Page 116 of Scarlet Promise

My brother is with her. I can feel him there, the dark bitterness of the fight clinging.

But his last words… I just can’t.

“Alina, stop,” he commands.

I grab the rail of the stairs. From above me, Albert starts to bark.

“You know I didn’t mean that. Brothers and sisters fight.”

“You went too far,” I snap. “You and your stupid ego. Erin could do better. How’s that for a brother-sister fight comment?”

Erin’s gaze moves wildly between us. “Everyone needs to calm down, okay?”

“I’ve had enough,” I say quietly. “I’m packing. I’m leaving. Andyou, Demyan… You can do what you want, because from this moment on, I’m only talking to Erin.”

“Alina,” he says, his voice rough, “please.”

Albert peers anxiously over the landing’s top step above.

I take a step. “Please what? You’ve made it clear you think I’m some sort of…IQ-challenged party whore?—”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” he says.

“And,” I continue, “Ilya’s some kind of scoundrel who uses women like cheap tissues.”

“Oh, Demyan, you didn’t…” Erin stares at my brother.

He looks like he’s a wild animal backed into a corner. “I didn’t. She’s getting it wrong. I just meant that this came out of nowhere, and?—”

“And you don’t approve,” I say.

My head’s beating in time with my pulse, and each beat hurts. My throat’s raw, and I think I’m at the end of it all.

I grasp the oiled wooden banister tight.

“Since when do I have to approve of it?” he asks.

“Since you started laying down the law. I’m going. I’m sorry, Demyan, but believe what you want. I no longer care.” My voice sounds too high and seems to come from a long distance away.

He starts to say something, but I block him out.

Albert barks again with added urgency. “Watch out, Alina! The truck!” Erin screams at me.

I put my foot down, only it doesn’t land on a solid surface. My sneaker wobbles, the toy truck I hit rolling forward right as it throws me off balance.

I scream too.

And I tumble back.

Into darkness.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

ALINA

Everything acheswhen I come to. Nothing feels right.

Slowly, the world comes into focus. The flashing lights aren’t coming from my brain but from the EMT flashing an actual light in my eyes to see my response.