Page 7 of Heartless (Scathing Hearts #1)

Sienna

The door of my bathroom opened on Gabby, who pushed her shoulder against the doorjamb and crossed her arms on her chest.

Gabrielle Vivien Ashford and I had met during her only semester in my high school during junior year. She’d been sent there by her parents as a punishment after she’d poured packs of Jello into the two hot tubs of her parents’ house when they’d refused to buy her a new car.

Even then, she’d been the typical modern princess: stylish, seriously pretty, and popular.

So, I’d kept my distance. Then, one day, I’d found her in tears in the cafeteria bathroom.

After I’d handed her a tissue, we’d talked about her parents’ divorce caused by her mom’s multiple affairs.

She’d sided with her dad, who, in return, had spoiled her with everything but his time.

That day, I’d discovered there were two Gabbys. The aloof princess, and the girl who was smart, funny, and who’d just wanted her parents not to hate each other. We’d been friends ever since and remained close even after she’d gone back to her private school.

Right now, I wasn’t sure which Gabby I was getting. I finished swiping the makeup off my lid, tossed the cotton pad in the small trash bin, and peered up in the mirror at her reflection behind me.

Her mouth curled in a smirk. “You little whore,” she sang-song. “I’m impressed, Nana.”

I exhaled a slow breath before turning on the faucets.

Gabby did that all the time with her other friends, but I never understood the appeal of women calling each other derogatory names as a form of bonding.

In fact, I hated it, and she knew it. Those were the first words she’d uttered since we’d left the club, and I used the reprieve of the cold water on my face to squash my rising anger.

Once I was done, I pivoted toward her, pushing my lower back against the sink. “Excuse me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a prude. It’s a compliment. If I knew Sin Jake was into geeky nuns, I would’ve—”

“That’s enough, Gabby.”

Blinking fast, she raised her palm up with her fingers sprayed. “Whoa, calm down—”

I straightened up. “I am calm. And believe it or not, I’m not living my life to impress you.”

Gabby’s face flushed. “Men like him don’t like it when you make it that easy for them. You had your tongue down his throat after five minutes of meeting him.”

It was my turn to gape. “Now you slut-shaming me? What happened to ‘if I can get him, I can have him’? Or does that only work when you get what you want?”

She glared. “Fine. You won him, but trust me, you’re not ready for someone like Jake Rhodes.”

I groaned. “I didn’t win Jake. He’s a person. I like him and he likes me back.” Brushing past her to my bedroom, I turned to face her again. “Gabby, can you just be happy for me?”

She shuffled on her feet before her hand reached for mine. “Sienna, I’m not being a bitch, but being Nigel’s daughter is going to attract a lot of people who want access to him.”

I yanked my hand out. “Is that what you think happened tonight? Jake wants access to Nigel but not to Jerry? How would he even know about Nigel and me?”

My anger had always been cold. The angrier I got, the calmer I sounded. Something Gabby knew, so my tone made her eyes flare.

“That’s not what I meant. Men like Jake Rhodes are only interested in one thing, and—”

“And I can’t wait to give it to him.”

“Fine,” she huffed before stomping to the guest room.

****

The next morning, I woke up to a text from Gabby.

Gabrielle: Tequila makes me a bitch. Laughing emoji. Have fun with Sin-Jake.

I dropped the back of my head on the pillow and couldn’t help but grin. I was absolutely ready to have fun. Fun and other things with the incredibly attractive Jake Rhodes.

After I’d gotten ready and driven straight to talk to Mom, I placed the fresh flowers on her grave and sat on my haunches before her headstone.

My breath plumed in the early morning air.

“Nigel had another child out of wedlock. Another girl... I don’t know, there’s something.

.. I don’t really know what to do with that information.

But it’ll be okay. I’ll be okay.” I slanted closer to the cold marble.

“Mom, I’ve met someone. His name is Jake Rhodes.

Isn’t that the sexiest name? Our first kiss was.

.. it was so delicious. He’s gorgeous, and a bit older, and a lot more experienced in pretty much everything, but he’s going to be important.

I just know he is.” When a light drizzle dampened the air, I tilted my face up to the cloudy sky and smiled. “I love you too.”

As I brushed off the twigs off my pants, an icy shudder seized the back of my neck. I whipped around. The cemetery was empty. Shaking off the creepy sensation, I hurried to my car.

****

My cell rang in the middle of the night.

“Hello?”

“Is this Sienna?”

The voice was vaguely familiar. Sitting up against the bedhead, I pressed my cell against my ear. “This is she.”

