I tug on the thick lock with a fresh swell of tears swimming in my eyes. It jingles securely as I yank. What the fuck is going on? Through my wet, blurry vision, I notice the sign posted above my head.
CONDEMNED by order of the town of Newhaven Beach.
I lose it. Screaming bloody murder at the flat, inanimate piece of paper.
In a fit of rage, I race home, knowing exactly where I have to go. I drive to Ty Winters satellite office in a blur. That piece of shit is definitely behind this.
I slam on the brakes, the tires screeching, as I pull up to the glass building. Storming to the front door, I wrench the handle and nearly rip my arm out of my socket. I scream and bang on the glass, demanding to see him. I continue for what feels like hours until I’m too tired to raise my arms, and I have no breath left to bellow.
It’s Sunday. No one’s there. My logical, rational side realizes that. But the part of me that’s dying wants to hurl rocks through every single window. Wants to smash and shatter the whole building so Ty fucking Winters knows exactly what it feels like to lose something important to him.
“I hate you!” I erupt. “I hate you, you son of a bitch, and every goddamn thing you stand for!” I pound my fists on the smoky glass until they hurt. Until I have nothing left inside.
I slink down to the ground defeated. I lost.
Everything.
A new shot of anger suddenly skyrockets inside me.
Did they know? Was that the plan all along? Distract me with sweet words and touches and promises as their boss steals my whole life right out from under me?
Another fit has me running. Driving like a maniac several blocks down to a place I left happy from this morning.
I careen up the front stairs and barrel through the door. Before I can blow my stack, I come face to face with the devil himself. Ty Winters standing casually in Chase and Shane’s living room. Smug in Khaki pants, a polo shirt, and tousled copper hair. In an act of blind fury, I launch myself at him.
“Son of a bitch!” My fist connects with his chest as Shane and Chase attempt to subdue me.
Hot tears start again. Buckets this time as I throw verbal daggers at Ty.
“You piece of shit! What did you do?” I scream, flailing like hell to climb out of their hold.
“Jenn, calm down!” Chase hooks his arms around my waist as Shane stands directly in front of me. He traps my face, forcing me to look him dead in the eyes.
“Did you know?Did you fucking know?”I demand, my cheeks on fire and soaked with tears. His fingers slipping from the moisture.
“They didn’t know,” Ty speaks. “Not until today. I had a courier send the paperwork over for the sale this morning.”
“Sale? What sale? I never authorized a sale!” I swipe at him.
“You didn’t have to. I paid off the liens on the restaurant. It became mine. I tried to warn you, Ms. Reeves. I made you a very generous offer,” he reminds me callously. A pillar of indifference. “You forced my hand.” I stare blankly at the coldest man on the planet. Winters suits him perfectly because his heart is made of pure fucking ice. “Pride is an ugly thing.”
“Ty, don’t be a prick,” Shane snaps.
“You would know,” I mimic Ty’s callous tone. “You really are the devil,” I hiss.
He doesn’t indulge me with a response, which only makes me angrier.
“Let go!” I twist myself free from Shane and Chase’s grasp and stumble forward as they release me.
“Jenn,” Shane voices my name sternly, fearfully, as I backpedal to the door.
“Stay away from me. Both of you. All of you.” I shoot laser beams at Ty. “I can’t stand to look at any of you.”
I burst out the front door before any of them can stop me. I’m going to be sick. I catch Shane and Chase making a mad dash after me, but I’m already in my car speeding away before their feet hit the pavement.
7
I’ve stared at Pops’ small urn for the last three weeks. It still hasn’t sunk in that he’s gone. It hasn’t sunk in that I can’t escape to the one place that’s ever felt like home. It hasn’t sunk in that I have nothing and am entirely alone.
