I must've zoned out because Elijah Edgington pulls me into an awkward embrace. Friendly, too much so. It doesn't even match his scary face or horrible features. There's too much animosity hidden in his stare, a chilling type of monstrosity I'm no doubt going to experience.
Edgington & Estates. I roll the name over my tongue and come up blank. They're a founding family. That much I gathered from the file, but it didn't tell me enough in the quick glance I got for me to be able to know what the fuck their business is.
Hudsons are diamonds.
Kranes are oil.
McAllisters are in the music industry.
DeLeons are big business, financial, stock market, and they're all government officials, too.
Dellamores are airplanes, airspace in general.
Clemontes are said to be in the acquiring business—fine arts, lost treasure, and heirlooms.
Now, I need to know what Jordan's family does. Then, I can properly prepare for my fate.
When his grip on my shoulder tightens, digging too harshly, painfully so, I come back. Everyone's leaving, and I've somehow already numbed myself to my future, one where fighting seems too exhausting, blood seems to be too inviting, and dying seems to be too promising.
"Smile, Miss Hudson. They're watching you, and if you fuck this up for me more than my insolent son has, I'll make you wish you'd be reunited with your brother."
The words leave him in a hiss, and my breath follows with a whoosh, making me dizzy. It takes me back to the texts, the single note, all the warnings I've been given to stay away, but of course, spite has always been a driving force for me, pushing me to the envelope for answers.
Maybe this is mine.
"Fuck you," I whisper.
It's so quiet that I almost think he hasn't heard me, but then his grip practically strangles the skin of my forearm.
"This time can fly by, Colton, or it can be your worst fucking nightmare. Don't test me."
I twist, forcing him to let me go. Peering up at Jordan's father, I see the similarities, but they nearly stop at the eyes and lips. The haunting way his father looks through me as if I'm a meat suit and not a girl with a soul isn't lost on me. If anyone cared or paid attention, they would see my slight tremble, the discomfort filling my body to the brim, and the anxiety that's turned into pure torment to my mind.
"Colt!" Moms yells happily. Her cheerful voice is bright and not fearful about the position I'm in.
They say your parents are your protectors, the ones who save you, cherish you, and love you endlessly. Did they forget to gift mine with that care and reasoning? Was there a mix-up when their souls were delivered into their bodies?
Standing here, seeing them, I'm at a loss as to what they could possibly offer me other than pain. Cassidy was my safety, my care, my protector. He's gone, and all the things he did to keep me from falling no longer exists.
Why couldn't it have been me, Cass?
I think of the last moment I'd felt safe in ages. It was in our bunker, stuffed with his memory, my blade, and the soothing words my mind conjured.
I miss you.
Moms pulls me into a hug, but I'm not responding. She doesn't get my love, my care, my heart. She doesn't even get my success. The only thing I'll offer any of these adults is my non-response and despondency. It's what they wanted, isn't it? For me to conform, become their little sculpture, perfectly carved in their vision?
How ugly can a monster be when created out of their twisted vision of love?
Hideous, absolutely hideous.
“I'm so excited for this new adventure for you!” Moms is oohing and aahing, and I'm ready to slit my wrists upward and meet Cass again.
At least he truly loved me.
Truly cared.
Truly fought.
"Let's celebrate by going to dinner?" Moms ask when I don't respond.
Mother dearest stares at me. There's so much in her eyes. It's scary, seeing the way she looks at me. Not like a daughter or someone she birthed but rather like a pawn.
Isn't that the glazed look, Mom? The realization that I've never been more than someone you can use? If she could hear my inner thoughts right now, she would lock me up, send me to the fucking nut house.
Would I be safe there?
"She can't, Destiny. She has finals and to prep for her new opportunity to make us proud," she explains.
My mind only sticks to the proud part.