Unhinge - Calia Read Page 0,113

was capable of such evil?

My mind refuses to believe it all, though. It brings up memories, trying to poke holes in the story. “It isn’t possible.”

“Isn’t it though? Wes was always working, always distracted. The house tour, the dinners, seeing you with Sinclair were all moments that Wes didn’t want. So I took them. The fact that he worked in my favor was just a happy accident.”

No, no, no. Don’t believe him, my mind pleads.

But deep down, I know he’s right.

“So what do you think?” Nathan asks conversationally. “Did I do a good job telling my story? Are you happy now that you have all the answers?”

I don’t reply.

Sinclair grabs my arm and tries to pull me behind him, but Nathan reaches out and holds me back. With the tip of his knife he brushes my hair behind my shoulder. Sinclair freezes and so do I.

The blade is so close to me. One false move and he could end it for good. I should fight him. Try to move, but what’s the point?

Nathan gives me a tender smile. “Shhh…don’t cry for me. Everything’s better now. I was born from crazy. I grew up at Fairfax and I survived. So have you.”

Alice looks unfazed, staring down at the table with a blank look in her eyes.

“We belong together,” he says to me.

His hand reaches out and I can’t help but flinch.

I dodge behind Sinclair, trying to put as much distance between Nathan and me as quickly as possible. My shoulders hit the wall.

He looks past Sinclair, almost as if he’s not there. “Why are you looking at me like that, Victoria? I did this for us!” he screams.

My body starts to shake to the point I’m almost convulsing.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he groans.

Finally, he takes a step back, tugging at his hair. The grip on the knife never lets up. I feel broken, the edges of my life all around me, but all the screaming…all the memories that were trying so hard to link back together have clicked into place.

“You have only yourself to blame,” Alice says. She stands next to Nathan, staring at me with so much hate. “You made him do this.”

“How?” I ask in disbelief.

“You’ve been so ungrateful, so spiteful to Nathan. You’ve never appreciated Nathan like you should!” She gazes at Nathan with love. “You were never good enough for Wes and you certainly weren’t good enough for Nathan. So I helped him.”

“Do what?” My mind is on the brink of falling apart into tiny pieces.

“I helped him get in and out of Fairfax to see you,” she explains slowly, as if she’s talking to a child. “I let you believe he was Wes. You had to be punished for cheating on Wes and for making Nathan hide from the world!”

I can tell that Alice truly believes every single word that comes from her mouth. But to me it’s just a jumbled mass, swirling in my head, making me more confused.

“You are an ungrateful little bitch!” she screams.

Nathan turns and narrows his eyes at her. “Stop yelling. Can’t you see that you’re scaring her?”

And just like that, Alice pipes down, as if Nathan is her master.

With the knife dangling from his hand, Nathan walks over to me. I move even closer to Sinclair. Nathan doesn’t seem to notice; he has this glazed look in his eyes that makes a bolt of fear run through me.

“Say you love me, Victoria.”

My lips remain closed.

“Say it!” Nathan screams. “Say you love me!”

The longer I remain silent, the wilder he becomes. Sirens start to grow louder. In a few minutes the police will arrive. His eyes drift to the door. His hands are starting to shake. Perspiration forms on his forehead. There’s a look of recognition in his eyes. Almost as though he realizes that there’s no running. It’s all over.

And then Alice steps forward. “Just drop the knife,” she says, her voice a pleading whisper. “She’s not worth it, okay? We can leave now and start over somewhere else. But this all has to stop. She’ll never understand you.”

He whips his body around and stares at Alice. He lowers both hands to his sides. “It can’t stop. Don’t you get it?”

Sirens are closer. Help is only seconds away but it feels like time has stopped altogether.

Panic and fear start to build inside me. I feel like I’m going to be sick. But Alice is right. This has to end.

Before I can think twice I lunge forward, beating Sinclair