Page 26 of Bloody Quarter

“Get out of my bakery. Right now, or I will call the police and have you charged with trespassing.”

“Fine, but this isn’t over. I’m going to tell everyone, and soon, I’ll put you out of business. Criminals like her should never get a second chance. Murderer, Mr. Molisano hires murderers,” Mr. Landry yelled, and I ran for the back of the bakery and slammed the door to the bathroom. Gripping the sink, I covered my mouth to keep in the wail of pain that wanted to rip loose. I met my eyes in the mirror, and all I saw staring back at me were the horrors of my mistakes, the failure I’d become, and the suffering I’d caused. It didn’t matter that I was no longer in prison. I’d been sentenced to purgatory, and my soul was already burning.

I had to get out of here. Opening the door, I walked over to my locker and grabbed my stuff, all too aware that even those in the back were now staring at me and probably wondering who I had killed and how I’d done it.

“Where are you going,” Mr. Molisano asked as I aimed for the back door.

“I’m sorry I brought this drama to your door. You’ve been so kind to me, and I…I just can’t work here anymore. I can’t have Mr. Landry, and whoever he drums up put you out of business for me.”

“He is angry, Alora. You made a mistake, and it was an accident. You did your time, and you’re a good person who deserves a second chance.” He walked toward me, but I took a step back. If he hugged me or touched me, I was going to lose it completely, and no matter what he said, he was wrong.

“Do I, though? Look, I love working here, but it would crush me if being here hurt anyone else. You, your family, your employees, even your reputation…I just can’t. This was Evie’s favorite place, and I can’t ruin it like I’ve ruined everything else in my life.” I held out my apron. “Thank you for giving me the best day that I’ve had in so long and for making me believe I was worthy of more. Today was like living a dream, and your kindness….” I wiped away the tears. “I’ll never forget it.”

I turned and walked to the back door, too scared that Mr. Landry would be waiting out front for me with a pitchfork.

“Alora, please reconsider.”

Laying my hand on the door, I looked back at the man who, for even a short time, felt like a real father figure, and I shook my head no. “It would kill me to think that I hurt you or your business in any way.”

He crossed his arms. “At least come back, and I can give you the pamphlets for school. You have a real gift, Alora. Don’t let him chase you away from it or your dreams.”

“I was never meant to dream, Mr. Molisano. Thank you for everything. My sister was right. You’re an incredible person.” Before he could say any more, I pushed outside and pulled my hood up even though it was still warm out.

One foot in front of the other, I walked down the alley and then the sidewalk with no real destination as Mr. Landry’s words rattled around my brain like a merry-go-round. Stopping, I looked up and stared at the corner market with a sign for vodka on sale. My demons had taken my hand and led me to the one place I shouldn’t go.

“You should go back to hell and stay there this time.”

“Criminals like her should never get a second chance. She’s a murderer, a murderer.”

Hands shaking, I pulled open the door and stepped inside. Who was I trying to fool, thinking that I could put what happened behind me? It would never be behind me. It would always hang around my neck like a chain, wanting to drag me down. Maybe it was time I just let it.

“What the hell took you so long to get here,” Evie asked as she hopped in the passenger seat, and Tammy got in the back.

I glared at my sister. “I could’ve not come at all,” I growled at her. Evie smirked, and I knew that she was just fucking with me. I glanced at the guys standing around the front yard of the shitty farmhouse. They were all a lot older, like seniors or even college. “How the hell did you end up at a college party?”

“Johnny.” Evie crossed her arms over her chest as I backed out of the long, dark driveway. “He said he wanted to come here. That his brother was having a party and wanted us to come. He didn’t mention that no one else from our grade was invited or that there were only five other girls who were all drinking and playing sex games,” she said, looking down.

Reaching out, I grabbed her arm. “No one hurt you, did they,” I asked and then looked in the rearview mirror at Tammy. “Either of you?” They stayed quiet, so I slammed on the brake. We weren’t going fast on the dirt road, but they both jerked in their seats. “Who the fuck did what to who?”

“No one, okay.” Evie yanked her arm away and looked out the window, but I could see her reflection, and her eyes were filled with tears.

“No, one of you had better start talking right the fuck now.” I hit the lock on the door when she tried the handle and kept hitting it, so she couldn’t get out.

“Fuck you, Lora. I don’t have to say anything,” Evie said.

“Just tell her, Evie,” Tammy said from the back, and that answered who it was.

Evie and I fought all the time, but we always had each other’s back, and seeing the tears rolling down her cheeks had me growling and squeezing the steering wheel. “Just tell me. I love you. You know that.”

“I’m just so stupid. He told me to come and that he liked me, but then he let his brother….” She stopped, and I turned on the light in the car and noticed the mark on her neck. Oh, hell no.

“Did he….” I licked my lips, my throat suddenly dry. “Did he force himself on you? Like…all the way?”

“Yeah, it’s why I made the crack about Sadie. I’m so sorry. We should’ve called as soon as we arrived and realized that we were in over our heads. Please don’t tell Mom.”

I looked into Evie’s eyes, and all the logical parts of my brain stopped working. Slamming the car into reverse, I flew backward up the road while stones peppered the undercarriage.

“What are you doing? Lora, no, please don’t make a scene.”