An Echo in the Mafia (Echo Reid, Reid Family Book #1)

Part 66

Luke walked towards Echo, realizing it was his phone that was now on the floor. He picked it up, the screen was cracked half a dozen ways, but he wasn't worried about the phone, his eyes were on Echo and the way her eyes were locked on Grace.

Grace wasn't sure what to do next. She should make a grand exit but she couldn't take her eyes from Echo, who somehow managed to look almost regal even in the sweat pants and over-sized flannel shirt. Her chin was lifted high and she didn't blink. It was as if she could see right through Grace, see her for the petty, lying, envious, manipulative woman she was.

"Grace." Echo said, "Long time."

The words were cold and sounded as if they had been forcefully wretched from Echo's lips, and Grace couldn't think of anything to reply.

"Echo." Luke said, making her eyes go back to him. In that moment, Luke saw how her cold and empty gaze suddenly softened. There was pain. Echo was in pain again and, again, he was the one who caused it.

"Excuse me, I'll leave you two to finish your conversation." Echo said, turning to walk out.

"Grace was just leaving." Luke said loudly without turning to face her. Then, because they both began to walk away, Grace quietly exited the house, feeling so much smaller and insignificant than she ever had.

How strange that at that very moment, she and Echo actually shared the same feelings. They were both inexplicably humiliated, and they both didn't know what to do next.

"Echo." She could hear Luke repeat her name, calling her name over and over as they moved down the hall but Echo just couldn't bring herself to turn and face him. It was strange, she was replaying the scene in her head and trying to understand all the implications of it. She was so lost in her thoughts, so consumed by them that she didn't even realize she'd made it back to the closet until she heard the click of the bedroom door behind her.

"Echo. " Luke said again, leaning against the closet wall and watching as Echo looked around. For a moment, she only moved one bag and then another... picking up clothes and setting them back down pointlessly. Then, she walked over to her dresser.

"Echo." He repeated again as she began to take things out of it, as she began to completely empty the top one. Luke stood up straight, wondering if she was preparing to leave for good. "Echo, what are you doing?"

"I'm organizing the drawers." She said without turning. "Isn't that what you wanted me to do?"

She continued to fling things out dramatically, picking up her speed as she slammed the top drawer closed and opened the second one. Luke stared as she emptied it out quickly, slamming it and continuing.

"Echo, stop." He said, moving towards her but she shook her head.

"No, I want to get this done." She said, reaching for the next one and this time pulling it out completely and turning it over, dumping it's contents everywhere. "There. You see? No mess in the drawer."

She reached out, handing him the empty drawer, a scowl now visible on her face as she panted.

"Take it." She said, holding it out. "Come on, it's heavy."

Luke reached out, taking the drawer from her and setting it down on the ground as she turned to look at her side of the closet.

"I should organize this too." She said with a nod, moving forward and grabbing several items at the same time, dragging them off with all the strength she could muster and breaking several hangers in the process.

"Echo, stop it." He said, reaching towards her, trying to get her to calm down as she reached for more.

"NO, I'm getting this done today." She said, struggling with him as she reached for the hangers but he wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms to her side. That was when she completely lost it. Echo began to kick her legs around wildly, flailing her body side to side to try to be free.