Page 93 of Juliet's Echo
“But then again, you already know that.”
Still laughing, I paced the living room and ran both hands through my hair. The sound echoed off the walls and bounced back at me, feeding the frenzy building inside my chest.
“You were nothing but a taker. Even in death.”
My voice cracked.
“You took me for granted. Used me. Took my future. Ruined my family's life. And now you want my peace?”
The laughter returned, wild and sharp.
“Now, you selfish little bitch, you want my peace.”
I pointed toward the window as if she were standing there staring back at me.
“You can have Havenbrook. You can have Echo. But if it's my peace you want...” My finger began shaking violently. “...you got thirty minutes to come get it, bitch.”
Unable to control my own body, I swayed and stumbled through the room as if I were drunk.
And maybe I was.
Drunk on rage.
Drunk on revenge.
“You chose that nigga over me,” I screamed. “And now you got the nerve to chase me out of town just to protect him. Still choosing him. Still saving him.”
My voice rose higher and higher until it was nearly unrecognizable.
“This is why I'm alive and you're not!”
I slammed my fist against my chest so hard it hurt.
“Dead!”
Spit flew from my mouth as my breathing became erratic.
“You hear me, bitch?”
My laughter and twitching grew more violent with every passing second.
“I killed you. I killed you and the monstrosity you were carrying.”
The room spun, the walls shifted, and the floor seemed to move beneath my feet. I knew it was her. She was trying to impose on me, trying to take control, trying to make me weak.
But I was stronger.
Always had been.
“You don't control me,” I snarled. “And if you come around my family again, I promise I'll get him next time. I'll send his ass straight to Hell.”
My finger stabbed toward the empty corner of the room where I imagined her standing.
“You want that, Simone? Huh? Is that what you want?”
The question flowed through the house, and for a moment, I almost expected an answer.
Then the doorbell rang.
