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“Crazy? Psychotic? An ass hole? There are so many options, mom. However, you choose.”
“Kee!”
Her high-pitched voice dug under my skin. I wanted nothing more than to scratch at my flesh.
“Don’t work yourself up, darling. She is in her rebellious stage, is all,” Richard said.
My left eye twitched. There were so many things I wanted to say, but nothing broke free. My mind was a landfill, and it was impossible to know what would spill out.
“You will take the car. After all, it’s a belated birthday gift from your mother and me,” Richard said.
My back stiffened as knots formed in the pit of my stomach. I tried to fight it, but my gaze dropped to my mother, and I regretted it instantly. Surprise crossed her perfectly made-up face before she hid it away.
Why am I even surprised?Mom hadn’t remembered my birthday since dad was in the picture.
“Keegan, we apologize for being away on your birthday. Isn’t that right, honey?” Richard said.
I didn’t bother looking at my mother as she agreed. It would only hurt more.Fuck, I thought I was over this?
“Now that this is settled, you can take the car up to school today.”
“What? Why? School doesn’t start till next week.”
“Mr. Quell, you’re going to be late for your meeting with the chief of police,” Richard’s secretary said.
Her name was Jessica or Jenny. It was something with a J. She rarely came around, but I’d tried to ensure I at least memorized everyone’s faces who came in and out of the house.
I wasn’t buying Richard’s nice guy act. It only took one slap for me to see who the man really was. Since then, he hadn’t done anything to mom. Not that I could see. Step one to getting out of there and starting my new life. I needed to ensure I knew my enemy and others who might pose a threat.
I was ignored, and there was no point in asking mom, not that I even wanted to look her way. I snatched up the key and left the kitchen. “Might as well see what he got me.”
Accepting this gift would bite me back in the ass, but Richard had blindsided me with the whole birthday thing. Shit, I was getting sloppy. I walked to the French double doors and opened them, only to stop dead in my tracks.
I had no idea what I’d been expecting, but a mustang Mach E wasn’t it. Not only that, it was in my favorite color. I hit the unlock button just to make sure it was, in fact, my car. The lights flashed with a beep that echoed throughout my body.
I ran over to the car running the tips of my fingers over the sleek lilac paint. I should be questioning everything about the car and why it was there but fuck it. Opening the door, I felt my breath catch in my throat.
“Fuck me,” I groaned.
The interior was all black with lilac-colored stitching. It far surpassed anything my imagination could have mustered up. Hitting another button on the key fob, the car started. The beautiful sound of the engine coming to life pulled another groan from me.
I couldn’t hold back much longer. I didn’t even bother looking around as I climbed into the car. The seats felt as smooth as warm butter against my skin. Accepting the gift was a bad idea. However, now that I was in the car, I didn’t see a clear reason why I had to give it up.
The open road was calling my name as I sat behind the wheel. “Fuck it.”
I slammed the door shut and took off toward the gate. I slowed down as I approached it, rolling down my window as a guard moved toward the car.
“Heading to school, Ms. Keegan?”
I ground my teeth to the point my jaw began to ache. “Sure.”
“Be safe. Would you like a guard with you?”
“No.” I rolled the window up before I said something stupid and ended up back at the main house.
The gates opened, and I was out of there. I knew I couldn’t run away, no matter how appealing the thought was. There were things I needed to do. As much as my mother made me upset, I couldn’t leave her behind. Not when I knew the mess she could become at any moment.
I pushed all thoughts out of my head and enjoyed my drive, my small drop of freedom. Until I reached the school.
