“I understand perfectly.” I slam my fist against the wall, the sound echoing through the sterile space. “You’re just like him. You just hide the rot behind a tender smile.”
The machines beep faster, my father’s body twitching under the sheet.Can he hear me?Hear the anger in my accusations? Hear the anguish he’s forced me to live with? I stare down at the tubes, the wires, and the hollow shell of power that lies in the stiff hospital bed. Something inside me fractures. The urge to disconnect the machine and allow him to turn into nothing has me shaking in place. Anger and grief collide, creating an explosion inside.
“I only wanted to protect him…” Lucia whispers more to herself, but that doesn’t stop me from responding.
“You want to protect him?” I say, voice low, trembling with emotions I can no longer contain. “Then do what I can’t. End him.”
Before she can say another word, I’m already heading towards the door, hearing her sob as I step into the hall. The hallway stretches ahead, white and endless. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out everything else.
Outside, the sun still shines, taunting me with a warmth I don’t deserve. The light burns my eyes, it feels wrong… Too clean for the filth that clings to me. I walk faster, each step heavier than the last, until I’m standing in front of my car, gulping for air to stop me from drowning. I open the door, and for the first time in days, I pull out a cigarette and place it between my lips before lighting it. The flame flickers against the wind, the smoke burning my throat, but I welcome it.
It’s the only thing that hurts less than the truth. My gaze drifts back to the hospital entrance, at the revolving doors swallowing strangers whole. Everyone walks in hoping for mercy, unaware of the two monsters being kept alive inside. My phone buzzes again—Wyatt’s name fills my screen.
I should answer it… I want to, but I hold back the urge.
I let the call ring out, watching the screen dim until my reflection stares back at me, and I barely recognize myself. My eyes look hollow, like something has been scooped out of me. I whisper to the glass, “You’re next, old man.”
And with that, I turn on the car and drive out of the parking lot and head back to campus, needing to find Zayden and tell him the truth. I don’t realize that I’m crying until the tears cloud my vision, the road blurring into streaks of gold and grey, and the sunlight slicing through the windshield like knives. My chest feels too tight, my throat raw from the smoke and the sobs thatI keep swallowing. I press harder on the gas, the engine roaring. I can’t stop crying; the world turns into a watercolor of pain. I blink hard, but it makes it worse. The trees bend, the lines on the road twist. I slap my hand into my forehead, over and over.
“Get it together,” I utter like a mantra, gripping the wheel so tight my knuckles ache. The phone buzzes again on the passenger seat. I glance at it for half a second, and that’s all it takes. The tires skid, and the world tilts in a flash of bark, with a deafening sound of metal that mingles with the breath being ripped out of me.
The impact throws me forward, glass shattering around me, airbag exploding towards me, and finally, everything goes quiet. The phone buzzes again, and my fingers twitch trying to reach for it, but my body doesn’t listen. The world fades at the edges, colors draining until there's nothing left but the sound of my heartbeat, and then nothing…
Chapter Twenty- Two
Zayden
I’m halfway to my class when a hand shoots out and slams against my chest, pinning me to the nearest door. The floral scents hit first, then she comes into view. Fabiola, who stands before me with narrowed eyes and pressed lips.
“Have you seen Thiago?” she demands, her fingers curling against the fabric of my shirt. I give her a dumbfounded look, unsure why she’s asking me instead ofliterallyanybody else. I blink fast, trying to hold back the annoyance that climbs higher.
“Good morning to you, too.”
“Zayden…” Her nails dig into my shirt. “Don’t play with me. Have you seen him?”
I swipe her hand away, smoothing out the fabric, and taking in how nervous she looks.Why? “Do I look like his keeper?” I reply, with a lopsided grin, unable to hide the sarcasm in my tone.
She scoffs, folding her arms over her breasts, head tilting as she studies me. “Do you think this is funny?”
“No,” I respond flatly, trying to step around her. “Maybe place a tracker on your future husband; he would be easier to track.”Her hand curls around my bicep, nails digging into my flesh as she pulls me into her.
“You saw what happened? I need to know that he wasn’t responsible for the accident,” she mutters softly, her gaze falling to the ground. “I need to know.”
I can’t contain the laughter that builds within my chest and escapes my mouth. Using my finger, I loosen the collar around my neck, finding this far too amusing. Confusion marks her features as the sounds continue to roar between us. My shoulders shake from how hard I'm laughing.
“For what?” I cut in when her lips part for her to speak. “You’ll cry? To threaten someone? Blackmail? You two are great at performing.”
Her lips press together, forming a thin line, her brows perfectly pulled together in a glare. “You’re an asshole.”
“And you’re too nosey,” I shoot back. “We all have our roles. I advise you to stick to yours.”
She blows out a breath, her hands waving between us. “Are you jealous?”
My head leans to the side, and I raise a brow. Her questioning has me second-guessing myself.Am I?Not a thought I voice out loud, and since once again, she’s put a spotlight on my feelings, I let her feel the brunt of it. With a roll of my eyes, I drag my tongue over my teeth and whisper, “Why would I be jealous? I get him even if I don’t want him.”
Amusement dances in her brown irises. Her lips twitch, fighting off a smile. “I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to be your friend.” Her voice is sharp and clear, trying to get her point across. “But as much as I like you, someone died.”
“YEAH! IT HAPPENS!” I shout, the emotion pouring out of me like a weeping wound. Tired of pretending like it’s out of the ordinary in this University. “It fucking happens in this place. Whatever you’re trying to accuse him of, I’m sure he’s innocent.”
