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I didn’t, but I’d learned a long time ago it was better to fake it than to let anyone in on your naivety.
“Yeah.” I stripped out of my clothes and headed toward the bathroom to get ready. “How much do I owe you?”
“We’ve been over this. Nothing. You bring me some of the best stuff. Consider it a thank you.”
I winced. “MJ.”
“I gotta go, Kee. Keep your wits about ya.” The line went dead, and I sighed.
“Fuck, everyone’s just hanging up on me today.” I tossed the phone to the side and hurried up with my shower.
I changed my shirt a few times till I found a good top to go with the jeans and boots I’d picked out. A light dusting of makeup, and I was ready to go. Maybe tonight I’d have fun, remember what most people my age did.
Checking the time, I headed downstairs. The mansion was eerily quiet, but that was becoming an everyday thing for me. It was jarring how I’d gone from a two-bedroom on the wrong side of the tracks to a mansion in one of the richest cities.
“Kee,” mom called out.
I stopped and blew out a breath. We weren’t talking much, and that had everything to do with her avoiding me like the plague. The only time she called for me was when it had something to do with Richard.Think of the devil, and he shall appear.
“Where are you going?” Richard asked as he stepped out in front of me.
To your mother’s grave to piss on it. I held the words back, took a page from Samson, and smiled. “Out with a friend.”
“See, she’s doing great making connections already,” mom said cheerfully.
A little bit too enthusiastic for my taste. She hadn’t cared before. In fact, she’d discouraged me multiple times, reminding me that it was fleeting unless I was willing to give my entire being to someone. I thought that was stupid. There needed to be some of me just for me.
“I’d hope so. I paid a lot of money for her to attend that school,” Richard said.
Mom wore a baby blue fitted floor-length dress. It had spaghetti straps with a white shawl over her shoulders. She wasn’t modest in any way, but it looked like she was using the shall to cover herself up.
I took a step closer, trying to get a better look. Her makeup was thicker than normal, heavy on the left eye, and her lips were drawn on, exaggerating them. My blood boiled with every detail I took in. The slender watch on her wrist did barely anything to cover up the red marks there.
“Mom,” I said through my teeth.
“Kee, we just wanted to make sure you weren’t doing anything reckless. Richard and I have a dinner party to get to.” She smiled like she wasn’t in pain, but I could tell how she fared one leg over the other.
I glared at Richard. “If you’re hurting her—”
“Kee!” Mom wrapped her arm around Richard’s. “Fix your tone when talking to your father.”
She has lost her mind finally.Gone off the deep end. I punched the bridge of my nose, trying my hardest to keep my anger in check. “He isn’t my dad. That man left you and turned you into some pathetic shell.” I ground my teeth. “Fuck, I don’t know who’s worse, you or me.” Holding out that she’d change and that she’d love me how she was supposed to. A dry laugh tumbled free, and I turned away from them both.
She wanted to suffer then fine. I wasn’t about to spend my night saving her when she didn’t want to be saved.
“Keegan,” Richard called out.
I glanced over my shoulder, hating him even more. “What?”
Mom’s eyes widened, and she glanced up at her abusive husband.Fuck.My stomach twisted, and I forced all the pent-up anger down.
“Make sure you aren’t mixing with the wrong people. It goes without saying everything you do in my city will come back to me.”
“Got it. Watch where I pick my nose and wipe my ass. Eyes are everywhere.” I stormed out of the house, unable to stand another second.
I was liable to make matters worse. I climbed behind the wheel of the car Richard had bought me and felt disgusted. Jumping out, I headed toward the gate on foot, phone to my ear.
“Don’t back out on me now, Kee,” Mac said.
