Page 41 of A Pawn in the Game
Her scared voice from inside the bathroom replays in my mind. I could hear her fear, but what really tipped me off was the fact that she agreed to come out right away. She was pissed at me. If she had a choice, she’d never agree so easily.
I need a drink.
My feet thump loudly on the stairs as I go up. I decline advances from three different women who are way too drunk to be in a place like this, before I reach a bottle of rakia.
The first sip slides down my throat like a caress. I’m already three gulps deep before I get back downstairs.
The bottle stops on the way to my lips, the sight in front of me nailing me to the spot. Sophie is crying in her sleep again. Unlike her typical messy bun, her hair is now splayed over the pillow. Her rosy cheeks are covered with her tears. She looks almost ethereal. And so tormented.
Her soft pleas for mercy are tiny stabs to my aching heart. I set the bottle on the table, my feet carrying me toward the bed.
I reach the side she’s sleeping on, using my thumbs to wipe off her tears. She recoils at my touch; her head jerking and I remove my hands as if I’ve been burned.
Grinding my teeth, I get back to my bottle and down a quarter of it in one gulp.
“Please, no. I’m scared,” she sobs, and the alcohol starts feeling like blood oozing on my insides.
I slump down onto the floor next to the bed, unable to look at her while she’s upset like this.
The liquid from the bottle drains one sip at a time, but it does nothing to diminish the pain spreading through my chest. At some point, a bead of moisture falls to my cheek, and I realize I’m crying alongside her. My head sinks between my knees.
“I’m so fucking sorry,” I whisper.
When the bottle empties and I’m too tired to keep my eyes open, I drag myself up, staying upright just long enough to get on the other side of the bed. With a thud, I drop onto it, my hand finding its way around Sophie instinctively. This time, she doesn’t push me away.
No, her wails turn to quiet sobs before turning into long breaths. The sound of her even breathing sounds like the best thing I’ve ever heard and finally, I fall asleep.
My phone vibrates in the pocket of my pants, waking me from my sleep. I groan, laying a hand on myface before noticing my other hand is resting on something warm and smooth.
A person.
Shit.
I remove my hand in a rush, practically jumping off the bed. Luckily, Sophie sleeps through it.
Moving to the couch, I open the text I’ve received.
Leon
Meeting at your place. 9:00.
Shit. It’s 8:30. I drag a hand over my face and text Andre to get here as soon as possible. I barely say goodbye to him and I’m already climbing into the driver’s seat of my car and heading home.
In the middle of my very needed shower, I hear the doorbell ring, but he knows the code to let himself inside. Tying a towel around my waist, I get out of the bathroom, only to see my brother accosted by the dogs. He’s alone today, with no Persephone in tow, so they use the opportunity to leave the most hair possible on his black suit.
Giving them a few pets, he glances up at me. “Sorry to have interrupted you.” His voice is laced with sarcasm.
“You know me. Always at your service.” I do a mock curtsy.
“You mind putting some clothes on?” He motions at my getup.
“What? We grew up together. It’s not like you’re seeing anything new.” Actually, I have a few new tattoos since we last spent time like this, but I don’t think he remembers them enough to notice.
His gaze sticks to the one on my ribs, his eyes narrowing. It’s a fresh one, made in the memory of our father, but he doesn’t mention it. Rather, he breaks the silence to say, “Put some clothes on.”
It’s non-negotiable. I know it by his tone. The conversationwe’re about to have will not be pleasant. And I’m pretty certain it will piss me the fuck off.
CHAPTER 21
