Page 109 of When She Falls (The Fallen)
My stomach turns.
Cleo looks down, and when she sees Rafaele’s right about the blood, she sags against me.
Rafaele locks eyes with someone behind me. “Get them out.”
Ras steps forward. I hadn’t even realized he was right beside me this whole time. “Let’s go.”
He and I grab Cleo under each arm and hurry out of the club.
“Wait here,” Ras commands once we step onto the sidewalk. “I’m going to get the car and bring it around.”
“Okay.” I wrap my arms around Cleo and press my nose into her hair. She’s trembling.
“Hey, are you okay?” I squeeze her harder. “Say something.”
She shakes her head. I think she’s crying.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Do we need to take you to a hospital?”
“No.” Her voice is reedy.
When I try to pull away so I can look at her, she clings to me tighter. My chest cracks. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her this shaken. When our parents are angry with her, it’s like she’s Teflon. All of their words slide right off.
“Cleo, I love you,” I squeeze past the ball in my throat. “You’re okay. You’ll be okay.”
She produces a wet little whimper. My arms squeeze her tightly, and it still doesn’t feel like enough.
“C’mon, Cleo. Talk to me.”
She breathes deeply against me for a few moments before lifting her head off my shoulder. Her eyes are red and puffy, and there’s a hint of mascara smudged underneath them. “Gem, his blood is on me.”
A shiver runs through me. “We’ll get you cleaned up.”
“I don’t want to go home.” She clutches my arm. “Can we go to the penthouse? It’s not far. I don’t want to deal with Mamma or Papà tonight. I just want to go to sleep.”
The family has a penthouse that overlooks Central Park. I’m pretty sure it’s where Papà takes his whores, but the family uses it from time to time too. It’s not a bad idea to spend the night there.
We get into the car, and I give Ras directions.
He nods. “I can call your father and explain everything to him. Do you have a key?”
“I know the code.”
Ras dials Papà, and while they talk, I wrap an arm around Cleo and pull her into me.
CHAPTER23
GEMMA
We stumbleinto the penthouse directly from the elevator.
It looks like a museum. Renovated by a famous interior architect that cost Papà a pretty penny, it’s all sleek lines, subtle textures, and mood lighting.
It’s a status item, not a place meant to be lived in.
Still, it’s better we’re here than back home where Mamma and Papà would put Cleo and I through an interrogation. I’m not sure I can even stand to look at my father after everything Rafaele told me tonight.
At least this way, that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
