contain myself enough to think straight.

“Jemma, you need to calm yourself down before you—”

Too late.

Every light bulb in the room shattered into a trillion little pieces, raining down around us like some demonic light show nobody signed up for. Dominic and Gabriel barely reacted to it, probably because they were already used to my little power surge mishaps, but Tessa quickly covered her head in surprise.

Her eyes darted around the room frantically before making their way back to me. Unfazed by it, I didn’t bother covering up, and she noticed it. Her features twisted with confusion as she stared back, her eyes probing and questioning.

“Did you…do that?"

“You need to fucking leave. Like right now.” Frankly, I was worried she was going to be the next thing I exploded if she didn’t. “I seriously can’t even look at you right now.”

“Jemma—”

“GET. OUT!”

She flinched as a strange combination of surprise and fear passed through her eyes. She quickly steeled herself and said, “I’m not going anywhere, Jemma. This isn’t your house.”

“Oh, really?!” I fired back and then paused.

Okay. Alright. So, she had a point. This wasn’t my house, and I couldn’t kick her out of it. But that didn’t mean I had to stay here. I wouldn’t. Not with Brutus sleeping under the same roof of me.

“You know what, Tessa? You’re right. This isn’t my house, and you—” I jammed my finger into the center of her chest “—you aren’t my family because family doesn’t do that to each other. So, enjoy your bed! Drown in it for all I care, but don’t ever don’t forget that you’re the one who made it,” I warned and then left the room in a huff.

Taking two stairs at a time, I bolted back up to the guest room and slammed the door so forcefully that it bounced back open and nearly hit me in the face. Anger trilled in my veins as I tried to quell the overwhelming urge to bust every single window in the house. To topple the whole damn structure to the ground.

I knew then there was absolutely no way I could stay here now. Not with her here. For my own sanity—for my own safety—I had to get out of this house as fast as humanly possible.

Grabbing my schoolbag from the back of the chair, I tossed it onto the bed. Tears continued spilling as I riffled through the drawers, looking for my things only to realize I didn’t have any things.

I owned nothing, and I had no one.

The realization had my tears raining down harder and my legs threatening to drop me to the ground.

Zipping up the bag, I tossed it onto my shoulder and pivoted for the door only to come face to face with another brick wall. My heart jumped up into my throat as I looked up and met Dominic’s eyes.

He was standing in the doorway with an amused grin on his face. “Going somewhere, angel?”

18. THE BIG PLAN

The rain picked up outside, raking its nails against the windows as I stood in the bedroom and stared up at Dominic. Bloodbond or not, he was the only one I could still stand to look at in this house of fallen souls, but that wasn’t nearly enough to keep me here.

“I’m leaving,” I said as I readjusted the strap of my schoolbag. The almost-empty bag hung awkwardly on my shoulder, and I felt silly for even bothering to bring it with me. “I can’t stay here anymore. Not with her here.”

“That’s easily remedied, love. I’ll gladly throw her and my brother out,” smirked Dominic. He looked like he was chomping at the bit for the opportunity to do just that.

But I wasn’t about to start a fight between him and Gabriel.

“Don’t bother,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s not just them, Dominic. The Order knows I’m here—I have to leave.”

I wasn’t safe here anymore. Not with Council members dropping in and out as they pleased, and Gabriel and Tessa breathing down my neck. Knowing where they stood only made my decision that much easier to make.

“And where do you plan on going?” he asked, crossing his arms as he leaned into the doorway. “I’m guessing you don’t have a secret lake house up north?”

“Nope.” I lifted my chin a little. “I don’t need anything or anyone. I have a plan and a few bucks for a motel and that’s all I need right now.” I started to walk towards him to leave the room, but he didn’t clear the way.

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