Page 31 of The Burnt Heart

“Are you serious? Get out,” I hissed, and she reared back in surprise. “I don’t want anything to do with you.” I stood up on shaky legs, my stomach protesting, and pushed past Nicole. She made a plaintive noise, like she couldn’t understand what had just happened.

“It’snotwhat you think,” I spat at Logan. My anger at myself bursting out at the wrong target. “I didn’t touch her.”

“Tell him how we kissed,” Nicole’s shrill voice insisted behind me. Logan mashed his hand over his face. I spun on her in a sudden fury.

“No, we didn’t. You tried, and I pushed you away. I never wanted you. Listen to me once when I tell you, I felt nothing but friendship for you and that is dead. I never want to see you again. Just get your stuff and get the fuck out before I call the cops.”

“Wait, w-wait for a moment. It might work soon,” Nicole sobbed. I darted out of her grasping hands. Unabashedly using Logan as a shield. “Don’t let them influence you.” I swore, not digesting anything she was spouting as I tried to get away from her. Being near Logan had my stomach settling, like he was what I had been waiting for. The cramping eased, and I fisted my hand on the back of his shirt. Needing the support of his solid back. My thoughts climbed over each other inside my skull, each clamoring for attention. The cacophony roared in my ears.

“How pathetic are you? I won’t ask a second time. Get your things and go.” Logan clicked his tongue.

“You never liked me, even when I was just a kid.” Nicole toed the carpet, stalling. Logan’s lip curled back, and he glared.

“There was always something off about you. But I tolerated your friendship for Briar’s sake, because he saw something in you. But I love being proved right.”

Nicole flicked him a blistering look before storming back down the hall. Logan pried his shirt out of my iron grip and glared at me. “I can’t wait for you to explain the clusterfuck I just walked into, but we need to get to the hospital.”

I froze, my feet cemented to the ground. The sick feeling rushed back, my stomach turning.

“Adelaide?” I whispered. A million scenarios cramming into my mind. “Is she–” I couldn’t breathe, my heart was leaping out of my chest with fear. Logan tossed me a look, half understanding, half disappointed.

“After what I just witnessed, I’m surprised you care,” he accused. Nicole re-appeared, thankfully fully dressed. But I didn’t care about her. All I cared about was whether Adelaide was alright. My lungs were on fire, waiting for the blade to fall and end my misery. Logan searched my face, the stiff judgement softening as he seemed to find what he was looking for.

“She’s fine, but Jesse took a bullet meant for her. Luckily, it only grazed his arm, but he needs us.”

Someone shot Jesse.

It was so foreign, even knowing the danger Adelaide flirted with daily. It had never touched one of us before; she was always so careful to keep that part of her world separate from us.

I glared back at Nicole and gestured to the door.

“Leave, I won’t tell you again. If you ever come back here, you’ll see how serious I am.”

Nicole had tied her soaked hair in a low knot at the back of her neck. It dripped down on Adelaide’s blouse, the one I had lain on the bed. The fit was wrong, missing Adelaide’s generous curves. I opened my mouth to argue with her, to get her to take it off, but Logan was already ushering her through the door. She didn’t argue, only tossing one mournful look back at me.

“Get your phone,” he grunted at me, pulling his keys from his pocket.

An indescribable desire to hold Logan crashed over my senses like a wave. My skin prickled sharply at the absence of his touch. Logan was one of my best friends, and I loved him so much. Right now, our other brother needed us, so everything else could wait. My stomach churned, and I didn’t have time to ponder whether it was from whatever Nicole had given me.

I hoped Adelaide was at the hospital. It would be my first chance to make things right with her.

17

Jesse

Incessant beeping cut through my slumber, startling me awake. My nose seared with a harsh chemical smell. I wish I could say I woke up tough and in control, but the moment I got sensation in my arm, I whimpered like a little bitch.

“Hurts a bit. Don’t worry, it’s only a flesh wound.” A drawl drew my attention.

Ray Donato.

Sprawled in an armchair like he owned the place. He’d had time to change out of his crisp white button-up shirt and neat slacks into a plain black polo and jeans. I bristled at the sight of him. I had to swallow bitter acrid jealousy. Everything about him screamed suave. The way growing up with money seemed to add an invisible sheen. You just knew. Adelaide had a similar air, but it wasn’t haughty on her. They’d never had to skip meals, withtheir stomachs concave and growling. They had never had shoes worn through with holes, so that everything got soaked in the rain. Those things leave a mark. Invisible and insidious. I envied Ray Donato. He might have struggled in other ways. But poverty wasn’t one of them.

“What are you doing here?” I gritted through my teeth, preparing to haul myself up, when Adelaide shuffled through the door. She balanced two cups of coffee and had a brown paper bag tucked under her elbow. Her eyes flew open in surprise at the sight of me. She stifled the reaction though, coolly handing Ray one coffee and the paper bag.

“You’re awake.” Her eyes crawled over me, and I noticed that while Ray had changed, she was still wearing the same clothes as she had on their ‘date’. Her blue silk blouse rumpled like she’d been curled up long enough to crease it. I breathed deep, uncaring if it made me look like a creep. There was the slightest hint of her sultry perfume, one that I hadn’t smelled in far too long.

“He’s hurting,” Ray shot me a smirk. I growled, prepared to hurl myself across the room. But the movement had me sucking in a gasp as pain radiated through me. I collapsed on the bed, eyes scrunched tight.

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