Page 53 of Inheritance

“I’m done listening to this shit. He hurt me,” I snapped. “He was about to?—”

She cut me off sharply. “And why didn’t he?”

I blinked at her. She had known what I was about to say. Shehadbeen watching.

“He loves me, so he knew it would be wrong to do that to you.”

I shook my head.

She stared down at her lap. For a moment, she looked like she might break apart. But then she just breathed slow, controlled breaths.

The silence stretched. I shifted against the wall, pulling the chain across the floor so it didn’t cut into my ankle.

“Because I see good in him, he is starting to see it too,” She said suddenly.

I looked at her. “That’s not romantic, that’s delusional.”

She looked away.

“He doesn’t love you, he loves what he can do to you.”

She glanced at the door, like she half-expected him to come back right then and explain everything. Then she reluctantly looked back down at her feet.

“You shouldn’t have bitten him.”

I felt my eye twitch holding her gaze. How could she be so… so wrong but think she is right?

Fuck this.

I stood, gripped the chain and heaved with everything I had. The chain links slipped through my clammy hands. In one swift motion I took my shirt off, wrapped it around the chain, and pulled again.

“It will never work.”

I ignored her, even though it sounded like she spoke from experience.

Sophia

The doorknob turned. Not fast. Not loud. Just that slow, deliberate creak that makes your stomach drop before your brain catches up.

Caroline squeaked, in fear or excitement I couldn’t tell. I jumped to my feet, the chain at my ankle catching and jerking me off balance.

A figure stepped through. Tall. Broad. Moving like he owned the room.

He didn’t speak. Didn’t rush. Just stood there. Watching. Assessing.

I held my breath.

He took a step forward, then the light brushed across his face.

“Sal?”

He raised one finger. “Quiet.”

I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. My pulse thumped in my ears, loud enough I thought he could hear it too.

Caroline rose slowly, dragging her chain an inch across the floor.

“You’re not allowed in here,” she said.