Page 12 of Ruling Scar
Russet’s got to know every single person is sizing her up in some shape or fashion. We’re no better as we glance over.
Elijah’s still in the room.
I don’t ask them to protect me, but like always, my sisters edge closer.
It’s useless. Elijah will stare all night, not giving a damn about how annoying the other Akatov women find it.
Adeline and Nat continue to trade questions back and forth. I dig my phone out of my pocket. And yes, I only wore this dress because it has pockets.
I have his number, like I have all the Zimin’s numbers.
Lennie: Don’t be mean to Russet.
It takes only a minute to get a reply.
Elijah: And why would I do that, Leonora?
He’s no longer in the living room, but I swear his ghost remains as I ponder a response. How do I explain it’s probably a good idea to never leave Russet in a room alone with Yelena?
Lennie: Because somebody’s got to balance out Yelena’s hatred towards her.
And if there’s anybody who understands Yelena’s hatred, it’s Elijah.
CHAPTER 3
Lennie
CHRISTMAS
Mariah Carey belts her heart out while I try to wrap Christmas presents.
I almost give it up as a lost cause when Adeline barges in.
“If you don’t turn that off, I will commit murder. Your murder.”
Blowing hair off my face, I plop onto the mattress. Adeline recently graduated from NYU and moved back home. When we were in high school, we lived in Manhattan, but Mom kept saying she wanted to hear herself think.
Dad pointed out numerous times we lived in a soundproof multistory penthouse. But she kept talking about deer and gardens so they moved just outside the city. In some ways, this place feels like my childhood home more than the Manhattan penthouse. It’s cozier and calmer. And now that we’re all older we actually like hanging out with each other.
Though, I doubt Mom thought she’d have two daughters living with her again but here we are.
Considering I work in the city, that’s probably where I should be living, but I don’t mind the commute. And I crave the comforts of home. Adeline is staying here while she figuresout where she wants to live. I’m here because it’s another way to fight my loneliness. It sounds silly, but even going away to college had me desperately homesick.
Adeline holds up a present, shaking it.
“Don’t!”
“What is it?” she asks like a kid. “Is it for me?”
“Do you see your name on it?”
She narrows her eyes, studying it.
I grab it out of her evil clutches. “It’s for Dad.”
“And what are these?” she asks, swooping down.
Wrapping paper and bows litter the floor, but she folds back the bed skirt and grabs a basket out from under my bed.
