Dangerous Liaisons [✗]

𝟐𝟓 | 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 | 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐙𝐄

DINNER AT THE KHANUM'S WAS A SHIT-SHOW.

I had spent the time idly forking potatoes across the plate, consuming conversations here and there, wondering why I had decided to turn up at all. It was mostly Elyas and Jameson doing the talking, and Lee occasionally throwing in a witty comment or two. Sevda hadn't shown up, she didn't find there was anything to be thankful for and claimed that it was disrespectful to pretend that everything was good in life and I resonated with that sentiment, in all honesty.

What the fuck was there to give thanks for?

Salma was tending to a feverish Irena, so she had made herself scarce, while Audrey was nowhere to be found. Of course, I had let my curiosity sway me and made the mistake of asking about her whereabouts, as if it personally concerned me. Both Jameson and Elyas had exchanged an evidently confused glance with me and returned to their food, while Lee had smirked at me mischievously and I reacted by glaring at him and his timing.

"She's spending the night at Tia's." Elyas grunted. "Doesn't want to give neither me, nor our family some time. She's become too independent lately, I'm naturally growing concerned, of course. I do wish she'd be less reserved around her own brother."

"Well, maybe she resents you for not being in her life for the better part of adulthood and it's a result of being abandoned by everyone around her that made her that way."

The words slipped past my lips before I could stop myself, and it wasn't after I had finished gulping down iced water that I looked up and noticed both Lee and Jameson scrutinising me. Truthfully, I didn't know what had possessed me to blurt out such a statement, not under the circumstances I was in. I had already crossed more than one line since the day I had stepped back into Terence, and I knew soon I would do something I regretted deeply.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Audrey's brother raised his brows.

"Just that she must be lonely." I grated out reluctantly, shoulders tense.

"She told you that?" Elyas said snappily, pausing to look me right in the eyes.

"Au —Naomi tells me nothing." I laughed gruffly. "How could you leave her behind after everything happened right here, dude?"

"You bastard." Elyas scoffed. "You best get off your high horse. Considering you were the one that got in the way that night."

"What are you talking about?" Lee questioned curiously, "What night?"

"The night my parents passed." Elyas spat out.

"Shit." Jameson muttered.

"You just had to interfere and give your two cents. Maybe if you had let her talk that night, then the outcome would have been different." Elyas dramatically lifted himself off his chair. "Maybe my sister would have had closure today, because I'm pretty sure she refuses to believe an armed robbery led them to their deaths."