To Catch A Thief

Chapter Seven

I wake to the house in a panic. My family and Stephanie are a whirlwind of getting ready for the wedding. Briefly, I wonder why nobody bothered to wake me up. Because I was uninvited, I remember. I frown, and burrow deeper under my blanket.

I only stir once Oliver enters the room, looking ridiculous in his tuxedo. I'm surprised he didn't get blood on it from the events of last night, but it seems like Alessio and Matteo shielded him well. it looks as clean as it did before I became a murderer.

Oliver spares me one concerned look, but I might have imagined it because he immediately looks away and busies himself on fixing his bowtie in the crooked mirror. He looks like he is going to a funeral instead of his sister's wedding.

After a lot of shouting between the other people who live in the house, the door finally closes behind the three of them. I grab the blanket from Oliver's bed and drape it over myself and fall back asleep.

***

When I wake again, the light coming in through the window is faint. It is late in the day. At first there is a lovely silence to being home alone. Then, the screaming begins. This isn't like the yelling from the morning, a panicked rush to an event. No, this is an argument about something.

There's a softer voice, pleading, which is definitely not Stephanie's. I bolt awake when I recognize the voice belongs to Em.

"This isn't her fault; she wasn't even there."

You're right. It's your fault. I don't know what you did, but you have been ruining the James name for awhile now. Was this part of your plan to drag their name through the mud?

"Do you know what the headlines are going to say tomorrow?" Stephanie's shrill voice is higher than normal and I start to put my shoes on to escape through the window. This is not something I want to be a part of.

"I didn't—" Em tries to talk but is interrupted again.

"And the cherry on top is your grimy sister can't even keep the engagement I set up for her!" The voices get closer to the door and I don't bother with my other shoe, flinging open the window and launching myself out of it. I think l've made it when I feel a hand on my collar.

I try to wiggle out of my shirt, but I earn a punch to the gut. While I'm doubled over, Stephanie uses this to her advantage. I am picked up and thrown over her shoulder like a sandbag. I learn from trying that I can't kick and scream my way out of these.

Stephanie throws me on the ground. I stand to run again, but she backhands me into the wall where she towers over me, daring me to try and make another break for it.

"First you ruin the rehearsal dinner. But that wasn't enough for you, was it? You're so jealous of your sister you had to ruin the wedding as well." Stephanie takes another step towards me and her spit hits me with every word.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I don't think my innocence will stop her, but hopefully it will soften what comes next.

A punch to my cheek makes me abandon that notion.

"I think you do. Something scared Julian James away from marrying your sister, and I'll bet anything it was you. Now, I don't particularly care one bit about your family, but I do care that now your sister is a martyr. What a sad thing, to be left at the altar. The press is going to ruin the James name over this.

"What is wrong with you? I told you that you were going to mess up with that boy, but I didn't think you'd cut off his leg and get him executed. If that wasn't enough, you put a target on your family's head." Her voice travels upwards several octaves. I'm screwed.