“I’m not Gabriel’s,” I snap.
Chip huffs. “You are. He allowed us to come see you but other than that…”
“Is that why you won’t come closer? Gabriel doesn’t want you to touch me, is that it?” They’re silence confirms it for me. “But why does he care? I’m nothing to him but a pawn in his game.”
Scar Eyes shrugs. “You’ll have to ask him. Chip, we should get going. Gabriel won’t want us talking to her for too long. He doesn’t want her getting any ideas of being too comfortable.”
“Too comfortable?” I scoff. “Look around. This place is disgusting.”
“This is what you deserve,” Chip says. “A woman like you… one who thinks she’s better than everyone else. You deserve this.”
“Why, because I called you short? You are short. I was just stating the obvious. And I know I’m better than you two. For one, I am not a kidnapper. So that instantly makes me better. You don’t have a high horse to stand on.”
Chip rushes forward before Scar Eye grabs his am and wrenches him back.
“Don’t,” Scar Eye warns. “Gabriel will kill you otherwise. Let’s just go. She’s trying to get under your skin.”
“But you just heard her!”
“I did and it’s true, you are short. So let’s go.” He practically pushes Chip up the stairs. Once they’re gone, I can breathe again.
I slump onto the mattress, all the fight leaving me. I have nothing left. It took everything inside of me to stand up for myself just now. Normally, in the past, speaking my mind was nothing. It was easy. Simple. But now, it’s the hardest thing in the world because my life depends on it. I was in a bubble before.
Now, that bubble is completely popped and I have no way out of this except to rely on myself.
Nina
I head back over to my mom’s house to check in on her and Susanna about the creepy hand that was delivered to them. Luca got the tests back, revealing it was the hitman he and Alek had sent after Gabriel, which tells us that the hand was Gabriel’s work.
Mom answers right away, ushering me inside.
“How are you?” I ask.
“Actually, it’s been pretty nice this morning. Quiet. Susanna has kept to her room for once. I think she’s upset about her birthday being ruined. I’ve been giving her space since she doesn’t like it when I bother her.”
“I should check in on her. You haven’t spoken to her all day?”
“No. Dinner is almost ready. I was going to get her. You know Susanna. When she’s in a mood, it’s hard to talk to her. I thought it was better to leave her alone.”
“Mom, you just received a severed hand in the mail yesterday. You didn’t think to talk about it with Susanna?”
She gives me a pointed look. “You know your sister. It’s easier just to give her space. We don’t always get along. I love my daughter but sometimes she’s exhausting.”
“I get it,” I admit. Susanna can be tiring. Always up in arms over something. Creating drama where there doesn’t need to be any. “But I’ll go check on her. Things have been better between us lately so maybe she’ll talk to me.”
“Thank you, Nina. You always make me proud.”
I smile, even though it’s tight. I’m the good daughter whereas Susanna is the problem one. She won’t like it when she hears how much I make our mom proud. I know she wants to make her proud too and yet continues to fail at it.
I knock on her bedroom door and wait for a reply but I get nothing. “Susanna, it’s me. I know your upset over your birthday being ruined yesterday. I get it. But we can talk. We can throw you the best birthday party later this week. Luca has money. I can buy you the best party planner there is.”
Still… no response. Usually Susanna can’t ignore me for long. She always has to talk. Always has to say something.
I knock more firmly. “Susanna.”
Nothing.
Something in my gut tells me that this isn’t normal. I open her door only to see that she’s not even in her room. Her window is open but that’s not unusual. She’s a hot sleeper.
