We nod our agreement before leaving to find Owen and Ariah.
63
ARIAH
Ilie on Owen’s lap, refusing to be parted from him. After Elise dropped her bomb, I lost it. My vision blacked out, and then I was being stopped and carried from the room by Owen. He walked us to one of the armored trucks, and we haven’t moved since then.
Dad came to check on me, refusing to leave until I convinced him I’d talk with him later. Finally, he relented and left to break the news to Jamie, Ky, and Kell, about Elise. I can only hope it won’t devastate them too severely. I’m old enough to see the repugnant person she was. Jamie might also be able to see, but the twins were close to her. So, this will hurt them. Just another way Elise’s selfishness has impacted someone.
A loop of the night plays, and I see Erik fall. Antonio shoots him and then takes Shay hostage, forcing me into the car with Elise. I watch in horror as Shay falls before I’m knocked out again. Then I’m listening to the repulsive words spewed from Elise’s mouth.
I grip Owen tighter as he continues to console me.Me.He’s comforting me after what that bitch did to him.
“Angel,” his voice is like a balm to the turbulent storm raging inside me. “I’m okay,” he soothes.
His surety renews my tears as I remember the night I carved my initial into his chest. The way he trusted me enough to confide in, to ease his anguish and quiet the noise. A single drop can ripple through time, causing everlasting repercussions.
I don’t know how to broach this subject. My fucking mother molested and raped him when he was just a boy.
Sighing, I say, “I want to talk, but only when you’re ready to.”
His hand runs through my hair. “I will, Ry. Just not tonight. I don’t like that you know. I would do anything to have plunged the dagger into Elise’s throat so you’d never find out.”
Even now, he’s putting me before his pain.
“I’m glad it was me. I didn’t want it to be my dad or you,” I say quietly, still in shock that I’d killed someone.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.
I play with his fingers while I stall. I’m not sure how I should answer this.Am I ready? Do I want to talk about it?“I don’t feel anything. She was dead to me the moment I found out all she was doing and what she did to our family. But after what she did to you,” I trail off. “Every possible tie I had to her was severed.”
Owen hums his understanding. “If you ever feel otherwise, I’m always— we’re always here,” he quickly corrects.
I kiss the tips of his fingers, remembering how I said something along those lines. I jump up at the memory. “Where’s the knife I used on you that night?”
“Lola?”
Right.I almost forgot he names them. “Yes, where’s Lola?”
He unzips his vest and reaches inside, pulling the blade from some pocket.
I tug at the collar of my shirt, revealing my collarbone. “I want you to mark me,” I state confidently.
Owen’s eyes nearly pop out of his skull before he shakes his head. “No, Angel. You don’t need to-.”
I cut him off. “Yes, yes, I do. Please, O,” I plead.
His eyes close before he looks around for something in the truck. I see when he spots it, and he stands, grabbing the first aid kit.
I watch as he cleans the blade and then my skin.
“Are you sure?” he probes, peering into my eyes.
“Yes,” I reply, grabbing his hand and bringing the tip of the knife to my chest, pressing it in until it breaks skin. I hiss at the initial feel but lose myself in my thoughts as he carves an “O” in the spot that matches his, right near my heart. “Now you’re mine,” I whisper, “and you’ll never have to fight the noise alone again.”
* * *
My handsubconsciously reaches for the bandage on my chest, anchoring me as I walk into the hospital where Shay’s condition is still unknown.
