Page 76 of Their Reckless Thief
Before I could give my newfound homelessness a second thought, my heel caught the edge of the stairs right as Roberto released me. My foot slipped, and I tumbled backward down the narrow staircase.
Pain exploded through me as I hit each step on the way down, my back slamming against the sharp edges of the wood. My limbs flailed, unable to stop the fall. By the time I reached the bottom, I was a crumpled heap on the cold, hard floor.
I lay there, chest heaving as I tried to process the pain. My body ached, every inch of me screaming in agony. I took a quick inventory. Nothing broken. Nothing that couldn’t heal, but the damage went deeper than that. It always did.
I pulled myself up slowly, my muscles protesting with every movement. Bruises were already forming, spreading like ink beneath my skin. It wasn’t the physical pain that hurt the most, though. It was the sting of his words. The reminder that no matter what I did, I would never be enough for Roberto. I would never earn his pride or his approval.
I blinked away the tears that threatened to fall, gritting my teeth as I pushed through the haze of pain and humiliation. My body screamed at me to stop, to rest, but I couldn’t.
I limped out of the building, each step sending jolts of pain through my battered body. The chill of the evening hit me as I stepped outside, but I barely felt it. How was I going to break the news to Vivian that we were homeless now?
Again.
I tasted blood in my mouth, the metallic tang mixing with the bitterness that lingered in my throat. I had done everything I could to make Roberto proud, to prove my worth, but it was never enough.Iwas never enough.
The streets stretched out before me, unforgiving and cold. My chest tightened as I realized the gravity of the situation. We had nowhere to go. No safety net. I was dragging Vivian down with me.
Darkness was coming, and with it all the creatures of the night. Tonight, I might let them swallow me whole.
I clenched my fists at my sides. I needed to figure something out that would keep us afloat. Right now, all I could do was walk. One step after another, each one more painful than the last.
I ignored the pain and kept moving. I had to.
Back at the apartment, the normally calm atmosphere tilted as soon as Vivian saw me stumble through the door. It had always been a safe space for us—a tiny, messy haven we had carved out in a world that often felt too chaotic to handle. Today, though, the bruises on my skin and the sharp pain in my ribs made even the air feel oppressive.
Vivian’s eyes went wide when she saw me, her mouth parting in shock before she quickly masked her expression. “Celeste...” Her voice was tight, controlled, but I could hear the fury simmering beneath it. “What the hell did he do to you?”
Will was lounging on the couch, but the second he saw me, he shot up, his carefree, boyish demeanor gone in an instant.
“What the fuck?” He crossed the room to stand beside me, his gaze darting over the bruises peeking out from under my collar and sleeves. “I’m gonna kill that bastard.”
I let out a shaky breath, their concern adding to the pressure in my chest. “It’s fine,” I muttered, dropping my bag on the floor. I barely had the energy to keep standing, let alone deal with the emotional fallout. “Just… Roberto being Roberto.”
“Fine?” Will snapped, his voice rising. “You call thisfine? I can’t believe he put his fucking hands on you again.” His body was practically vibrating with anger, and before I could stop him, he was pulling on his jacket. “I’m gonna rip his fucking head off.”
“No!” I grabbed his arm, the sudden movement sending a sharp pain through my ribs. I winced but tightened my grip on him. “Will, don’t be stupid. He’d kill you before you even got close.”
“I don’t give a shit! He can’t keep doing this to you.” Will’s eyes were wild, his breath coming in short, furious bursts.
“You have to give a shit,” I snapped back, my voice sharper than I intended. “You still have an apartment, a life. Don’t throw that away because of me. Roberto will rip you apart if you go after him.” I cleared my throat and turned to Viv. There would never be a good time to break the news to her, so I might as well just get it out. “Roberto is kicking us out of the apartment. We have twenty-four hours to pack and be out of here.”
Will stared at me, his face tight with frustration. “I’m not gonna just stand here and do nothing, Celeste.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Vivian said quietly, stepping between us. She was calm, but her fury was like a silent storm building in the room. “This isn’t on you, Will. It’s on Roberto.”
Will let out a low, frustrated growl as he paced to the window, running a hand through his messy hair. “Fuck,” he muttered.
Vivian turned back to me, her expression softening as she guided me to the couch. “Sit down, Celeste. Let me check you over.”
I collapsed onto the cushions, wincing as every movement sent pain shooting through my body. “It’s fine, Viv,” I mumbled, trying to downplay the severity of my injuries. “I’ll be okay.”
Vivian knelt beside me, her fingers ghosting over my bruises, her eyes narrowed and teeth grinding together. “You’re not okay. He could’ve broken your neck.”
“I know,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m sorry, Viv. I’ve fucked everything up. It’s my fault we’re homeless.”
Vivian shook her head sharply. “Don’t you dare apologize. This isn’t your fault. Roberto did this, not you. You’ve done nothing but work your ass off for him. And this is how he repays you?”
Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. “I never should’ve?—”
