Page 114 of Praying for Thunder

You ready, Hellion?

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Back home, I stormed through the front door, not wanting to speak to anyone, including the Titans all drinking. I was tired, pissed, and ready to become a calculating asshole.

As I tried to get to my room without being fucked with, Onus sang out from the couch, “How was your evening, son.”

I stopped. I faced him. “Fucking shitty. Anything else? I want to go to bed.”

He smiled. “Of course.” The smile disappeared. “Take Tabi with you.”

Not in the mood for his games, I bitched, “What? Why?”

He leaned forward, intimidating. “So that I’m convinced Rya Stannon is old news.”

My lungs froze over. One sharp inhale and they froze over. How did he know?

Tabi left Piercer’s lap and headed for me.

My stomach turned.

Piercer yelled to Onus, “I was fucking that tonight!”

Onus stood and roared, “No!” He pointed to me. “He is!”

Rya…

NINETEEN

HELLION’S TRUTH

Throughout my young life, once I was no longer under the watchful care of Ani and Dio, it is tragic how often time to adjust was stolen from me. Before I had precious seconds to comprehend a situation, I was forced into another. Like now. All I wanted was time, and space for my heart to harden, so I could survive letting Rya go. Instead, I was forced to play Onus’ game.

I’d been such a fool to believe Tabi would be another mother figure created by Onus. Now her short blonde hair and little body made perfect sense.

He was trying to replace Rya.

As I entered my dark bedroom with Tabi, I told myself that it would be like at the bike rally—pretend sex. But I was no longer in the presence of Diesel and Dio while my life became enriched with revealed secrets. No. Now I was back in Onus’ hands. A terrible place to be.

“I’m so sorry,” Tabi whispered.

Leaning down so she could hear my own whisper, I felt relief. “You don’t want to do this either?”

Borderline in tears, she shook her head. “No.”

More relief had me sighing. “Don’t worry, we will just tell them we had sex.”

Her head shaking intensified. “Won’t work. They’re going to check me.”

I was so young and naïve. “For what?”

She slammed a hand over her mouth as she burst into tears.

“Hey, hey, hey.” I put my arms around her. “Shhh. It’s okay.” She looked so young and scared.

Rising to her tippytoes, like Rya often did, she whispered in my ear, “For sperm.”

Eww, wow. Would they check for— Oh. The room began to spin. “In your… uh… umm…”