Theo’s breathing turns ragged. “Why did you even fight for me if you didn’t want me? I was happy, damn you.”
“You ruined my fucking life!” she screeches. “You don’t get to be happy. You get to do as I fucking say. Remember what happens if you don’t.” She cackles cruelly.
Theo speaks louder, hoping I’m here like we planned. Maybe even hoping I’m not, because shit has already gone sideways. “Yeah, the bomb. I’m not sure I even believe that bullshit.”
“You believed it enough to come back,” she says with glee.
“You expect me to believe some random guy told you they have The Book Nook wired?”
“That random guy coughed up a quarter of a million dollars to get Josh out of that hellhole. So I trust him a lot fucking more than you right now when it’s your fault he was even there in the first place.”
“You know what? Fuck you, Diane. I’m done.”
“You leave this trailer again, and I’ll blow that bitch up myself. You sure you can live with that?”
“I won’t leave, but I’m not spending another fucking second with you, either. You make me sick.”
The sound of a slap reverberates through the trailer. I suck in a sharp breath. Fuck this. Nobody touches my boy. Before I can move, though, Theo is rushing into the room and slamming his door closed. As soon as he spots me, his eyes widen, and I’m yanked into his arms. I hold him tight as he buries his face against my neck and breathes me in, his rage and heartbreak making him practically vibrate.
When I feel him calm a little, I pull back and cup his jaw. “Tell me what’s going on,” I whisper.
“She woke up happy. And I just knew something was wrong. How fucked-up is that? I made sure I did what you said. I just had a feeling, you know? Then, just before I left for school, there was a knock, and she practically skipped to the door. It was Josh, and she let him waltz right in. I fucking froze, Delphi. I should have run then. But I just couldn’t get my head around the fact that she let him back in with that big-ass smile on her face when she’s been miserable for the last two weeks. Before I could do anything, he hit me. I fell onto the counter and curledup, knowing it was safer that way. I must have passed out. When I woke up, I could hear the TV and mom telling Josh CPS was coming later for a visit, so he had to leave me alone for now.”
He jumps when he hears banging in the living area, but I keep my hand pressed to the door and urge him to carry on.
“When I got to my feet, the coffee table was already littered with empty bottles, and Mom was smoking a joint. Josh told me to get him a beer, or he’d slash my throat and bury me in the backyard and tell CPS I ran away. Mom just laughed.”
He swallows as I tilt his face to get a better look at it. That’s going to look ten times worse tomorrow. I’m getting really fucking tired of seeing bruises on this kid’s face.
“So I got him a beer and slipped the powder inside like you told me to. I watched him drink it before I went to my room. I texted you and climbed out the window. I was almost to the shop when she pulled up in the truck, like she knew exactly where I would go.
“She yelled at me to get in the truck. I wasn’t going to, Delphi, but she started telling me about this guy who’d bailed Josh out and how he’d wired The Book Nook to explode. I want to believe she’s lying, but I couldn’t take that risk.”
He takes a shaky breath as I stroke his cheek. “The Book Nook will be closed and empty by now. I doubt there is a bomb there at all, but we need to tweak the plan just in case. You need to leave now. Call Havoc and tell him about the bomb threat. He’ll send someone to check it out, then throw the phone in the river.”
“But what if you need to reach me? What if you need my help?”
“Theo, you’ve done your bit. It’s time for me to do mine. I won’t let them hurt you anymore. You know that, right?”
“But I don’t want you to get hurt either.”
“Trust me.”
His mouth snaps shut as he stares into my eyes before cursing. He hugs me tightly before hurrying over to the window.
“Hey, Theo.” He turns to look at me. “Ask Havoc for a ride and head straight to the clubhouse. Don’t tell Kruger anything about me being here.”
He swallows before nodding. “I know. I remember.”
I watch him climb out the window before I take a deep breath, bracing myself when I hear Diane calling Theo. “Looks like it’s my time to shine.”
I stand tall, aim my gun ready, and swing the door open. Diane stands there with the phone I left on her pillow in her hand. “What the fuck is this? You have another…” Her voice trails off when she realizes I’m not Theo. Oh, and I’m armed.
“Who the fuck are you?”
I narrow my eyes at her. She cannot be this dumb. Or maybe she can. “I’m Josh’s girlfriend. Who the fuck are you?”
Her mouth drops open before she storms into the living room, screaming about cheating bastards, like I don’t have a gun pointed at her.
