“If I had any doubt about what’s about to happen, you just eased it, so thank you, father. I hope you get everything you deserve.”
I snatch out of his grip just as the recording begins to play across the screen. The videos switch through the several recordings of Liam setting the fires across town, including the one that killed River’s brother. It then cuts to the recording of my father showing up at River’s garage though their conversation is muted, and then it shows all the money my father paid to cover it up.
“Turn it off!” My father yells.
Getting access to the programming for the screen hadn’t been easy but a long call to my father’s IT guy had made it happen. I’d lied and made-up stories which he’d believed.
“Here,” I hand a folder to Nancy, “Take a look at what they have done to you. What they are trying to hide. My father and my brother are murderers. They don’t care about any of you, just the power you can give them.”
“You little fucking bitch!” My brother roars.
I turn in time to see him coming for me, my eyes widening when I realize he has every intention of inflicting serious harm. There’s a gun in his hand and a murderous look in his eyes.
I’m suddenly grabbed and shoved behind a body and the next thing I see is my brother on the ground, his nose gushing blood and River standing over him.
The next few minutes are a blur, chaos erupts all around me, the videos continuing on repeat as people begin to shout and scream. I swing my eyes to my father who is being man handled by a couple of cops and shoved to the ground, my brother is rolling on the floor while more officers point guns at him andscream at him not to move while my mother watches, her mouth stretched open as she wails like a banshee.
Carnage.
I hadn’t realized I was clinging to River until I feel the brush of his hand against mine. My eyes snap to his to find he’s already looking at me, his face soft, eyes full of regret. The knife twists harder into my heart.
“You can let me go now,” I whisper.
“I really don’t want to, princess.” He breathes.
I calm my racing heart and tilt up my chin. Today has been a lot, too much really, hell the last few days have been too much and I’m not ready for this.
“I would like you to let me go now,” I swallow, feeling the sting of tears.
“Princess,” He pleads.
I shake my head, “Don’t call me that, River.”
“Baby, please,” He doesn’t grip me harder as I begin to pull away from him, “Please let me explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain, River,” I sigh, wrapping my arms around myself to fight off the chill that’s come over me despite the heat from the blazing sun, “I know everything, I know my brother killed yours, I know you have those scars because of it and that my family has tormented yours. I understand.”
“No, you don’t, Marly.”
“I do,” I wet my lips, “But I’m sorry, I can’t forgive you, even if I know why you did what you did. I am not my family, and I never have been, but you made me feel dirty, River. You left me alone when you were the only one I ever needed and I can’t keep being let down by the people who pretend to care about mewhen I’ve never pretended with anyone, especially you. I gave you everything, including my heart but you still crushed me and walked away.”
His face twists with grief and his eyes glaze as they bounce around my face.
“Perhaps it’s for the best anyway.” I shrug, “Not sure we were all that suited for each other.”
“You’re wrong,” He growls.
I smile at him sadly and step closer, pressing my lips to his cheek softly, “Bye, River.”
And then I tip my head up, square my shoulders and walk away, and with each step my heart cracks a little bit more until there’s nothing left to break.
Chapter Forty-five
“Okay, that’s all of it,” Zara huffs, collapsing down onto the couch once she’s dropped the last of the bags onto the floor. We may have gone a little overboard on the shopping spree, but I have nothing here and I’m too afraid to go back to the house to get it all, so I decided to replace everything instead.
“Thanks,” I put my hands on my hips, staring at all the bags, a spark of hope igniting in my chest. These clothes are all my choices, I don’t have to dress up like a doll anymore. Everything is mine.
It’s been a few days since everything went down in the town square and despite several calls and texts from River, I haven’t seen him. He doesn’t know where to find me and other than Zara, no one knows I live here now.
