Page 28 of Echo
“Okay,” I answered softly, and I did what he said, going to the house without looking back. Turning my back to whatever was there was unreal, but it also worked.
The sun was almost down when I entered the house, closed the curtains, and locked the door. There.
Safe.
As safe as I could get.
“Who was that?” Mark asked.
“Feed guy. My cousin paid a few months for delivery or something.” I shrugged and put his card on the counter.
“You were outside looking like that?” He lifted his eyebrow at me.
I glanced down at my tank-top and shorts. “All my bits are covered.”
“Dress properly. No one needs to see you like that.” His eyes hardened on me.
Men.
After a shower, I went to the kitchen. Mark passed out on the couch, with a bottle of whiskey sitting on the end table. I grabbed it and poured it into the sink, then placed it back where he had it. He wasn’t the only one who could gaslight someone.
I dug in a drawer, looking for a whisk and found an envelope with my name neatly written on the front. I jumped onto the counter and opened the letter.
To Ruby’s precious Madison,
This house was never meant to be mine. It was Ruby’s.
She messed everything up, and I ended up living my entire life dealing with her sins. So I leave the rage she left behind for you to deal with.
I’ve endured for long enough.
I hope he rips you to shreds the moment you step on the land. But if you survive long enough to find this letter, blame your grandmother. I know I do.
Truly, Pearl.
Intense.
I guess Pearl wasn’t on as good of terms with Grandma as I remembered.
A bad feeling bubbled in my stomach.
I probably should have asked more questions about this place.
Chapter 10:
Ilaidinbed,trying to get the day's events out of my mind. Footsteps stomped through the house, and I rolled my eyes.
How could a man who wore loafers always walk like he was wearing steel toes?
I found the light from the hallway creating a silhouette. His face was in the shadows, since I’d already turned the light off in here. He leaned against the doorway, and I sensed his eyes more than I saw them.
“What do you want?”
He didn’t answer. He stayed eerily still. I waited another few seconds before I rolled over to face the wall. Maybe if I ignored him, he’d go away too.
Lips landed behind my ear and took a slow trail down my neck.
I gasped in surprise. I hadn’t even heard him move. “What are you doing?”
