same time the apple rolls from my numb hand. I’m too stunned to move. The office erupts. Hunter and Sarah barrel past me. Keira curses.
I don’t know what to do.
Luca is on the floor, glaring at my brother, and I’m unsure whose side I should be on.
“What the absolute fuck, Decker?” Hunter shoves Sebastian down the hall, out of view.
“Why the hell did you do that?” Sarah yells.
I remain silent. Keira does the same behind me, her wordless judgment scratching at the back of my neck.
“This is just one of the many reasons people don’t run their mouth around here.” Cole’s tone is glib. “Making false statements only leads to trouble.”
I glance over my shoulder, meeting his soulless eyes.
“Opinions have no place here. Only facts.” He returns to his desk chair, seeming unfazed by Luca on the floor or the snarled aggression coming from Sebastian. “It’s in your best interest to remember that.”
He doesn’t scare me. He’s nothing in comparison to his father. What concerns me is his connection to Luca. They’re family. Just like Benji, who I’m beginning to believe is a far more sinister man.
I drag myself to the hall, ignoring the underlying threat as Hunter shoves my brother again, over and over, pushing him farther away.
“Are you okay?” Sarah holds out a hand to Luca, his cheek dark pink and swelling, blood dripping from his nose.
“Fucking perfect.” He ignores her offering and shoves to his feet, using the wall as leverage.
He doesn’t look at me. Doesn’t even acknowledge my existence as he leans against the plaster to massage his temples.
“How much does it hurt?” I reach for him, not sure what else to do, my fingers grazing his shoulder. I’ve seen that look on his face before—when he had a concussion, and migraines for days.
“It’s nothing.” He scoffs. “That asshole can’t punch for shit.”
My remorse builds, morphing and expanding, as his expression tightens with obvious agony.
I want to help him. To fix what I caused. But I also can’t bring myself to apologize for attempting to clear up the misconceptions surrounding Abi’s death. They need to know.
Everyone needs to know.
She deserves the truth.
“That punch is only a taste of what I’m going to do to you,” Sebastian yells. “You’re a fucking piece of shit, Luca.”
“Shut your trap.” Hunt pushes him again. “The shit you just pulled was a low blow.”
“The shit he’s pulling with my sister is lower. I can’t believe you all stood there and watched him manhandle her.”
Hunter gives a harder shove, pushing my brother into the living room. The barrage of abuse doesn’t end once they’re out of view. Sebastian keeps yelling. Keeps threatening.
The only thing that changes is the awkwardness settling around me. I stand before Sarah, her judgmental gaze fixed on me as Luca works his jaw from side to side.
“Can I get you anything?” I ask. “Ice maybe?”
“I’ll get some Advil.” Sarah turns on her heel and strides after her fiancé.
The air around me thickens. The weight of obligation to my sisters wages war with my remorse. These people don’t understand me.
They don’t see things the way I do.
They’ll never realize the intuition that comes from living around evil men and constant tragedy. Either that, or they simply don’t care about Abi. They don’t want to hear about her at all.
“You can stop staring at me. I’m fine.” Luca pushes from the wall and staggers toward our bedroom.
I follow like a chastised puppy, walking a few steps behind until I pass the threshold where he stands in wait.
He closes the door behind us, the sound of the clasping lock a definitive, isolating click.
“Is that necessary?” I whisper.
“You didn’t have to follow me in here.” He continues to the bed, his feet dragging as he turns to sit on the mattress.
“I’m sorry he hit you.”
“I don’t give a shit about that,” he mutters under his breath. “What I want to understand is why you’re throwing my brother under the bus.”
“That’s not what I’m doing. I only wanted everyone to know Abi didn’t kill herself. I want someone else to care; is that too much to ask?”
“What have I ever done to give you the impression I don’t fucking care?” he asks. “I care, Penny. About you. About Abi. About Tobias and your whole fucking posse. But there’s a way to have your voice heard and this isn’t it.”
The disappointment in his eyes is a staggering punishment. I hate it so much.
“I won’t apologize for what I said, Luc. I have all the