Page 30 of Relapse
I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Micha. The way he was standing there and glaring at me reminded me of the little girl that died. She was gone, and I was left behind. A hollow shell that to Micha was nothing more than the source of his brother’s torment. And he was the giant fist grinding into my ribs with the weight of my choices.
It was an overwhelming sense that eventually made me crack.
“Why are you here?”
“Why are you?” he asked back.
How was I supposed to answer that? I didn’t come willingly. He had to know that.
“Mason brought me.”
The only response I got was silence.
Micha Kessler was one of the most intimidating people I knew – including my father. I’d take a taunt over this, or a yell. Hell, it’d almost be better if he marched over here and slapped me across the face.
“Where’s Mason?”
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t under any misguided delusions that Mason would come and save me, but I couldn’t take being under Micha’s scrutiny anymore.
“Why?” he snarled. “Don’t you think you’ve tortured him enough?”
My mistake. Scrutiny was better.
I ducked my head and chewed on my lip, attempting to hide the guilt welling up in my gut. But Micha Kessler was nothing if not observant.
He scoffed out a snicker and shook his head. “Play that game all you want Harper, we both know you’re not innocent. In fact, your hands are probably dirtier than mine.”
Tico’s smile flew through my head as I blinked back the tears brimming in my eyes. Micha had no idea how true that statement was.
“I didn’t want to hurt him.”
Was it Mason, or Tico, I was talking about? So many people had been hurt by my silence that I didn’t know who I was trying to protect anymore. The monster I called father, the friend who tried to help me, or the little boy with the green eyes?
Maybe I was just protecting myself? Hoping that one day the shattered pieces of my soul would magically mend themselves. Then again, how many people would pay the price if I did reveal my secrets?
That wasn’t a risk I was willing to take. My torment was worth their safety.
“Sure.” Micha rolled his eyes. “Look, I only came here to tell you one thing.”
Intrigue drew my gaze to his.
“This is your last chance, Harper.”
I had an idea about what he meant, but that didn’t stop me from asking, “Last chance for what?”
“I’ve watched my brother destroy himself for years, all because of you.”
Those last few words sunk into my gut. He wasn’t the only one to witness Mason’s destruction. I was there too. It broke my heart every time he looked at me. But that was better than the alternative.
“The only reason you’re not dead yet is because Mase hasn’t had his fun.” He marched over, dropped his palms on the bed, and leaned in, bringing his face a breath away from mine. “And he will have his fun, won’t he, Harper?”
I wanted to point out that that’s what I’d thought he’d been doing for the past seven years, but I kept my mouth shut. Silence was something I was good at.
“I’d tread lightly if I were you.” Micha leaned in to growl in my ear, “I’ve been itching to take out the trash.”
That statement was very clear. So much so that I could already feel the cold touch of the reaper closing in.
“Get your ass down to breakfast.” Micha spun around and walked out, pausing briefly to add, “Wouldn’t want my brother forgetting about his new toy.”
