Staying rooted to my spot, I turn my head to listen intently for something, anything, that will give away why I’m feeling so uneasy.
“Please, Jesus, I’m not ready to die,” I say under my breath before fully stepping out into the hallway.
Looking right and left, I’m met withnothing. My goose bumps only make themselves more apparent as I make my way to my room.
Maybe Stella did get up? And I’m just overthinking because I’m home alone and it’s dark?
But I stop dead in my tracks, feeling bile rise in my throat.
My bedroom door is open.
I closed it.
I know my siblings aren’t home because not only does Elijah announce his appearance very loudly every time he comes home, but he also just texted me three minutes ago. They can’t be home already.
Oh my God, Stella! She’s in there. If something happens to her, I would never forgive myself.
That thought alone makes me close the remaining distance to my room, eager to beat the shit out of the person who decided to violate our space. Storming into my room without anything to protect myself, which I know is stupid, I tense at the sight of a male body.
“What the hell?” I whisper-yell, my deadly glare pinned on the unwanted intruder.
Standing at the foot of my bed, watching Stella sleep, he turns slowly to face me, a scary smile on his face.
“Well, isn’t this a sight to see? I honestly didn’t expect this, but I guess I have luck on my side today.”
“You aren’t welcome here.” I see red. My blood boils, to the point where I feel like I’m about to explode.
Doesn’t he ever stop? Throw in the white flag and leave us the hell alone?
He’s done enough. Did he come here to finish it off? Leave us even more empty than he already has?
“From the way I remember things, I bought this home.” Dad’s laughter makes me take a step back as he takes one forward.
“The last time I checked, we’re paying for this house now. With our money.” I point a finger at him and hope that he doesn’t notice the slight tremble my body makes. People like him feed off of fear. “Leonidas and Elijah will be home any minute. You’d better leave before they get here,” I warn him, only making him laugh harder, louder.
I want to clasp my hands over my ears and cry. I can’t take this alone. I’m so scared.
I step farther into the hallway, and he follows me, slamming the door shut, and I flinch. His mouth lifts up at my reaction. Not a second later, I hear Stella wail from behind the door, and all I want to do is run in there and comfort her.
But at this moment, I need that for myself as well.
“I’m going to call the cops,” I stammer.
My back hits the wall, and he takes that advantage as he closes in and grabs my throat, choking me in his tight grip. I choke, clawing at his arm, trying with everything in me to push him away. He only places his knee between my legs and traps me more.
“Don’t make me hurt you,” he says in an angry, frustrated voice.
I wheeze around his fingers, and stars spot my vision as tears run down my face.
Are my feet touching the ground? I don’t think they are anymore.
“I find it quite interesting that you’re babysitting your rival’s sister. Isn’t this arrangement supposed to be strictly professional?”
I stutter, not being able to do anything but gasp for the oxygen that he’s denying me. Dad sees my struggle and loosens his grip on my neck.
Sucking in a mouthful of air that only feels like pins and needles in my lungs and heart, I cry out, “We are strictly professional. But she’s just a little girl who had nowhere else to go.”
No way in hell am I telling him the truth. He doesn’t deserveanything.
