Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)

I closed my eyes, praying silently and willing myself to be invisible. Please, go away. Please.

Kai must’ve felt me shaking, because he squeezed my arms, giving me reassurance.

But then I felt him.

He was there.

The heat of his glare fell on the side of my face

, and I slowly opened my eyes and cast a glance out of the corner, seeing the black shoes on the ground to my right. Looking up, I saw Damon at Kai’s side, his stare meeting mine.

A wave of nausea hit me.

He looked calm, but I knew better. His slightly open mouth closed, and his jaw flexed. It was a subtle gesture, but I knew the signs.

My brother was never calm. If he wasn’t having it out with me now, he would eventually, and I wouldn’t see it coming.

He let out a scoff, continuing the charade of not recognizing me. “Like I would bother,” he bit out at Kai. “She’s a fucking mess. Are you kidding me?”

His eyes fell down on me in a show. He wasn’t taking in my appearance. He knew what I wore every day. They were his old clothes, after all.

He was keeping up pretenses. Outside of the house, I wasn’t supposed to know him. I was a ghost. He didn’t want me to have friends, and he didn’t want his friends to notice me. If anyone knew I was his sister, they’d question why I didn’t go to school with him, dress as nicely as him, or go to parties with him. And if anyone knew Gabriel Torrance was my father, they’d question why I wasn’t treated like a daughter. Too much of a story for people who didn’t need to know.

“There’s beautiful girls out there, man, and you choose the one who looks like a boy?” He pulled out a cigarette and packed the tip on the top of his hand. “Who is she, anyway?”

“None of your business,” Kai snapped, “and don’t be a prick.”

“Relax.” He popped the cigarette in his mouth, lighting it as he spoke. “I wouldn’t touch the dirty, little rat if you paid me. Clean yourself up, honey.” He took the cigarette out of his mouth and blew out a stream of smoke. “Women are good for one thing, and you’re failing at even that.”

I shrunk, wanting to disappear.

But Kai jerked in front of me, his body going rigid as he yelled. “Knock it off.”

“Oh, fuck you. I’m leaving anyway.”

I heard Damon’s footsteps retreat across the dirt floor, and I didn’t look, but I guessed he’d left the tower.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. It was one thing for my brother to catch me somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be, but finding me here with Kai? There would be no mistake in Damon’s head about what he’d walked in on just now.

I stood up, combing my hands through my hair and righting my clothes.

“Hey, fuck him,” Kai told me, trying to ease what had just happened. “He’s an asshole.”

“He’s your friend.”

“And he is for a reason.” He approached me. “He’s just got a lot of ugly inside of him, and he takes it out on people. Just ignore him.”

I swiped my sweatshirt off the floor. “I have to go.”

I had to get out of here. I hated it when he was mad at me. I’ll go home and stay in my room, and when Damon gets there later or in the morning, he’ll find me sleeping right where I’m supposed to be. Waiting for him.

“Hey.” Kai took my arm.

But I jerked away from him.

“Don’t leave.”

I didn’t want to, but I had to. I pushed away the longing still raging through my body and brushed past him, bolting from the room.