Page 22 of Hidden Empire
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Apollo questions, though his tone is almost gentle. He could snap at our brother, but he isn’t going to. It’s not Matteo’s fault.
“I thought she was just nervous,” Matteo defends, sounding panicked. “Who the hell gets in trouble for showering for more than five minutes?”
“Explains the lock on the fridge.” This comes from Armani, I think.
I try to control my breathing, stomach turning in the worst way.
It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay.
Fuckfuckfuck.
A knock rattles the door, and my hands start to shake.
“D-don’t come in,” I beg.
“Jade.” It’s Dad. “Sweetheart, it’s okay. Come out and talk to us.”
“I need a minute,” I call out, shakily taking breaths in and out. I quickly come to the conclusion that nothing is going to come up—only bile to burn my esophagus—and close the toilet lid.
Shrinking back against the shower glass, I relish the bite of cold against my neck. I knew this would happen, I’m just not ready for it.
There’s no option to get ready, so I have to pull my ass together and quickly. I wouldn’t put it past them to break down my door. They’re more than worried, and they don’t know me well. I could be in here hurting myself, and there’s no way they’d let that happen. At least, I don’t think there is.
Concerned murmurs on the other side of the wall filter through the door, so I know I don’t have much more time alone.
“Jade?” Dad asks again. “Can you hear me, sweetheart?”
“Y-yes,” I answer. Feeling bold, I add, “I just want to be alone.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t give you that,” he replies, sounding sincere.
I thought he might say that.
“We’ve concluded that you may be overwhelmed with the idea of talking to us all at once,” my father continues cautiously. “If it’s easier, you can pick one of us to speak to. But you do need to speak to one of us. I’m sorry, but privacy can only extend so far in this family. Someone needs to pay for this, and I need to know who I’m punishing and how. You understand, yes?”
I swallow, nodding to myself slowly. “O-okay. Did, um, did everyone go into my room?”
There’s a moment of quiet before his answer. “Just Apollo.”
Hands shaking, I hold my face, gauging the heat from the cheeks. I’m not going to be sick, but the possibility of fainting is still on the table. This overwhelming feeling is not one I want to keep myself overly familiar with. Fear isn’t something new to me, but it’s appalling to experience it to this extreme after finally feeling safe for once.
“Apollo can come in,” I croak, pausing before getting up to unlock the door. I move away from it like it might burn me, retreating back to my seat on the floor before anyone can walk through.
A few heavy moments pass, and to my utter relief, Apollo enters alone.
Without saying a word, he seals the door shut behind him, and joins me on the floor. He’s huge, casting a shadow over me even while sitting down. All of my brother’s are taller than me, and Apollo is the tallest of them. He’s bigger too, like dad. Where Nico, Emilio, and Leon are quite slim, the rest of my brothers look like they could pull cars out of a ditch with some rope and their bare hands.
“Are you alright?” he asks, his mirror-eyes scanning my face.
I attempt to crack a watery smile. “Bet you never thought you’d be on a bathroom floor comforting a sister, did you?”
“No,” he agrees, voice deepening. “I bet you never imagined anyone laying eyes on your bedroom, did you?”
“No,” I echo, voice husking out the simple word.
“Tell me about the chain, Jade.”
I pick at my nails. “Straight to it, then?”