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“No,” I crossed my arms over my chest, meeting his glare with my own. “But I’m guessing you’re about to tell me.”
There was a shake of his head. He started to turn away, then thought better of it, turning back to tower over me. “First their mom dies, then your dad is thrown in prison. Now you’re a part of their sick, twisted family. Seems a little convenient, doesn’t it? Tell me, Ryth, are you really that fucking stupid that you’re going to play happy fucking family, or do you not care?” I couldn’t escape his glare. “That’s it, right? You don’t care. Have they fucked you, is that it?”
I flinched, my breath catching in my chest. “That’s none of your goddamn business, and what do you mean it'seems convenient’?”
“You’re a smart girl, Ryth. Why don’t you figure it out?”
“Tell me.” I lunged, grabbing his arm, pulling him toward me as that savage side came roaring to the surface. “Tell me what you mean, Gio, or I’ll—”
He saw me then, saw the real me, the dangerous me. The part of me that was a little too much like my father…and it stung.
He looked at my hold on his arm, but he made no move to wrench away. “I felt sorry for you when you came here, that’s why I volunteered to show you around.” He met my gaze. “I felt sorry for you, being in that house with those fucking assholes. I thought you were different. But you’re not different, are you? You’re no better than them.”
He yanked his arm from my hold, took one last look at me, and said, “Stay the fuck away from me, Ryth. Just stay the fuck away.”
“Gio!” I barked as he strode toward his friends.“Gio! Tell me what you mean!”
My chest ached, like a strap cinched tighter with every step he took from me. I charged forward as they slid from their seats and left, not once looking my way.
I stared at Gio’s shuffling gait as he walked away. My head was spinning, trying to capture the meaning of his words. But they were a jumble, scattered and strange.
Seems a little convenient.
…a little convenient.
…a little…
What did he mean? What did he mean?
I closed my eyes, not even caring I stood in the middle of the grassyarea in front of everyone. Creed’s driving this morning had shaken me. The way he'd acted…the way he'd looked. Now Gio. A wave of nausea rocked me as I turned, gripped my laptop, and strode away.
By the time the bell rang for class, I’d hit the street. I kept walking, leaving the school behind. I needed to think and I couldn’t, not in there, not now.
Cars flew past as I moved, crossing the street, making my way to I didn’t know where. Right then, I didn’t care.
A little convenient.
The words were stuck in my head and I couldn’t get them out, no matter how much I tried.A little convenient…a little convenient…a little—
“Stop,” I pleaded out loud. “Just stop this.”
My steps were automatic, my thoughts stuck in that loop. I grabbed my cell and my finger slid across the screen until I punched in the code to unlock it. But the moment I moved my finger over Nick’s number, I froze. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t call him…
I couldn’t call any of them.
I stopped walking, my heart in my mouth.First their mom dies, then your dad is thrown in prison…
Dad thrown in prison.
No. The reason he was in prison was because of the Rossis. I looked at my screen, but instead of calling my brother to come get me, I pulled up the search and started typing.
I was on the visitor list for the prison. I knew that. Dad had said if I needed to talk, he was only a call away. I entered the number for the prison, waiting for the guard to answer.
“Mitchelton Prison.”
“My name is Ryth Castlemaine and I was wanting to talk to my dad, Jack Castlemaine.”
“Hold.”
