Page 104 of Temptation
“Fuck my life,” I muttered.
“What is it?”
I kept my mouth shut as I went through the rest of the messages until I got to the last one he sent just a couple of minutes ago.
Ro: Meet me at the riverbank tonight. I really need to talk to you. Please don’t bring Ash and Dylan.
“Jesus,” I breathed out.
“Skylar?” Ophelia asked and when I looked up, her eyes were already on mine. “Is everything okay? You suddenly paled.”
“He wants me to come to the riverbank tonight, but there’s no way that Ash or Dylan would let me go by myself.”
“Is he someone you can trust?”
“He is, and it’s important for me to see him, to talk to him. I can’t just sit here, waiting for things to happen. I need to know more about my father—our father—and he has the information I’m looking for.”
“Are you sure it’s safe for you to go on your own?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. The lines became so blurry and I don’t even know what’s going on or why we’re here. I had no idea you guys even existed until today.”
“Okay, okay.” She stood up and kneeled in front of me. “Just calm down. If you are one-hundred percent sure that this guy is someone you can trust, then I will help you go to him. But I need you to think about it.”
“He’s my brother,” I sobbed. “He’s my real brother, and even though we were never the best of friends, I still want to see him. I don’t want him in that town, and if this is my one opportunity to warn him, I have to do it.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Alright. Then I can have someone drive you there, but none of them can know.” She looked toward the entrance to the club. “I’ll drive you myself if you want me to.”
“Are you sure?”
“Not really.” She smiled. “I don’t like meeting people like this, even if they’re someone I can trust. But it’s your choice, your life, and I’m sure that you can handle it without your guys hovering behind you.”
“How do you know they’re my guys?” I asked, taken aback by her words.
“Come on, darling. I can see how they look at you and how they look at each other. It is quite obvious the three of you have something going on.”
“You mean like Storm and you?” I blurted out. She winced and sat back on her chair, avoiding my eyes.
“No, like what Storm and I used to have. But I fucked it up, and now I have to live with the consequences.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I didn’t mean it—”
“It’s fine. Just, hold on to it. Don’t run away when you know you should stay. Don’t do anything when your heart is the most vulnerable or when you’re angry. Just don’t. You might do more damage than good if you do it then.”
“Is that what you did?”
“I fucked up a good thing. I fucked up the best thing that has ever happened to me. Don’t do the same.”
She suddenly stood up, pushing the chair all the way to the wall. “Meet me at the back tonight. At what time do you need to be there?”
“We used to meet at eight, but he didn’t specify.”
“Seven-thirty at the back. I’ll drive you there.”
She walked back inside, passing next to Sebastian and Atlas who came back carrying water.
“Where is she going?” Atlas asked.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “She mentioned the toilet, so...” I trailed off. “Is that my water?” I asked Sebastian and threw the cigarette butt to the ground, stomping on it with my foot.
