Page 11 of Ruling Scar
“What the actual fuck?” Russet Smith says to me before she steps into the tub herself.
Kill me now.
We stare at one another while someone pees. Talk about instant bonding.
“What the fuck were you doing in the bathtub?” she asks when the door closes. She rushes to lock it.
I can’t keep track of the number of times I apologize as I climb out after her.
“Why were you hiding in the bathroom?” she asks.
“I freaked out! There were people. A person. And I tried to hide and I’m sorry, the door didn’t lock, and I’m so sorry.”
“Did the person chase you into the bathroom?”
I can see where she’d be mistaken. But no, I did this all on my own, weirdly.
“So you. . .”
My mother’s hatred of Yelena isn’t unfounded. Even as kids, my sisters and I tiptoed around the woman. Lev is easygoing despite his shadowy connections, his features always full of life, and his love of snacks well known to us kids.
Yelena was more of asit quietly in the corner or mommy’s going to screamtype of caregiver.
And if the three Akatov daughters were loud and caused her disdain, I can’t imagine how often the boys got on her nerves. I know for a fact Elijah went out of his way to make her life hell.
“Did it hurt?” I ask gently.
“It’s fine.” She clears her throat, her spine straightening.
Show no fear. Show no weakness. Maybe she’ll get along better with the Zimins than we think.
“That was really cruel,” I whisper, hoping she knows it’s not okay. That we're not all like that.
She stares at me strangely. “Who are you?”
“Oh, right. I’m Leonora. But everyone calls me Lennie.”
“Do you make a habit of hiding in showers?”
“Yeah, sorry. I. . .”
“You think we could get away with hiding here all night?”
I would desperately love that, but of course, someone begins to knock on the door.
We slip out of the restroom, Russet trailing after me. Frustratingly, the party’s grown in size. After grabbing fresh drinks, Max joins us.
Nat always called him a momma’s boy and I’m inclined to agree. They hover close and I search for signs of coldness. If anything it’s like her muscles relax. Shouldn’t it be the opposite if your new mother-in-law just assaulted you?
This world we live in.It’s Mom’s voice I hear, and if there’s anyone who understands how closely love and violence are intertwined in life, it’s her.
Nat catches my eye, raising a brow. I smile at Russet, knowing I’ll get nothing from the stony Maxim, and slip away to my sisters.
Adeline is by my side in an instant. “Did you talk to her?”
I make a face, telling her to lower her voice. I don’t want to spread gossip.
But even Nat is curious. “What do you think of her?”
