“Why did you lie?”
We all turn to see Emilee stepping into the living room. She looks like a victim from a bombing. She’s still covered in ash and has black marks all over her skin. Her once perfect makeup is smeared under her eyes.
“Em …?”
“Why did you lie?” she asks, staring at the marshal.
“Why did you start the fire?” Bones asks her.
EMILEE
I drag myeyes to look at Bones when I answer him. “It all needed to burn.”
“Jesus,” Titan hisses.
Bones steps into me. His eyes narrowing at mine. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?” he snaps.
Jasmine places her hands on his chest and pushes him back. “Let me talk to her.” She doesn’t allow anyone to protest. She grabs my arm and yanks me back into Titan’s bedroom, then closes the door behind us. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” she hisses, repeating his words.
I don’t answer.
“They’re going to lock you up in a psych ward,” she snaps.
I fall on the end of the bed. “Let them.” I could use some time alone. Maybe then I’ll get some peace and quiet.
“Emilee, you’re talking crazy.” She falls to her knees before me.
“Nothing matters anymore.”
“Don’t do this.” She shakes her head, her red hair bouncing around her face. “Don’t go insane on me. You’re stronger than this.”
“Am I?”
“Yes,” she barks, jumping to her feet. Reaching down, she grabs my shoulder and yanks me up as well. “You need to get a grip, Emilee! This is your life you’re putting in jeopardy. For what? A mom and dad who got divorced?”
“You don’t know what it’s like!” I shove her off me. It’s more than that, isn’t it? The lies? The betrayal? I fucked my dad’s business partner to save my mother. And he was married to her. I became a fucking escort. I fucked Titan and Bones at the same time. Nothing I have done is sane.
“What? To come from a broken home?” She laughs at that.
“No. To have no one.”
Her face hardens, and her green eyes narrow. “I do. I know it more than you do. But there is a difference between you and me. I didn’t get the chance to run away from it.” And with that, she turns and exits the room, slamming the door behind her.
It opens back up immediately, and Titan enters. “Please go away,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I want to be alone.”
“Last time you were alone, you set your house on fire.”
“Why is it Cross can do it, but when I do, it’s a fucking tragedy?” I say through gritted teeth,
He frowns. “Emilee …”
“Please, just stop, Titan.” My shoulders begin to shake with anger. “I’m begging you. Just stop.”
“I just want to help you.”
I take in a shaky breath. “I don’t want you.” It’s one of the biggest lies I’ve ever told, but it needed to be said. I’ve fallen for him, and it was the stupidest thing I could have ever done.
He walks over to a bag on the floor and unzips it. Nite had grabbed it off my floor when he dragged me out of the burning house. He pulls out my boarding pass that I had printed off before I set the fire. “What in the fuck is this?”
