Page 52 of The Fallen
The young one shrugs out of Scott’s hold and gets in Ivy's face. “Well, if you hadn’t acted like such a bitch maybe she’d be down here and talking to us.”
“Me? She was the one with our father's blood all over her!”
I stare out the window while they carry on bickering between themselves, wondering which room belongs to Neve. I only went upstairs briefly last time I was here, a quick look in each room while they were all filing down to the funeral. None of the rooms smelt like her, but I guess I could just go and try every door handle until one doesn’t budge.
“Noah?”
I refocus, my gaze coming back to whatever shit is still going on. Ivy’s inmyface now. Not a good place to be given my less than happy fucking mood. “What?”
“Talk.” I don’t. I’m not here for her orders. I try turning away, grinding my teeth to keep this mouth closed. Stupid bitch carries on getting in my face, though, winding up what is already annoyed enough. “You work for us. Tell me what has been going on. Now.”
“I don’t need to say shit to you,” I seethe, glaring. “Youwillback the fuck off.”
Her head rears back at my tone, a half pace backwards at my words. Good. She could do with pulling her neck in anyway, and that kinda crap never works with me. Throw in the mouthful she’s just delivered to someone I do give a damn about, and she’s lucky I haven’t physically pushed her out of my face.
“Perhaps not, Noah, but you do need to talk to me,” Landon says.
I nod at that and keep staring Ivy down until Blake grabs her wrist and pulls her away from me. Probably a good move, considering how pissed I’m turning.
Huffing out a grated breath, I turn and look to Landon rather than calming myself down. Might as well get it all out now. I mean, fuck it, why not? I’ve probably just shown my hand anyway, considering how wound up I've become. Can’t remember a time when I’ve been so hostile in front of him before, if ever. But then the vision of Stefan comes to mind, reminding me exactly why I should be saying all of it. And then I remember that Neve rejected my offer anyway.
He stares at me. He stares long and hard, then knocks back another Scotch. Could do with one myself. Might improve this fucking mood I’m falling further into by the minute. Doubt it, though.
“We've had an intruder caught on the security cameras yesterday who could well still be here. A building ablaze before that. And a dead father,” he snarls as he starts pacing around. “And low and behold, a fucking sister who seems to have been right in the middle of it all. Tell me, right now, what the fuck has been going on, and why do you believe her?”
Because I'm interested in her. Because I've been inside her and seen her fear and pain about this shit. But mostly because I don't think those lips have lied once. Not to me after we got into this, anyway.
“There’s evidence,” I mutter instead, shrugging out of my leather. It gets slung on the back of a chair as he waits for more. “Lewis Davis did it according to her. Grandson of the Davis line Ivy found out about. Neve just tried to stop it.” My neck rolls, shoulders attempting to shrug this mood off so I can try talking sense. “After she helped him start it. Which was relatively dumb.” That does cause a reaction from him, one that makes him move closer. “It’s a long fucking story, Landon. One you all need to listen to.”
Chapter Twenty
NEVE
My eyes drift over the grounds from my bedroom window. I used to love this view. Now, I can see the charred and burnt corner of the stable block – a scar on our home, thanks to Lewis. Although the loss of Father is so much worse than any physical damage.
The tears sting my eyes.
He’s wrought such pain, and all in the name of wanting what he thinks is his. I’ve been so obsessed with bringing him to justice I’ve not had much time to consider after. At least with regard to my family. What will happen? Although I’m sure Landon will have a plan.
The enormity of what I’ve got to explain hits me, and I take in a shuddering breath, stuttering as I fail to calm myself after my outburst at Ivy. She was so mad at me, so vengeful she wouldn’t even let me speak. She reacted just as I feared they all would, which at least makes my choice to run and prove my innocence alone a justifiable decision. But it casts a shadow over my decision not to stay with Noah. What if I chose wrong?
Maybe.
It doesn’t change the fact that I have to at least try.
Ivy is headstrong and stubborn – just like Landon, and there’s nothing I have to make up for what I’ve done. It’s all a mess, and I can’t fix it.
A gentle knock at the door spins my head in that direction, but I ignore it.
“Neve, I know you’re in there. I’m sorry for the way Ivy jumped on you. She’s just hurting.” Seffi’s soft voice draws me closer to the door. “I just want to talk. I promise. I’m alone.”
I lean my head against the wood; the pull of family, of comfort and the belief that I might have support from my family, is now so close. And it's too much for me to deny.
My fingers twist the lock and open the door. Seffi stands in the doorway alone as she said, her eyes red and glistening. Without another thought, I lift my arms and open them wide, and she crashes into them, hugging me back so tightly it’s hard to even breathe. The dam breaks, and the fissures in my heart burst open.
We stand there together, engulfed in each other’s arms and sob. No questions, no conditions, just arms wrapped around me and offering me comfort – something that I’ve been starved of. But my mind betrays me and thinks of Noah. How can I not at a time like this.
My arms relax around Seffi, and we gently pull out of each other’s grasp. I push the door closed and twist the lock again. I might be okay with talking to her for a moment, but I’m not ready to face them all yet. She takes my hand and walks us over to the sofa next to the tall window. We both drop down and pull our legs up under us. Her hand remains in mine – a connection that I’m desperate to keep hold of.
