Reckless Karma (Sinners & Saints #2) by Chelsea Ballinger Read Free Book Online Page B

are you doing here?”
                “You’re
not answering my texts,” she says, fiddling with the straps of her leather teal
crossover bag.
                Cody
crosses his arms over his chest and hardens his jaw. “Well then you should
already have your answer.”
                “Cody,
can we please just talk? Just talk to me.”
                He
stands up from the couch and stuffs his hands in his pockets.
                “So
talk.”
                Anika
looks around at us. “Alone?”
                “No…
I’ve had enough of keeping secrets. Besides, you not only lied to me, you lied
to all of us. So talk.”
                She
sighs and talks before talking herself into running away. “My sister… was a
good person. The best I ever knew. She could walk on clouds. She was smart,
pretty, kind… happy. And then she broke. She completely broke. I was just a kid
when it all happened, but I remember. I remember what she was like when she was
in love. She loved him so much and then… that bitch Scarlett ruined her. They
all ruined her, and I watched her go from broken to broken with rage. She left
and then… she came back rich as hell and with a plan. I know what I did was
wrong, but… she’s my sister. That’s my answer. She’s my sister. I love her and
I’ll do anything for her.” Still staring at Cody, she smiles. “Even deceiving
the one guy who actually makes sense to me and who led me to care about someone
just as much as I care about my family.”
                Cody
is still stubborn and doesn’t respond, but what Anika just said does register
to him as the fury in his frown cools. He opens his mouth but doesn’t have a
chance to say anything as Hugo and Karlie walk into the rec room.
                “Hope
we’re not intruding,” Hugo says twirling his door keys in his hands and Karlie
standing next to him wearing a sleeveless violet blouse and white skirt.
                “No,
you’re not,” Anika says, looking defeated and she takes a seat in one of the
chairs.
                “Anika,
you good?” Karlie asks. Her protective nature for a sister shows in her glare
aimed at Cody.
                “Yeah,”
she lies.
                I
get it. Anika has sacrificed a lot for her sister out of love, loyalty, and
obligation. I’m the same with Jess, the girl who’s paralyzed because of me.
Granted we’re not sisters, but if I can feel that way towards a girl who wasn’t
my friend to begin with, especially after what I did to her, then you could
understand why a sister would do it. She still holds that devoted support to
Karlie’s cause, but maybe for once she would like for her sister to put her
needs and her wants first above her vendetta.
                “So
I assume this visit is to explain operation takedown evil bitch,” Jordana says
to Karlie.
                “Yes,
it is,” Karlie answers and Hugo takes a seat next to me, grabbing my hand. My
heart just naturally clings to his touch now, and it’s funny and new to me. I
was never the girl who even looked forward to this feeling, but now I find
myself never wanting to live without it. I guess you really never know the
future until you are in the now, but don’t let the others know that because I’m
psychic, remember?
                “Before
we get into this, I just want to know how you got with William Fairchild,”
Jordana asks what we’re all wondering. “Are the rumors true? He met you at a
bar?”
                Karlie
sits on the edge of the coffee table and her dark eyes become more distant than
they already were.
                “Yeah,
the rumors are true. After the assault my mother sent me away to Ohio to live
with my great uncle and his family.”
    “Did
you overdose in Ohio or here?” Cody asks.
    Karlie
laughs a little and shakes her head.