“No, I’m not backing the fuck down. Are you insane? Killing Arnault will only open a can of worms you cannot afford to have open right now.”
I sigh. “It’ll be fine. I didn’t say I’d kill him now, I said I’d do it if he decided to put his nose where it doesn’t belong.” I shrug.
“Are you even hearing yourself right now? Jesus Christ, you need to reevaluate everything. Did you turn stupid overnight? This is a bad, bad idea, Arlo.”
“Why am I being lectured? I didn’t actually kill him,” I clench my jaw, my heart starting to throb from this conversation.
“You know what? Fine. If you want to kill him, be my guest,” he scoffs, folding his arms in front of his chest.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t complain when it comes to bite you in the ass.”
“You’re being overly dramatic,” I roll my eyes. “Now, move. I want to finish this work out and go home.”
“Where’s Aria?”
Cove’s question makes me pause for a moment. I quirk a brow, looking at him in suspicion. “Why do you care where my little sister is, Cove?”
“First off, drop that look. You know I didn’t mean it like that, you little shit. Secondly, do you think it’s a smart idea to leave her all alone? She’s just like you Arlo, if not worse. Impulsive, stubborn and very, very deadly. Who knows what she’ll do now that she’s grieving?”
That makes me halt in my tracks. Although she’s been stuck in the hospital with Mom, not wanting to leave her side, I dread to think what she’d do if Mom were to actually die. That’s something Aria would never recover from, and she’d definitely go on a killing spree.
It’s just now that the possibility of Aria trying to take her life again hits me, I’m pissed at myself for forgetting something so vital. People grieve differently, and she barely managed to pull through after her attempt. I don’t even want to imagine what she’ll do if the worst happens because no matter how much I love Mom and Dad, I’d sacrifice them both in a heartbeat, to keep my little sister.
However, there’s a seed of doubt in my mind. I almost lost her once, and her suicide attempt was luckily unsuccessful, butwho knows what would happen if she were to attempt again? Who knows what would happen if her mind goes to that dark, dark place?
She’d never ask for help. She’d be determined to either push it through on her own, or let the demons win.
In that sense, we’re too similar.
Then again, we are siblings. We were both raised and trained to be this way.
Noelle was softer on us, whereas Hudson demanded discipline. We’d spend days during summer break training our bodies during the day with Dad, then spend the nights with Mom. She was teaching us how to shoot, how to throw a knife, and most importantly, how to never miss a target.
It was brutal, but it was efficient. It was thanks to them that I’m as capable as I am.
“Fuck,” I groan. “Fine, have someone watch her at all times. I don’t even want her going to the bathroom unattended.”
???
“You’re back,” Blair breathes out the moment I step into the apartment. Her eyes are bloodshot, and I can tell she’s been crying for a while. She forces a smile on her face when she spots me, taking a small step forward.
“And you’ve been crying,” I say, shrugging the coat off and hanging it neatly by the door.
“That’s irrelevant,” she mutters, wrapping her arms around me. Blair gets on her tippy toes, burying her face in the crookof my neck. The moment she’s nestled in nicely and as close as possible, her entire body relaxes. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Always,” I mutter, taking a big breath and inhaling the scent of her shampoo. “I’ll always come back to you, Butterfly.”
Slowly, she pulls back. “How are you doing, Baby?”
My body tenses. The question it’s simple and the genuine curiosity and worry on her face is making this so much more difficult. Instead of pouring it all out, I force a smile on.
“I’ll be okay.”
“Don’t do that, Arlo,” she whispers. “Don’t shut me out. Don’t keep it all in, please.”
I swallow a knot that forms in my throat and step around Blair. With a deep breath, I head toward the bedroom, grabbing the essentials and walk toward the bathroom. I close the door behind me, slumping against them.
