“What do you mean we’re dropping out?” I demanded, glancing at my mother, whose eyes were trained on the road ahead.
It had been a particularly rough day for Charlotte. She had had two seizures in the last twelve hours and was now heavily sedated in order to prevent any more. I had been barely able to look at my little sister lying helplessly in that bed. The anger that always swirled just below the surface was rising dangerously. Higher and higher.
“Just what I said, Han. We’re dropping our names from the lawsuit.” She said it sharply. Definitively. Leaving no room for arguing.
But I was going to argue. She should have known better.
“How can you say that?” I screeched. “After everything we’ve been through, this is our chance to make thempay!”I slammed my closed fists into my thighs, feeling ready to lose my shit.
“Hannah—”
“How can you do this? To Charlotte? To Dad?” I yelled.
I remembered the look on my mother’s face so clearly. It was sad. And so, so desolate. Without hope.
“Because if we don’t, then you and I won’t have anything left. We won’t be able to take care of Charlotte. We won’t be able to take care of ourselves.”
I frowned, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Dominic Ryan, the attorney representing the city, called. He made it clear that this lawsuit isn’t in the best interest of our family.” Mom gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles were white.
“What does he have to do with anything—”
“Hannah!” My mother had shouted, silencing me instantly. “I made some bad choices many years ago. I fudged some numbers. I was trying to make things easier for us. I didn’t think it would ever be an issue.” She took a deep breath, letting it out in a long, drawn-out sigh. “We’d lose everything if it came out.”
She was shaking, her teeth chattering.
I felt sick. “He’s blackmailing you,” I rasped.
“Drop it, Hannah. There’s nothing we can do. We just have to move on. Put all of this behind us.”
“But Mom—”
“No!” Mom cut me off. “I can’t do this. I can’t jeopardize what is left of our lives. Please, Hannah. For me. For your sister. Drop it.”
—
But I didn’t drop it.
I bided my time.
And now here I was, ready to take my revenge.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do and I wouldn’t let my “partner” alter the course.
21:13 How much time will we have?
21:14 Long enough to wipe their files. To siphon their money. To take it all.
No! That wasn’t the plan!
I gritted my teeth together and tried to keep my breathing under control. The kitchen was dark, the only light coming from the computer screen.
My heart thudded painfully in my chest. I was feeling a little light-headed.
21:14 That’s not the plan. No money. No files. Just the attack.
I watched the flickering tab line for several minutes, waiting for Toxicwrath’s response.
