A Want So Wicked (A Need So Beautiful #2)(64)

“This is probably our last day,” I tell him. When he doesn’t raise his head, I move to put my fingers on his bare chest. His heart beats wildly beneath them, and I know it’s breaking. I can’t say good-bye like this. “Tell me you love me,” I whisper.

Harlin raises his head and slides his hand along my waist to pull me closer. His hazel eyes search my every feature. “I love you,” he says in his low voice. “And I’ll never lie to you again.” Harlin runs his thumb over my lips. “Which is probably why I should tell you that I have no intention of letting you sacrifice yourself. Now kiss me.”

I press my mouth to his, hot and desperate. I can’t focus on anything but being with him, about the fire between us. We stumble back toward the bed as Harlin pulls at my clothes, murmuring that he loves me. That he’ll die without me.

His hands are gentle on my skin as my fingers thread through his hair. Soon my words blur into whispered promises. I tell him that I love him, have always loved him.

And I promise that I’ll never leave him again.

I stretch my arms over my head as I wake, a little sore, but otherwise okay. I hear the shower going in the bathroom and smile to myself, thinking about Harlin. I barely have time to sit up before my phone vibrates on the side table.

“Hey, kid,” my father says when I answer. I immediately remember my sister, and there’s a sinking in my gut. We’ll never truly be a family again. How can we be? Lucy handed me over to Abe last night, an obvious sign of her darkening intentions. She might be dangerous to my father. At that thought, I brace myself.

“Dad,” I say. “I need you to stay away from Lucy.”

He chuckles. “Uh, well, that’s kind of difficult seeing that she’s here right now. She surprised me with breakfast this morning. Sorry about yesterday, not sure how I fell asleep at my desk.” He pauses. “Hold on. Here’s your sister right now.” My breath catches in my throat.

“Hi, Elise,” Lucy says brightly. “I went by the house and you weren’t home. Where are you?”

Dread spreads through my body. “What are you doing?” I ask quietly.

“Spending time with our father. That’s what matters now, right? Time.”

“Are you going to hurt him?”

Lucy chokes out a laugh. “What? Why in the world would you think that? Elise . . . have you been drinking?”

“Drinking?” I hear my father say off-line, concern in his voice.

“Please don’t harm him, Lucy,” I whisper. “He doesn’t—”

There’s a loud click as the line goes dead. At that moment, the shower shuts off in the bathroom. My body trembles as I set the phone aside.

My sister has the power to tempt my father into doing anything. It doesn’t mean my dad will, but sometimes those whispers blot out the sense of things. Sometimes the whispers become our thoughts, driving us to do things we wouldn’t normally do.

Harlin walks out wrapped in a towel, drops of water still clinging to his skin. He smiles at me broadly, but soon his expression clears when he realizes that something is wrong.

I tell him we should find Monroe, and he quietly agrees before going to get dressed. I sit there a minute longer, looking out the slightly open curtain to the hazy parking lot. The Need hums under my skin, and my heart is full of love and regret. I don’t know what’s to come, but I’m glad I won’t face it alone.

The sun is shrouded with clouds as we head to Marceline’s to meet Monroe. We’re riding down Main Street past Santo’s when a sudden gust of wind blows by us. It’s so unexpected that Harlin swerves after having overcorrected and we nearly spin out.

Harlin quickly lets off the gas and puts down his boots, skidding us to a stop. He curses, and then asks if I’m okay. I nod, my heart pounding in my chest as I start to climb off the bike.

I feel a cold prickle over my cheeks, the bridge of my nose—like someone is watching me. My body stills because I recognize the feeling.

Standing in the middle of Main Street is Abe, wearing a black suit, his hair slicked smooth. Smiling. The fear that strikes me is so acute, I’m not sure I can move.

Santo’s Restaurant is on my right, the lights inside burning bright even though there doesn’t appear to be anyone inside—the CLOSED sign illuminated in the widow. A tumbleweed rolls by me and travels down the road past Abe.

The motorcycle engine cuts out and then Harlin is next to me, his hand sliding into mine. When it does, I feel myself relax slightly, my bravery returning.

The street is quiet and I think Abe has sent everyone away, back to their homes, out to dinner. He’s isolated this small space just for us.

Abe’s face is calm and unreadable. “Wish you would have listened to me, Seer,” he tosses in Harlin’s direction. “You’re meddling in things you shouldn’t.”

“You can’t have her,” Harlin says simply.

Abe’s dark eyes flick to our hands and he shakes his head. “It was really that easy?” he asks me, his voice thick with contempt. “To fall in love with him even though I was right here?”

“You’re not really my type, Abe,” I say.

“I’m too handsome?” He grins.

“Too evil.”

He nods, like he accepts that description. “You probably won’t believe me if I say that I’ve changed. That I’ll bring you flowers and chocolates if you just come over here right now. Hell, I won’t even touch you.”