I shake my head and step closer. She steps back instinctively.
“Give me back my clothes,” she shouts.
I shake my head again and toss the bag over the balcony railing.
Her eyes widen. “Why would you do that?”
She rushes toward the edge, but I catch her first. My arm wraps around her thin waist, pulling her back into me.
I shake my head once more, slower this time. My palm brushes her cheek. I shake my head again.
“You can’t keep me here forever,” she says, locking her eyes with mine.
I nod.
Sure as hell I can.
A smirk creeps onto my lips as I sign,Little sister.
She swallows hard as I pull my hand away and reach into my pocket, and take out my phone.
Parents shout. That’s what parents do.
I type and turn the screen toward her.
“Judas, they are not my parents,” she says. “My only parent died in 2014. And I got blamed for it. Catherine and William Harrington are not and never will be my parents.”
They are not that bad. Give them a chance.
“I gave people chances before,” she says, rolling her eyes. “I always end up disappointed.”
Stay then. For me.
I type fast, frustrated.
“Judas,” she sighs. “You’ve known me for what, twenty-four hours? You call me sister, family. You’ve got issues.” She pushes my chest.
I laugh and shrug my shoulders.
True.
I type.
I turn around and walk to the front door. I turn the knob to confirm the door is locked. Then, I remove the key from the lock and hold it up for her to see.
“Judas,” she says, shaking her head.
I move back toward the balcony, the key dangling from my fingers.
“You are such a psycho,” she shouts. “You know I can just jump from this balcony. You literally showed me how a few hours ago.”
She is not wrong.
I raise my brow and glance at the balcony door. The key still sits in the lock. I pull it free and step outside. I close the door behind me and lock it from the outside.
Now I hold both keys.
I pull the gold chain from beneath my hoodie, unclip it, and slide both keys onto it. Then I fasten it back around my neck.
