Page 104 of My Fault

Ronnie stared at us.

“I see I was right… You’re trying to get between those legs too, aren’t you, Nick?”

Nick stepped forward while I grabbed his arm, trying to hold him back.

“Don’t do it,” I said. Nick fighting that dirtbag again was the last thing I wanted.

“Listen to your little sister, Nick. You don’t want to get into it with me. Not here.”

But Nick wasn’t scared. He stepped forward again, telling him, “Make sure I don’t see you near her again or I swear to God it’ll be the last time you ever see the light of day.”

Ronnie smiled, winked at me, and got into his car. Once he’d disappeared, I broke down, shaking all over.

Nick clutched my face.

“Please tell me he didn’t do anything to you.”

I shook my head, trying to keep my emotions inside. I couldn’t appear weak, not in front of him.

“I’m fine,” I said. “Just take me home.”

In the car, I managed to relax. I tucked my hands under my thighs to conceal my tremors. But still, I couldn’t stop thinking about opening that letter. I told myself I wouldn’t read it, that whatever was written there could only make things worse.

“What did he say, Noah?” Nick asked after a moment’s silence. I didn’t really know what to say.

“He threatened me,” I replied. Vague but sincere.

He gripped the wheel tighter.

“How, exactly?”

I shook my head.

“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is he wants revenge for the race.”

“He won’t lay a finger on you.”

I was thankful for his preoccupation, but it wasn’t necessary. I knew how to take care of myself.

“Of course he won’t,” I agreed…but was that the truth?

Back at home, William was in the living room with a group of lawyers, and when he saw me enter, he shut the door without even greeting me. It was strange, but I was more concerned with my mother then.

She looked tired and had bags under her eyes. She hugged me when she saw me. Whatever they were fighting about, it was clearly worse than I imagined.

“Are you okay, Mom?” I asked when she let me go.

“Of course,” she replied, hardly convincing.

“Is everything all right between you and Will? You can tell me,” I said, trying to get something out of her. She shook her head and gave me the fakest smile I’d seen in a long time.

“Everything is absolutely super, honey. Don’t worry.”

I nodded, but I couldn’t stay there trying to get information out of her. I needed to read the letter Ronnie had given me.

I went to my room and took it out of my bag with my nerves feeling raw.

The letter contained just one sentence.