Page 53 of Porcelain Lies

My world has changed forever.

Nothing will ever be the same.

Chapter Sixteen

Stella

The pounding jolts me from a fitful sleep.

My hand automatically reaches for my phone to check Hannah’s usual late-night return time. But this isn’t Hannah’s playful tap-tap rhythm. This is something else — aggressive, demanding, almost threatening.

My heart races as I push myself up from the couch where I’d fallen asleep after a mindless Netflix binge. My sleep patterns have been totally screwed up since Mom went.

The knocking continues, each impact making the door frame shudder.

“Hannah?” My voice comes out small, uncertain. No response, just more pounding.

I wrap my arms around myself, the thin silk of my pajamas offering little protection against the sudden chill. The clock on the microwave blinks 3:47 AM.

The pounding stops abruptly. In the silence, I hear heavy breathing on the other side of the door.

My fingers tremble as I reach for the deadbolt. Common sense screams at me to call the police, but something else — maybe exhaustion, maybe grief-induced recklessness — pushes me forward.

I turn the lock and open the door a few inches, the security chain pulling taut with a metallic rattle.

“Hello, sis.”

The stale smell of sweat and cigarettes hits me before I fully process Nick’s appearance. My baby brother — the one who used to steal my lip gloss and tease me about my science magazines — looks like he’s aged ten years in the month since Mom’s funeral.

“Nick?” My voice cracks. His usually styled hair hangs in greasy strands, dark circles carved deep under bloodshot eyes. The designer clothes he took such pride in are wrinkled and stained.

“Let me in.” His words slur together as he glances over his shoulder, body twitching with nervous energy. “Please, Stels.”

I fling the door open and reach for him but he flinches away, head snapping toward the stairwell. The movement reveals fresh bruising along his jaw.

“What happened to your face?”

Another panicked look down the hallway. “Just — I need to get inside. Now.”

The fear in his voice triggers every protective instinct I have. I grab his arm and yank him through the doorway, his body trembling under my grip.

I guide Nick to the couch, his body collapsing into the cushions. His hands won’t stop shaking as he accepts the glass of water I press into them.

“Start from the beginning.”

“I messed up, Stels. Really messed up.” Nick’s words tumble out between gulps of water.

“Tell me about it,” I mutter. “Mom—”

“I know about Mom,” he says. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there, but I was worried that if I was near you…” He trails off.

“For God’s sake, Nick, tell me what the hell is going on!”

“I… got in with some bad people. Thought I could handle it, you know? Quick money, easy job.”

I perch on the coffee table across from him, studying him. He’s a mess. “What kind of job?”

“Weapons. High-end stuff. Military grade.” He runs trembling fingers through his matted hair. “Your ex helped set it up.”

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