Page 47 of Ruthless Blade

“You’re blowing this out of proportion.”

I laughed, fed up with the situation. With her attitude.. She wanted to minimize my pain? Fine, I’d show her.

I stood up, my chair scraped against the hardwood floor. Kayden’s hand fell to his side as I rolled my sleeves up, and showed her. Them. I put it all on the table. Could she commit me to get mental help? I was set on it that she would. I don’t care. I was past the point of caring anymore.

My pain had flown under the radar for so long; I needed it to be out. I needed her to see what this did to me. Not her, me.

“Are you sure I’m blowing this out of proportion?”

A gasp came out of her mouth, “Alexis, what the hell? How could you do this to yourself?”

Tears gathered in my eyes, and I rolled my sleeves back down. “You may have moved on, but some of us haven’t. You seem to forget that I was in the car with them. I heard the screams before everything went black. I argued with them before the truck slammed into us. You and dad have always put Jake over me, even Kayden. I’ve been a small bug on your wall that you wanted wiped from existence. I’ve always put my family first, even you. But never once have you cared for me, loved me like you did them. You can argue with me as much as you want, but the truth is, we both know it should’ve been me that died that night. Maybe then, everyone would’ve been happier.”

There were no words, and as I heaved in heavy breaths, I couldn’t stand there anymore.

"Excuse me," my lips trembled. I ran out the front door and didn’t look back.

Chapter Twenty-Four

KAYDEN

For a second, nobody in the room moved. Nobody breathed. The only sound was the chair Lexi had shoved back, and the front door slamming shut behind her.

Her mom stood frozen, hand pressed to her mouth, the wine glass forgotten. Dad’s face paled.

My stomach grumbled, but not from hunger. I didn’t know what to think, or even say.

"Did she just..." she started.

"Yeah." My voice came out rough, barely recognizable to my own ears. "She did." And it’s all your fault.

I was already moving, chair scraping against the floor, adrenaline slamming through me. This was fucked up in so many ways. Somewhere behind me they said my name, but they weren’t my priority. Lex was.

I was in the car with them. I heard the screams before everything went black.

It should've been me that died that night.

Her words echoed in my mind, sending a fierce pain to my chest. The thought of her going through that, of thinking like that, screwed me up as much as losing Jake. I got outside in time to see her disappearing down the gravel road, arms wrapped around herself.

"Lex." I caught up to her, reaching for her arm. She flinched, spinning to face me with tears streaming down her face.

"Don't." Her voice cracked.

“Don’t what? Check to see if you’re okay?”

She shook her head; her lips trembled. “The pity, Kayden. The look in your eyes...I didn’t do it for pity. I did it because for once, I wanted her to see me. Really see me.” She took a shuttered breath and in almost a whisper, “I shouldn’t have done that.”

I frowned, “Done what?”

Her gaze went past me, back to the house where our parents were. “Told her. She’s not gonna understand and now she’s going to ship me off to some place to get help.”

I took a step closer, my finger tilting her chin, her eyes meeting mine. “I won’t let that happen.”

Her breath hitched, arms tightening across her chest. "You saw it. You probably think I’m crazy, too.”

"You’re not crazy.” You’re a fucking warrior. “You’re hurting. There’s a difference."

"Don't." She stepped back, and wiped her face. “Don't do the whole gentle, patient thing right now. I can't handle it."