20 - Your Word Against His

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I spent most the day reading and listening to music, trying to quiet the buzzing in my head

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I spent most the day reading and listening to music, trying to quiet the buzzing in my head. The house felt too big, too silent, too...off.

So when my dad burst through the front door with a stab wound down his arm, the book fell right out of my hands.

"Dad? What happened?" I rushed over, stomach twisting.

"Stella, you need to go back to your room" he said quickly, pushing me away.

"No- dad, what's wrong? Where's John b?" I ask, trying to steady my shaking hands.

"Stella. John b stabbed me" he said

"What no no no. He wouldn't" It fell out of my mouth as a whisper.

"Sweetheart I know it's hard to believe but you need to go to your room now" he pushed me inside and shut the door before I could breathe.

It was dark by the time the door creaked open again-
And John b stepped inside my room holding a gun.

"John B, why do you have a gun?" I whisper

"Did you tell your dad about the gold?" His voice was low, sharp.

"What? What are you talking about?" I ask

"Answer the question. About the gold" he snaps

"No. No. I would never do that" I said

"Then how'd he know? Hm?" John B asked.

Then grabs my arm.
"Answer me!" He hisses

I let out a gasp.
"John B, you're scaring me" I whisper

"Is life back in the Cut scary to you?" He breathed, close enough that I could feel how hard he was trying to hold himself together.

And even now, in his mind, I was still the girl he'd do anything to protect. Even if fear made him forget that.

"Stella!" My dad yelled from down the hall.

John b froze.
"Hey. Shh." He says

He took my hand and let me outside as quietly as he could.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"Somewhere where we can talk" he says

"Stella!" Rose yelled.

"John b- what's going on?" I put my hand on his face, and he leaned into it for half a second, like he needed it to steady himself.

"Your dad... he-killed my father" he said

"What?" My world tilted.

"I need you to listen to me. Look I think they were working together to find the Royal Merchant. There was some sort of conflict and... and nobody knows what happened to my dad except for Scooter Grubbs" John B says

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