“Noah’s going to hang out in the room for a few while we have a chat,” Beckett said like there were no other options.
He could talk all he wanted. I wasn’t going to speak a single word to the man.
I clamped my lips together, turning my gaze away. I let the anger take hold once more, knowing it was the only way I’d be able to keep myself together.
“I’m not sure why you think it’s okay to be so rude to Noah or to me for that matter. But whatever the issue is, it ends now.” He paused, either to find his wording or for me to speak up. When I kept my head turned to the side, trying and failing to ignore him, did he continue? “Noah called me in tears, barely able to make out a word hours ago. He was freaking out. I had no choice but to come over and figure out what the heck was going on. I may not know you well, but I know that what I see right in front of me isn’t who you are. So talk. Explain what’s going on.”
Never before had I been tempted to spit in someone’s face. I was very tempted to see what he’d do.
“Asher,” he warned again. “So help me...”
I huffed through my nose. It was almost slightly funny that he was getting fed up with me in a matter of minutes, if not less. It didn’t seem like it’d take too long to get him to see how much of a lost cause I was. He could leave and take Noah with him.
“You hurt Noah.”
“Good.” No, it wasn’t. But I’d pretend otherwise.
“Once I got him calmed down, he explained a little bit of what was going on. Not well, mind you. But I think I got the gift of it.”
I highly doubted that. My own thoughts didn’t even make sense right now. Least of all if I tried to tell him a single thing.
“You know what I think?” I didn’t care. “You’re scared.”
“The only thing I’m scared of is the monsters that lurk in my mind,” I spoke the words when they were meant to stay in my mind. “Now. Go. Away.” Please go away. If he kept pushing, I’d either cry or say too much. Or something else that would be just as bad.
“Sorry, but that’s not going to happen right now.”
How could he be so calm while I felt like I was burning alive inside?
“So, are you going to behave and listen, or are you going to continue acting out like a brat.”
Well, that was one thing I hadn’t been called before. Instead of answering, I kicked out a leg, hitting Beckett’s ankle. It wasn’t that hard, but it caused him to fall over.
“Shit.”
“Go away.”
I went to stand, only to stop when Noah was right there. Why hadn’t I heard him come back out? Why couldn’t they just freaking leave already?
“Noah-“
Beckett’s warning was stopped as a slap echoed through the space. Then, the sting set in on my cheek, hot and tingling all at once.
“Don’t ever hurt him again.”
Owe. I rubbed the spot with my palm.
“Got it.” I knew I’d regret doing it anyway come daylight.
Ignoring Noah’s glare, I sidestepped him, determined to lock myself in a room somewhere these two weren’t. But I only made it a step before Noah’s arms circled around me, making me stop.
“Let me go.” My arms went limp at my sides.
Noah didn’t bother to answer, only to press himself up against me more as sobs shook his body.
Crap.
“Please.” I whimpered, trying and failing to step back.
