The Carmichael Sunshine

Chapter 14

I'm laying in bed alone, late into the night.

Connor finally comes up and at this point, I'm fucking furious.

"Nice of you to finally join me," I snap.

Connor sighs. "Do you mind? I just walked in the door."

"Are you fucking serious, Connor?" I sit up. "You haven't spoken to me since we got back. And you didn't once even check on me!"

"I've always got tabs on you, sunshine, don't worry."

"Don't do that. Don't do that charming thing. I'm really, really upset."

Connor can read my face. He nods solemnly and sits next to me on the bed. "What have I done to upset you?"

"It's not you," I fidget with my mother's ring on my middle finger and sigh. "I need to go home, Connor."

He frowns. "No."

"Yes. I do. And you know it. Pavel doesn't care about me at all. You heard it yourself. I'm dead to him. I cannot be locked in your house anymore. I care about you and want to be with you, but nothing changes the fact that I have a life outside of here. I have responsibilities. My father..."

"Stop," he holds up a hand. "You're not leaving. End of conversation."

I blink at him.

I'm flabbergasted.

"What did you just say?" I snap angrily.

"It's been a long day. Can we talk about this in the morning?"

"No," I shove the duvet off of me. "We can't. I've been waiting for you all day. I'm going to sleep in my prison cell."

I huff as I walk towards the door. Connor is on me within seconds, pinning me to the door. "Come on, baby, let's fight and makeup?"

I shove him off of me. "Stop!" I smell whiskey on his breath and I didn't think I could be any angrier, but I am. "I'm not a prisoner! I have a life! I have people who depend on me. I have bills to pay. I'm not just your...your...sex slave!"

Connor rolls his eyes. "Trust me, I know. If you were, you'd do a lot less talking."

I gape at him.

Connor winces. "Sorry."

"I'm leaving before I punch you in the throat!" I growl, whipping the door open. Connor follows me. Because of course he does. "This isn't funny to me. My cousin is unhinged. And he wants you dead. And I can't stay here another day pretending everything is okay and there isn't a world out there. I want to be with you, and I want to help you take Pavel down. But I cannot go on like this."

I throw my hands up angrily.

Connor runs a hand through his hair. "You're not leaving, Ava."

"What? Are you going to lock me in again?"

Connor's eyes flare. "I will if I have to. If it keeps you safe."

"I'm no safer here than I am out there. I can't keep living in this fantasy land. I haven't seen my dad in weeks. He needs me."

Connor's jaw works. "Go to bed then. Get out of my sight."

I frown and shake my head. "How dare you speak to me like that?"

"Goodnight Ava," he says coldly before turning around and heading towards his bedroom. I bite down on my lip till it bleeds then go into my former guest room where I slam the door shut with purpose and fall into the fluffy pillows, crying myself to sleep.