Ch14

NOVA

Enzo’s more family than Nova will ever be.

A suffocating silence fills the foyer. I feel the blood drain from my face entirely, leaving me numb from head to toe. I’ve spent my whole life trying to fit into Noah’s shadow, trying to be the supportive sister, trying to navigate his moods and his career. But hearing him say those words.. so casually, so easily... in front of our cousins.

It breaks something inside of me. Completely.

"Noah, are you fucking kidding me?" Marcus steps in front of me, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He looks ready to throw a punch. "She is your sister. Your blood. You don’t get to come into my house and say shit like that to her."

"Marcus, don't," I choke out, my voice barely a whisper. I reach out, my fingers brushing the sleeve of Marcus’s shirt to pull him back. I can't let him get into a physical fight because of me.

But Noah doesn't even look at Marcus. His eyes are locked on me, I can see the deep resentment. He really believes I did this to ruin him.

And then there's Enzo.

At Noah's words, Enzo’s jaw tightens. He doesn't look proud of what Noah said. His dark eyes search mine, looking for... what? Guilt? A defense?

"Is that really how you feel?" I ask Noah, my voice shaking, but I force myself to look him in the eyes this time. I wipe a stray tear from my cheek with the back of my hand, refusing to hide anymore. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted Ava to take that recording?"

"You kept it, Nova!" Noah snaps, taking a threatening step forward, though Marcus immediately blocks his path. "Why the fuck did you even have it on your phone in the first place? You knew what was at stake! You knew it could ruin our careers, ruin everything we've worked for. But you just had to play the little journalist, didn't you? You had to keep a record of his worst mistake."

"I kept it because I was scared!" I scream, the dam finally breaking. The tears are flowing freely now, hot and angry down my face. "I kept it because everything was spinning out of control, and I didn't know who to trust! I never, ever thought that Ava would post it."

"But you didn't," Enzo’s voice cuts through the air.

It’s the first time he’s spoken directly to me since they walked through the door. His voice isn't loud like Noah's. He steps up beside Noah.

"You kept the weapon, Nova," Enzo says. "It doesn't matter who pulled the trigger. You're the one who loaded the gun."

"Enzo..." I say..I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet since... well since the incident. I don't even know how he feels about it. I don't know what he thinks of me now. Does he hate me now?

"We need the rest of it," Noah starts saying again. "What Ava posted isn't all. We know we talked about more and she has to have it. She didn't leak the whole recording. She’s holding the second half. You’re going to get your phone, you’re going to delete every single copy, and then you’re coming home with us so we can figure out how to spin this."

"She's not going anywhere with you," Marcus says. "Not when you're treating her like a criminal. Look at her, Noah. She's terrified of you."

"She should be," Noah says bluntly. "She almost ended my career."

"I didn't mean to," I sob, my hands covering my face. "I swear, I'm so sorry..."

"Just get the phone, Nova," Enzo says. "Now that I know that you're guilty and that you purposely recorded us, I don't feel bad for whatever it is I'm going to do."