Money was never an issue. Barclay never cared about that.
Maybe—
“Barclay, stop it right this minute.” She rushes to us, cutting through my thoughts. Her delicate hand wraps around Barclay’s wrist. “It’s not his fault. I wanted it.”
“Shut up.” His whisper is full of venom. “We took him in, and he put his filthy hands on you?”
“Listen to me,” I tell her. “I’ve got this. Go.”
Her chin quivers. “He’s going to kill you.”
“No, he won’t,” I lie. After what I witnessed tonight, there’s no telling with Barclay.
“He’s right.” A smirk stretches across his face. “I don’t plan on killing him…yet.”
Something evil twists his features as he looks at me.
This can’t be good. She can’t be here for this, whateverthisis.
“I promise you.” Since he already hates me, I don’t see the harm in touching her. My hand finds hers, a balm to my fucked-up soul. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
That was obviously the wrong thing to say, since Barclay slams me against the wall again.
She shrieks, squeezing my hand tighter. “I won’t leave you.”
“You’re not leaving; you’re just going to bed.” I cough. “I’ll be right here in the morning.”
“Aren’t you two sweet.” Barclay’s spittle lands on my face.
“Barclay, please…” she begs, eyes watery. “Stop it.”
“Leave,” both he and I snap.
Her brow furrows as she considers this, before groaning, “Fine.”
One last look of longing and a silentI’m sorry, and she disappears, slamming the door to her bedroom.
“Barc, I can explain.”
“Don’t give a fuck about your explanations.” He’s in my face, breath labored. “You’re never coming near my sister ever again.”
“I turn eighteen in three weeks, then I’ll get out of your hair.” Now that she isn’t around to take the brunt of his anger, I push him off me. “I’ll move out, but I’m not staying away. I want her. I’ve wanted her for months. And apparently, she wants me back. When she’s eighteen, when the time is right, we’ll be together.”
“You sonofabitch…” He raises a hand to punch me.
I shove at his chest again, sending him stumbling backward. “There’s no one better for Elowyn out there, and you know it.” I flatten a hand over my heart. “No one else for me, period.”
“Stop lying.” Baring his teeth like a rabid dog, he growls, “You had a girlfriend last year. Your neighbor or something.”
“It was a mistake.” One I recognized the moment Elowyn became something more to me. “Elowyn isn’t, nor will she ever be. I was an idiot not to see it sooner. Not anymore. She’s it for me. You’re wasting your breath if you think you can keep us apart.”
His nostrils flare. “Is that so?”
“It is.”
“I wonder, though.” He takes a few menacing steps forward until we’re eye to eye. “How do you plan to be with her after I pinRoss’s death on you? After they lock you up for the rest of your miserable life?”
“What are you talking about?” Ice shoots up my spine. My fingers flex as if I’ve been zapped. “We did it together. You can’t frame me if you’ve been there too.”
