I turn to my siblings and hug each in turn. I suck in a ragged breath before turning and making my way to the door.
A hand lands on my arm.
Zach.
I pause, my eyes dropping to where his hand is encircling my bicep. I curl my lip as I look up, my stare as cold and dead as I can make it.
Don’t you fucking dare!
He drops his hand as if burned.
“We need to talk,” he says quietly.
“We do,” I say. There’s no point in denying it.“But not now.”
It’s like a fog has descended, and my brain has stopped working. I’ve never felt like this before.
He dips his chin.
I open the door and use that moment to dart out before anyone else can stop me.
I hit the down arrow on the elevator multiple times.
I need to process, take stock, and rebuild my barriers. Escape.
“I’m going after Kat,” I hear Gabriel say, close to the door.
The elevator pings, announcing its arrival, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
I step in, the door closing, just as my younger brother makes it out of the door.
I drop my back against the wall, my head thumping slightly against the hard surface. I grip the pendant on the chain around my neck before closing my eyes and focusing on my breath.
In and out, in and out.
It stutters, and I pinch the skin on my wrist, twisting it. My eyes spring open just as the elevator stops. The doors open, and I thrust my shoulders back, running my hands down my clothes before stepping into the car park.
I freeze as Darra’s voice echoes across the parking garage.
“We made love in your bed for hours. More than once. But he won’t tell you that.”
I lift my chin and bite my tongue before heading towards my car.
“You’ve never been able to keep a man,” she shouts, stepping into the light, her expression venomous. “Looks like even your brother’s best friends couldn’t defrost your icy heart. It certainly wasn’t difficult to turn their heads.”
I stuff my trembling hands in my pockets.
Ignore her!
“Nothing to say?” Darra goads me but keeps her distance.
As I reach the door. I grip my keys. The car bleeps as it unlocks, and at the same time, the elevator pings behind us. Gabriel and Caleb burst out of the doors.
Gabriel growls as he takes in the situation.
“Fuck off,Darra, haven’t you done enough damage?”
My quiet, introverted brother takes a step towards Darra, and I use the distraction to get into my car. Switching on the engine, I wait for it to roar to life. It’s a sound I need. It’s not only Gabriel and Caleb who have a love of cars. This baby, my ice silver McLaren Artura, is my pride and joy.
