Page 3 of Heart Sick Hate

Crew chuckles and Rhett’s smile falls, his attention snapping in his brother’s direction.

“Knock it off.”

“Or what?” Crew steps toward him—a rubber band of tension on the verge of snapping. “Maybe Goldie and I weren’t done yet.”

“We were.” I step around them both, not sure I trust myself to keep talking to Crew given the way he stirs up my insides. “And just for the record, I’m no Goldilocks.”

She had three choices. I’ve only got one.

“See you around.” Rhett waves and I give him a nod as I dip out of the room. Purposefully avoiding Crew’s eyes when I feel them on me. No good comes from looking into eyes like his.

I make my way through the maze of hallways, finding the path toward the foyer. Everything about this dark castle in the Los Angeles hills is grand and expensive. If it didn’t feel like a prison it would almost be beautiful.

Turning a final corner, I find my father waiting for me. He’s clutching the cross around his neck, deep in thought, like it has the power to crucify the demons we sold our souls to here.

“Ready?” he asks when I stop in front of him.

His expression is tense, and the gray patches of hair at his temples draw out his age with his frown.

“I’m ready.” I thread my arm through his and find the gravity I’ve been searching for since we walked in.

Dad leads me out of the house, to our beater parked at the curb. He swings the door open for me and holds it while I climb inside. We’re both silent until he circles around and gets in himself. The wheezing of the engine cuts through the night.

“It’s done then?” I ask, clutching the hem of my dress.

Dad nods, wiping away the slight sheen of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “You don’t have to do this. I shouldn’t have involved you in the first pl—”

“Stop.” I turn in my seat to face him. “You didn’t involve me. This was my decision. I know the terms.”

“There are other ways.”

“And you’ll die searching for them.” Tears sting my eyes. Needles prick my throat with every word. “You need a heart, and he can get you one. That’s all that matters. It’s done.”

Dad swallows hard, keeping his eyes on the road. “It’s done.”

“Which one do I need to marry?” I turn once more and face the road, trying to slow my breath as my heartbeat throbs between my temples.

“Rhett.” He lets out a heavy breath and I feel the weight of it. “Not now. We’ll wait until you’re older and it makes sense.”

“Rhett,” I repeat. “Good.”

He’s nice enough. Safe enough.

Just rightif I had to guess.

If only I wasn’t haunted by the lingering ghost of Crew’s cedar scent when I close my eyes and let the road rock me to sleep.

If only the darkness in me didn’t wish for a different decision.

1

Echo

Eight Years Later

Crew pops the capon a bottle of vodka and pours a shot. “What the fuck is taking Jude so long?”

Sage snags the shot Crew poured for himself and slams it before Crew can stop him. “They’re probably fucking.”

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