Page 91 of Carte

I stumbled and retreated to a corner.

“Took you long enough,” a voice I knew well said as if she was bored, and Cassie strolled out of a stall.

“It wasn’t easy to navigate the left wing that’s full of equipment in the dark with her,” Finn snapped at Cassie. “You know there’s a reason we use the right to enter and leave the stage.”

“Oh, please,” Cassie rolled her eyes. “All you have to do is get her here. Thank God you look like a fool and are constantly drooling after her. You weren’t suspicious at all.” She smiled at him then. “I told you it would work.”

“And it worked like a charm,” he chuckled.

I looked between them. I couldn’t understand what was going on.

“Wh-what-” I panted, my heart racing a mile a minute.

“Wh-wh-wha-” Cassie mocked me as she walked over to Finn and took the gun from him. “Are you gonna cry little Harley?”

A look of such repulsiveness twisted her face, I shivered.

“Are you gonna run home and cry to your daddy, big sister?”

Blood roared in my ears, “Big sister?”

“Oh, that’s right, you have no idea I exist. Cassie tapped her chin with the gun she held in her hand. She turned and smiled at Finn. “What do you think, Finnie, is it time for a story?”

Finn tilted his head and jutted his chin, “Have at it. It’s your show.” He eyed her, before saying, “For now.”

“You see, I grew up with just my mom. My whole life it was just the two of us.”

I frowned, “I know. You told me that.”

At my words, Cassie stalked to me, and slapped me so hard, my head flew to the side. “Shut up, Princess. It’s time for me to talk and you to listen.”

I stood back up straight and brushed my hair off my face that got stuck there.

I chanced to look at Finn. He was frowning at Cassie.

“I never knew who my father was. His name wasn’t listed on my birth certificate.” Cassie started walking around the bathroom. “But I always wanted to know. I felt like I was missing a part of me, you know?” She looked at me then, “Like I was missing everything.”

She stopped and waited for something. But soon, she gave up and continued her walk. “It took years, but I finally talked my mother in to tell me who he is. To tell me his name.”

She laughed then, but it was a flat, monotone laugh. Painful and crazed all in the same moment. “You see, turns out my mother was a wild girl before she had me. And I’m a product of a one night stand. When she went in search of the man who made me, she found out he was married. She felt guilty for the infidelity, and she didn’t want to ruin the man’s life. She didn’t know his situation, didn’t know why he strayed. All she knew was that she would not ruin that family’s life. So, she decided to have me all on her own.”

She stopped and then came to me, walked right into my space.

“My father’s name is Mark Thorne.”

My stomach twisted. “What?”

“Yes,” She nodded her head. “You’re my big sister, Harley. Isn’t that great?”

“I-I,” Pain swept through me then. I had a sister? “But I don’t understand-”

Cassie cut me off, “Why am I doing this?”

I licked my suddenly dry lips and nodded.

“You see, when I went in search of the man named Mark Thorne, I didn’t find a man who was happy to see me. I knew it was a bit of a shock when I came to his door, and asked to talk to him, saying I’m his daughter. But still, he could’ve at least been a little remorseful he wasn’t a part of my life. He could’ve shown a little grief if he didn't even know I existed.”

I blinked. I was positive I knew where this story was going.