The concern in her words makes my stomach roil. “She’s sick?”
Ellen stares at me until I feel the childish urge to shift beneath her silent judgement. “Sick in the heart, I would suggest,” she says finally. Quietly.
Condemning me with her words.
Sick in the heart.
“Ellen,” I say finally. “I’m… I just want to make sure she’s alright.”
She still looks hesitant. “Well. I was actually coming up to get you. Although perhaps Kit might be better.”
I straighten, worry piercing through me. “Why?”
When she tells me, my eyes close for a moment. “I’ll… I’ll speak to her.”
Jesus.
I make my way back up the steps, but my brothers have got to Anastasia first.
Kit turns to me, the worry clear on his brow as I reach the hallway. Rafe is holding onto the ladder, his tone pleading.
“Stasi.” He swallows, his eyes flicking to mine. “Come down. Please.”
Anastasia teeters on the very top step, wobbling as she stretches for the light.
She only shakes her head, and Kit swears softly as she tilts further. “I’m not done.”
“Yes, you are.” Kit moves to join Rafe, his hands spreading out as if readying to catch her. “Come down before you fall.”
“Can’t,” she mutters. “Haven’t finished the list.”
Her hands reach for the light fitting again. It’s not even within her reach. An impossible task—
I stop in my tracks.
The list.
The list thatImade, despite knowing it was impossible to finish it all in one day, if at all. The list I made just to irritate her.
To twist the knife in a little more.
“Anastasia,” my voice is low as I step up beside my brothers. “You’re finished for tonight. Get down from there, right now.”
She blinks, staring down at me. “But I haven’t finished.”
She looks so fucking tired. How did I miss how exhausted she is?
Because I didn’t want to look at her.
And her voice sounds so small, so sad, that I have to close my eyes. Have to brace against the sudden, sharp stab in my chest.
BecauseI did this.
I wanted to hurt her. Wanted her to feel some of the pain that she put me through – putthemthrough.
But I didn’t want to break her. And maybe Kit was right after all. That’s exactly what I might have done. Because this behavior, this quiet, pale Anastasia… it’s not her. It’s notright.
Fear tightens my throat. “I’m changing the list. Get down, and I’ll tell you what you need to do.”
