Shai
Idrive toofast back toward Ashford and my house, fingers aching from how tightly I’m holding the steering wheel. My tires slide around the road more than once, and I almost end up in a ditch, but I keep going.
Rory, the guy I robbed, just helped me when I was trying to rob someone else. It doesn’t make any sense, and neither does the fact that he’s been following me. He’s been to my house,inmy house. He threatened my mom.
My heart punches against my chest, which gets tighter by the second. It feels like it’s a hundred degrees in my car, like I’m pressing my foot on the gas but not going anywhere. I’ll fucking kill him if he touches her. I’ve done a lot of things in my life, killing not being one of them, but I will fucking kill him for touching my mom.
Half the time, I don’t understand my devotion to her, why I put myself on the line for her over and over, when I know she wouldn’t do the same for me. But then, she kept me, she raised me, she did her best by me. She was a kid on the streets who got pregnant by a grown-ass man who then pimped her out. Regardless of the shit she’s done, she’s my mom, and if it comes down to killing him to save her, I’ll gladly do it.
I press harder on the gas, my car fishtailing, heart in my throat as I almost lose control, but somehow I manage to right myself again.
What feels like an eternity later, I pull down our gravel driveway. The lights are out inside, but others glow behind me, letting me know Rory has pulled in.
I shove out of the car and stalk toward his vehicle. The second I do, he’s there, gun raised, pointing straight at my chest. “This is fucking mine,” he grits out, making shivers run down my spine.
Before I have the chance to realize what he’s doing, he swings his arm, the butt of the gun hitting me in the side of the head, like I’d done to him, and then my world goes black.
*
God, it’s hot.Why is it so fucking hot?
I shift, the dull ache in my head shooting to a piercing pain. I groan, roll over, smell cigarettes and old-cat scent from the couch that came with the trailer.
What the fuck?
Why did I go to sleep on the couch?
My eyes flutter, my living room blurry as I try to come to. Did I get drunk? Someone slip me something? My head is too foggy to remember what happened.
I hear faint voices in the background, so I try to focus on that. Someone speaks, and my mom laughs. Jesus, does she have another fucking trick here? I’m not in the mood.
I try to say something, but I’m not sure the words come out.
“Oh look, sleeping beauty is waking up.”
The voice makes my blood run cold. Rory.
I try to shove up to sitting, but my head screams. I ignoreit, keep going, wiping my eyes and trying to process my muddled thoughts.
And then I see them—my mom and Rory, standing in front of me, both looking down with smiles on their faces.
“We were worried about you,” he says. “Good thing I got here when I did. What has the world come to? Someone attacking you in your own driveway. I scared them off and got you inside. Kat has been an excellent hostess. She even made bacon and eggs.”
I try to speak again, but nothing comes out. There’s a boulder in my throat, blocking any words. All I know is, I’ll fucking kill him.
The couch sinks beside me, my mom plopping down and wrapping her arm around me. She’s wearing nothing but a T-shirt and panties, as if there isn’t a fucking stranger in our house. “Sweetheart, you didn’t tell me you met a friend,” she says with her whole heart, apparently believing whatever story Rory gave her. “I like him,” Mom whispers in my ear, but not soft enough for him not to hear.
Rory grins. “Thanks, Kat. I like you too.” He gives her a wink, then looks back at me.
My hands ball into fists, nails biting into my flesh. What is he playing at?
“You’ve been out for hours. Kat kept me company, though.”
This guy is a fucking prick. I’m not sure what his endgame is, but I’m not playing. I shove to my feet, trying to ignore the dizziness. I must not do a good job because Rory’s hand shoots out and steadies me. I bite my tongue not to lash out, but I feel like shit, and I don’t want to do something stupid with my mom here.
“Bedroom. Now,” are the only words I can force out.
“He wants to get me alone,” Rory tells my mom, and if itdidn’t hurt so bad, I’m certain my eyeballs would roll out of my head. This guy is something else.
