Chapter 352
NOAH.
I lean back against the wall, the weight of everything pressing down on me.
Dad was right and so was Sierra.
I saw it in her eyes, the intent to hurt me. To cut me down with her words the same way I once did to her and yeah, it fucking hurt, but not because she sharpened her words into something meant to wound. It hurt because she was right.
If I stand even the slightest chance of getting a second chance with her, then I can’t be the man I am right now.
I can’t be the poison that keeps destroying her peace. I can’t be the poison that slowly kills her. The thing that slowly eats away at her until there’s nothing left.
She tried to take it back, because unlike me, she doesn’t take pleasure in hurting people, but the moment those words left her mouth, something in me shifted and I knew I had to change, because the man I’ve been… isn’t someone I can live with anymore.
I drag a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply as thoughts crash into each other in my head.
It’s easy to say you’re going to change, but where the hell do you even start? How do you undo years of being someone you don’t even recognize anymore? How do you face parts of yourself you’ve spent so long ignoring? And how do you even know if you’re getting better… or just lying to yourself again?
I take a deep breath, trying to steady the panic clawing its way up my chest.
I need to talk to Dad and maybe even Uncle Gabe. He screwed up too—badly—from what I know and somehow, he still found his way back to Aunt Harper.
They’ll know where to start. They have to. Not tonight, though. The party’s still going on in the other wing of the house, and the last thing I need is to drag this into that chaos.
For now… I need to start somewhere. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s just thinking about it.
I need to face the things I’ve been running from, so maybe I can start with demons dad talked about.
Taking another deep breath, I push away from the wall, ready to head back to the party.
I’ve barely taken a few steps when a bloodcurdling scream rips through the air, stopping me dead in my tracks.
My entire body locks because I recognize it. It’s not just any scream. It’s Sierra.
My heart slams violently against my ribs.
“Sierra!” I shout, already moving, my voice cutting through the panic flooding my veins.
That wasn’t normal. That wasn’t just surprise or anger… That was fear. Pure, raw, bone-deep terror. The kind of scream that says something is very wrong.
I run faster than I think I ever have.
Everything blurs around me as I follow the sound, my chest tightening with every step, dread clawing its way up.
I reach the top of the stairs and horror greets me.
“No p>
The word barely leaves my mouth before I’m moving again, rushing down the stairs, nearly losing my footing in the process, but I don’t care… Not when Sierra is lying at the bottom. Not when Brook is standing over her.
I take the last few steps in a half fall, dropping to my knees so hard it barely registers.
There’s too much blood… So much fucking blood.
“No, no, no p>
I shove Brook aside without a second thought, my hands already reaching for Sierra as I drop beside her, the blood soaking into my clothes.
“Sierra?” My voice comes out rough and uneven. I get no response.
My chest tightens painfully.
“Come on, baby… open your eyes for me,” I whisper, my voice breaking despite myself, but I get nothing.
She doesn’t move or respond, making me feel real fear for the first time in a long time.
“What the fuck did you do?!” I growl, my eyes locking onto Brook.
She must see something in my expression, because she takes a step back and for a split second, fear flashes across her face.
I rise slowly to my feet, my entire body tense.
“What the fuck did you do?” I repeat my voice lower this time and more deadlier.
“She was in the way,” she says, lifting her chin in defiance. “Once she’s gone, you’ll finally see me p>
Something in me snaps. I don’t think. My hand just moves before my mind can catch up, the back of it connecting hard with her face, sending her crashing to the floor.
I don’t even look at her again because she doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except the woman bleeding on the floor.
“Sierra…” I drop back down beside her, more careful this time, my movements slowing as reality settles in.
She’s on her side and blood streaks from her nose and the corner of her mouth… But that’s not what makes my stomach twist. It’s the blood pooling beneath, and it’s coming from between her legs.