OUR BROKEN BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The garage door closed behind me, and the only sound was my heels hitting the floor. Maybe he had gone to sleep.

I walked past the kitchen, and a deep, gravely voice filled the air. "Where the hell have you been?"

My feet stopped moving, planting me in a spot. I turned slowly to find Emerson standing behind the stools of the island, his hair a mess and his eyes bright with an emotion—anger. Good. I kept my spine straight as I made eye contact and said, "Out."

He let out an amused chuckle that told me he didn't find this amusing at all. "Out?" I ignored what the sight of him and the sound of his voice did to my body.

My feet turned in place as I turned my back toward him and began walking again. "Yes. Out."

I knew he was chasing after me when I heard his steps slapping the floor. He grabbed my arm and spun me around. "Fuck that. You owe me a fucking explanation."

I tore my arm from his hand and said through my teeth, "I don't owe you shit." My anger returned to me so fast. It hit me like a tidal wave. Good. It fueled me, and I needed it. He smiled, but in a dark way that made heat pool in my core. Cassandra. Stop it.

"Like hell, you don't. I didn't know where you were for hours. You could have been dead on the side of the road, and I wouldn't have known. Where. Were. You."

I had never seen him this angry. The wisps of green in his eyes burned, almost like a fire. I stepped forward and craned my neck back. "Why should I tell you anything? You, who likes keeping his secrets so much. Hm?"

He was silent, and some of his anger left his eyes, replaced with confusion. That only made me angrier. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't act so innocent. It's beneath you." I went to turn again, and he grabbed my arm once more. This time when I tried to pull away he didn't let me. "Let. Go."

His eyes bore into mine. "Cass—"

I didn't look away. "Don't fucking touch me." At that, his eyes slightly widened, and he let go instantly. I knew which nerve I had struck, but I didn't care. My legs were moving as I walked to my room and closed the door behind me. Right as my purse touched the bed, my door swung open, and Emerson stormed in.

"Tell me where you were." He was breathing hard, his eyes still wide.

I snapped my head toward him. "No."

"Tell me."

"Tell me who you were meeting yesterday."

His breath caught, and I thought he wouldn't answer, but he did. "No one important."

I couldn't breathe. The lie caused my fury to explode inside my chest. I repeated his words back quietly. "No one important." Emerson's breathing only continued getting heavier. I willed myself to breathe. To focus on remaining calm.

I kept my voice low as I spoke. "Lying is beneath you as well. I went to the Danston, Emerson. I saw exactly who you met with. You meet with her, and then lie to me."

He instantly moved forward. "Okay. Cassandra. Just wait. Listen to me."

I shook my head, and I couldn't help the watering of my eyes. I pointed a finger at him as the betrayal began sinking its claws into me. "I trusted you. She hurt me. In ways, I thought you understood. I would never do this to you. Never." As much as I hated it and tried to stop it, my pain seeped into my voice.

He took another step forward and raised his arms slightly as if to touch me. I moved back and said, "Don't."

He gave me a pleading look that made me want to forget this entire argument and that stirred the turmoil of my emotions further. Then he spoke quietly, and I could clearly hear the guilt. "Please, Cass. Just let me explain."