Page 69 of Crave

“I am a liability,” the whisper came from behind us. “And you should…you should send me away.”

I spun around as Silas carved a new slice of bread. She stood in the middle of the doorway, staring at us with wide shimmering eyes. Her body curled in, arms wrapped around herself protectively.

“You heard?” Gabe pushed past, instantly going to her side…just like he always did.

“You’re dangerous.” I said.

She winced as though I slapped her. “Then do it…cast me aside. Put me somewhere you’ll never have to see or hear from me again, then you’ll all be safe.”

Silas slowly lifted his gaze and looked at her, before slowly pushing the freshly made sandwich her way. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Then he just left, striding past without a glance my way. The only time he reacted was when he brushed past her. He looked down for a second, then left, his steps thudding back along the hall as he headed for his bedroom.

“Silas is right.” Gabe cut me a glare. “You are not going anywhere, and I don’t want to ever hear anything like that ever again, okay? You’re our sister, your place is with us. Period.”

But she didn’t react with relief at hearing his words. Instead, she stared at that carving knife on the counter as though she wanted to snatch it free and plunge the blade deep inside herself, cutting out whatever black seed of deception had been buried inside. Guilt found me then, savaging that pulsing thing in the middle of my chest.

“Come on.” Gabe strode to the counter, grabbed the sandwich our brother meticulously prepared and cut me a look of utter disgust before pulling her away.

Maybe I deserved it.

But someone had to say what we’d all been thinking.

Including Theo…wherever the fuck he was.

I grabbed my cell, swiped the screen and hit his number, listening to it ring before it went to voicemail.

“Hey, don’t bother leaving a message. I won’t ring you back.”

“Where the fuck are you, Theo?” I hung up and lowered my cell. I needed him here. Hell, we all needed him here.

Chapter Eighteen

THEO

Beep.

Beep.

Ding!

I surfaced. Barely. Crawling my way through dull agony for it to only

turn suffocating as I cracked open my eyes.

“Hey.”

A soft jab came at my side. I slowly turned my head, wincing at the piercing overhead lights to find the rock hard surface at the base of my head.

“You need to leave.” The guy at my side muttered. “We’re about to open.”

Open? The hazy room around me sharpened. “Where.” The word was a hiss. I licked my lips and tried again. “The fuck am I?’

“Harley’s on Fifteenth.” The guy said.

The name meant nothing, but then again, not much did…

I lifted my head, twisted my body and slowly pushed, staring at the blue felt pool table underneath me. Jesus fucking Christ. I’d reached an all time low.