Page 143 of Late Nights & Love Lines
“We’re not going down memory lane with you, Rowan. You were a problem child that needed to be dealt with, and obviously, I failed.” Spittle settles in the corner of Tony’smouth. He’s glaring at me, so blinded by rage he doesn’t notice Sebastian step up to him until they’re face-to-face.
“Call my wife a problem child again, and we’ll see how well you can talk with a missing tongue.” Tony’s eyes widen at Sebastian’s threat.
“Jesus, Seb,” Beck mutters.
Wife? What the heck?
“What is it you want, Ellis?” He calls me by my last name. He used to do it when I was a child, too. It was a way of making me stand out from the family, letting me know I never truly belonged here.
“Honestly?” I say, working hard to keep my tone even. “I wanted to face my demons, the monster in preachers’ clothing, and tell you that you didn’t win. You didn’t break me. I’m still my father’s daughter.” I mention my father to get a reaction out of them, and they don’t disappoint. Tony’s hands ball into fists, and my mother’s armor cracks when tears pool in her eyes. “And you’ll never see me again.”
I stomp toward the door, fueled by adrenaline, when something catches my attention in the formal living room to our left. I’m standing in front of it before I can speak.
“You—” My voice cracks. “You told me you burned this,” I say, holding up the cribbage board.
My mother’s face pales, and Tony’s flames with anger. “What is she talking about?” he roars.
Clutching it to my chest, I know it’ll be coming home with me.
“Get out.” My mother’s voice barely carries through the small space, but I hear it.
“A mother should never be jealous of a child. You’re worse than pathetic, Mother, you’re useless.”
“Get out,” she screams.
“Gladly.” Before I reach the door, I glare over my shoulder at Tony. “Oh, and Tony? Your precious baby girl was arrested yesterday. She’s going to look fabulous in jumpsuit orange.”
He steps forward, and my courage gives out. I jump for the door and stomp down the stairs, something that would have earned me a punishment as a child. Then I step on every goddamn crack in their walkway while my family surrounds me and allows me to get my feelings out.
“Row,” Seb says eventually, pulling me into his chest. “We should go.”
Lifting my head, I suck in gasping lungfuls of air. The guys stand around, protecting me while allowing me the meltdown I needed to have.
Leo chuckles. “My mother was kind of a bitch too.” And without saying another word, he stomps on every crack between him and the Suburban.
I take one last look at the house I once called home, and with it, I take all the happy memories with me while laying all the wretched ones at its door.
This time, my goodbye is forever.
35
EASY THERE, KILLER
SEBASTIAN
“She’s been in the area for a week. What do you think she’s doing?” Alexei asks.
Beck groans and tosses his pen on the table. “I need my own damn office.”
Despite his grouchy tone, his comment makes me chuckle. He has an office, multiple in fact, but he insists we work in his home office, and we’re all aware that it’s so he can be close to the kids and Stella.
“I don’t know,” I say, answering Alexei’s question. “But I’m glad I haven’t said anything to the kids. I thought she meant she wanted to see them the day she got here, but I’ve called twice, and she’s had an excuse both times. I’m not chasing her. If she wants to see my kids, she can call me.”
“She’s always played mind games,” Alexei grumbles. He’s been particularly pissy this week but says he’s fine.
“Hey, I’m here,” Elijah says from a screen on the wall. He and Teddy, Crystal Waters’ lead counsel, are video conferencing from Raleigh.
“The girls will be here soon,” I say as Rowan and Tabby walk through the door. Not a minute later, Stella and her friend Bella walk in.