“Sienna, this is Mrs. Traval. Your neighbor. The police and the fire department are here. Honey, your mom’s house is on fire.”

I hopped out of bed. “On... f-fire?”

The old lady who’d often brought us inedible casseroles hesitated. “It’s... really bad. You should come, Sienna.”

“I’ll be there soon. Thank you, Mrs. Traval,” I managed to push out of my constricted throat.

When she disconnected the call, my legs failed mid-stride, and I fell on my knees in the middle of my room.

Clutching my cell against my chest, I dropped my forehead on the rug. I didn’t know how long I stayed like this. When I could breathe again, I sprang on my feet.

Our home was burning. I had to say goodbye.

Forty minutes later, the bright red and white lights of the firetrucks pierced through the windshield and glared over the interior of my car. Staring at the two fire trucks stopped in front of the gutted, dark rubbles, I inhaled a trembling breath and wiped off my tears.

It was gone. The little world we’d created. Our old sofa, where I used to read my stories to her. The kitchen floor where we’d lied down on our backs and searched for answers when life had been tough. It was all gone.

I rubbed my fingertips on the tip of my nose, but the acrid smell of smoke had invaded my nostrils. Then, I went home where I wrapped Mom’s old cardigan around me and cried.

Eventually, I picked myself up and dove into the overly complicated insurance report. The rest of the day passed in a blur, and it was almost dinner time when I finally showered off the smoke smell of my skin.

After filling up my old-fashioned kettle, I turned on the stove and ambled to the kitchen island where Mom’s old photo albums laid in two neat piles.

My throat burned. At least I had them. Then I gently transferred them from the cardboard box to the pretty wood vintage trunk I’d bought especially for them.

When my cell rattled against the hard stone top. I leaped to it, expecting Gabby’s call back, but the screen said, ‘Jake.’

“Hi, Jake.”

“How are you, pretty stranger?”

Awful. Heartbroken. “I’m... fine. How are you?”

“You don’t sound fine.”

I cleared my throat. “Um... Can I... um... can I call you tomorrow?”

“You can call me anytime.” His voice deepened. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

I pressed my cell against my ear and took a shuddering breath. “My house... my house burnt down last night, and—”

“Are you hurt?”

“No... No, I meant my mom’s house.”

“Fuck. Is your mother okay?”

Sucking in a breath, I shook my head. “My... my mom died ten weeks ago.”

His rumbling voice softened. “Where are you? Are you alone?”

“Y-yes. I’m home, but I’m okay. You asked and—”

“What’s your address, sweetheart?”

After I’d given it to him he said, “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

While I stared at the cell screen, the loud whistle of the kettle screamed at me to get moving.

Oh my God. Jake was coming over. Jake was coming over.

Tea forgotten, I raced to my bathroom. After applying a little mascara and some lip gloss, I sniffed my armpits and swished some mouthwash before spitting it out.

When the doorbell’s chime rendered the air, my heart jumped in my throat. Barely refraining from running to greet him, I took a deep breath and unlocked the door.

Curling my fingers around the door handle, I held my breath. His thick, overlong hair looked even more touchable. The black t-shirt, well-worn jeans, and black boots should have made him look more laid-back, but if anything, it made him more imposing.

Dear God. Had he been that tall and broad-shouldered last night?

Jake’s mouth twitched. “Same as last night.”

A volcano of embarrassment erupted on my face. Shoot. I had to stop doing this. I sounded like an idiot.

This time Jake laughed. Damn it. I’d done it again.

Still smiling, he said, “Can I come in?”

“Of... of course.”

As I shut the door behind him, he hoisted the bulky plastic bags he was carrying. “Are you hungry?”

“Did you bring food?” When he nodded, I grinned. “You might just be perfect.”

When his huge chest shook with silent laughter, a bomb blew up under the skin of my face.

“I’m sorry. I... I—”

His lips touched mine. And a different type of sizzle jolted my body.

He straightened up too soon. “Kitchen?”

I led him there, and as he set the containers on the island, I closed the lid of the wooden trunk on the counter.

Jake chin-pointed at it. “Treasure chest?”

“Yes. After seeing what’s left of my house, it got me thinking about what matters the most. I grew up there, so I’m sad, but at the end of the day, they were just walls.” I placed my hand on the lid. “But this contains the only things that would break my heart if I lost them.”

He effortlessly grabbed the heavy trunk. “Where do you want this?”

“Can you put it in the living room, please?”