Page 189 of Vicious Saint
Theory reaches past me to grab her phone on the desk, but I snatch it before she can.
“Hendrix isnecessaryfor me.”
The universe once again proves how much she fucking hates me, because my little sister chooses now, when I’m hanging by an existential thread, to stab me in the chest with her pointy fingernail.
“That’s a load of crap and you know it.”
“I don’t have the time, or the fucking patience to go through this again with you.”
“I’m not asking you to go through anything. Just leave my relationship with Hendrix alone.”
I slam my already bloodied fist into the wall above her desk, making Theory roll her shoulders in a poor attempt to hide her fear.
Stanley the loyal, tired old man, pokes his head in through the door, then out of it just as fast. A lesson in privacy Hendrix’s Italian should learn a thing or two about.
“What the fuck happened to you, huh? Why are you becoming so defiant?”
“Because you w-won’t stop treating me like a kid!”
“Youarea kid.”
“No, I’m not, Saint!” She pushes me. “I’m only t-two years younger than you.”
The brat resemblance is uncanny to hersister’s.
Another brutal reminder how easily Hendrix can rub off on Theory. Along with people far worse if I’m not careful.
“I’m not talking numbers, baby girl.”
I’ve spent years sheltering Theory from the brutalities that come from our way of life. And it’ll be over my stone cold, dead fucking body that I allow someone else to undo the progress.
My ways of going about it may be a bit over-the-top.
Not ideal or rational.
But I made a promise to my sister.
That no one willeverhurt her again.
So if I have to spend the rest of my life playing the villain in her story, so be it.
“You won’t s-stop me.”
“Yes…I will,” I growl through my teeth, snatching her arm.
“N-no…you won’t.” She rips herself away.
“Why are you so fucking hellbent on being friends with Hendrix?”
“Because she’s the only one I h-have!”
“How the fuck can you say that? You have me. Cray. Riggs. Levi.”
Theory scoffs. “Allyourb-best friends.”
“That ain’t true and you know it. The guys always loved you. I mean shit…you and Levi were closer than any of us as kids.”
There’s an unreadable expression on her face…a little happy, a little sad.
