The common denominator is alwaysme.
I ruined her life.
And I did it all by just existing.
My back aches so badly I’m literally limping back to my motel room. It’s the cheapest place I could find that doesn’t require an ID and takes cash upfront.
The con?
I’m burning through my limited savings faster than I can count. And I’m so fucking tired. With my luck, every single one of my real jobs dropped me within the span of three months.So now, I’m working anything I can find. A night shift as a dishwasher in some sketchy restaurant downtown, and during the day, an office cleaning job—a low-paying gig my friend managed to scramble together for me.
I drag my feet down the motel hallway, ignoring the other patrons who are clearly deep into criminal activity. But I had absolutely no choice but this place.
The only credit card in my purse is the one Graham gave me, and I know the second I use it, he’ll know exactly where I am. He’ll find me within minutes and drag me back to his mansion by the hair.
I took away his favorite plaything.
And a man like Graham doesn’t tolerate that.
The first thing I do when I slide into the room is lock the three deadbolts I bought so I can sleep. Then I strip off my filthy clothes and head straight for the moldy shower stall to wash the scent of vinegar and cheap dish soap from my skin.
Under the freezing water—because apparently the hot water tank already ran out for the night—I finally let myself cry.
What the fuck am I going to do?
I can’t afford to stay here forever, and I definitely can’t afford rent anywhere in the city.
I’m staring down the very real possibility of going completely homeless.
The motel walls are paper-thin. I can hear muffled grunts and laughter from the criminals next door, so I slam my knuckles into my mouth and bite down hard on my skin to keep myself quiet.
If they sense I’m this vulnerable, I’m going to be eaten alive before sunrise.
The ugly voice in my head whispers in Valeria’s tone.
“You killed our mother.”
I did.
My first breath took hers.
“You brought a monster into the one place I was supposed to be safe.”
I did.
But I swear on my life I didn’t know. I had no idea. Back then, she told me she had slept with Nile willingly. She bragged about it. If I had known what he really did to her, I would have killed him myself. But the truth isn’t enough to save me.
It’s stillmyfault.
Allmyfucking fault.
“Our father ran away because of you.”
I wish I had never been born.
Valeria could have lived a normal, beautiful life without me.
I’m a parasite.
