Page 89 of The Golden Hour
Our little sister leans toward the glass, her eyes flat, and hisses into the receiver. “The only thing you two had to do was shut up, prance around in pretty clothes, marry rich dudes, and have babies. Mom was right—you’re both stupid, ungrateful brats. You have no idea how hard I’ve worked for this family, for you.” She turns her focus to me. “It’s your fault I’m in here, so get me the fuck out and I might forgive you.”
With a muffled sob, Ellie drops the phone. It thumps into the raised shelf beneath the plexiglass. “I’m sorry,” she whispers to me, then flees, disappearing through the exit.
I pick up the receiver, calmer now that I finally understand Lizzie can’t be saved, treated, or freed. She stabbed my high school boyfriend twenty times, killed God knows how many other people, and slit her own father’s throat.
There’s no rehabilitation for that.
I’ll always carry guilt—misplaced or not—for leaving her at the mercy of Vivian and Enzo, for not noticing signs of psychopathy when we were young, for not being a better big sister. What my mind can accept, my heart still regrets.
The what-ifs and maybes will haunt me forever. But I can live with them. What I can’t live with is another person dying because of her.
“Ellie has always been the weakest, hasn’t she?” asks Lizzie on a yawn.
“I think she’s the strongest of us all.”
She scoffs. “Yeah, right. Anyway, what’s the plan? I know you’ve talked to a lawyer. No plea deals—we’ll definitely want a trial. I’ll charm the socks off a jury and do a few years somewhere. Easy-peasy. Then it’s you and me running shit, Calli. Bosses. Sounds good, huh? I bet you’re glad Mom’s out of the way. I think we’ll make Dad super proud.”
She grins expectantly, eyes sparkling, and the familiar expression coupled with the insane words lift goose bumps all over me. The sister I loved all my life was just a face the monster inside her learned to wear.
My options in the moment are few, but it doesn’t take me long to decide. For her, for me, I’ll be an Avellino one final time.
So I smile and nod.
And I lie through my teeth.
“I’ll talk to Ellie and calm her down. We’ll figure this out. Just hang in there, okay?”
“Okay.” She relaxes, smile softening. “I’m not mad at you anymore, Calli. I was only mad because Mom was, anyway, and she was just peeved that you were smarter than her. They all got what was coming to them, right?”
“Right. I have to go, Lizzie, but I’ll be back soon.”
“Cool. I’ll be here.” She blows me a kiss. “Love you, big sis.”
“I love you, too.”
I hang up. Stand up. Walk away.
One foot in front of the other, I abandon my sister for the second time. Only this time, I’m not coming back.
When I walk outside, I’m surprised to find Ellie waiting for me. Dark sunglasses conceal her eyes, but there are tear tracks on her cheeks. She’s on the phone, but says goodbye and hangs up when she sees me.
“Hey, Calli.”
“Hey back. Thanks for waiting. And for, uh, coming.”
I’m nervous again, unsure of where we stand. Whether or not she hates my guts. Were our situations reversed, I’d probably hate me.
I dismembered everything that was normal in her life, and our names will be forever associated with our family’s crimes. As Vivian’s eldest daughter, Ellie is already under incredible scrutiny from the media. Depending on the reputability of the outlet, either she was stupidly ignorant, threatened to silence, or she’s some sort of criminal mastermind who orchestrated everything in order to take over the family.
“I’m sorry, Ellie. I ruined your life.”
“You didn’t. That happened when I was born an Avellino.” She clears her throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t return your calls. The last week has been….” She trails off, staring into space.
“It’s okay. Really.”
She laughs, brief but genuine. “What a mess. The only thing that got me out of the fetal position this morning was Xanax. Thank God for my therapist and the fact my boyfriend’s dad is a lawyer.”
I blink. “You have a boyfriend?”
