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My fingers shook as I made out the words.
Need help.
Please call the cops.
I printed her license plate number in neat, legible letters and numbers underneath my dire plea. Then, I turned to leave with her.
When we were in the parking lot, it hit me.
I was leaving.
For good.
I had nothing on me other than the clothes on my back. I did have some savings, but all my physical belongings were at the Briskens’ house, and there was no way I was going back.
“I guess this is where we say our good-byes and I say thank you.”
Kate had the audacity to smile after that statement, and I wanted to throat-punch her.
“Take care, honey. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” She about-faced and walked toward the car.
And with every step she took away from me, you’d think that relief would flood me. Instead, her words lit me on fire like a house sprinkled with gasoline. My blood began to boil. Then, my arms and legs were on fire, then my hair and my face, and then all of me was freaking. On. Fire.
“Stop!” I ordered, forcing her to turn. My hands fisted at my sides, and I was visibly shaking. “You are never to contact me again. And don’t worry about the Briskens because I won’t be under their employment after today. So, you and me? We’re done. You hear me?”
Her face was hard, like stone, a statue, unmoving. “I was desperate this time.” She said it as though I should understand, as though I should forgive her for everything she’d put Mary, the Briskens, and me through.
I threw up both hands. “You’re desperate all the time. You live in despair and desperation. That’s your middle name.” I took a step forward, meeting green eyes so similar to mine. “You want to live that life? You go ahead. But I’ve lived my whole life trying tonotturn out like you. And I was doing fine until you came along.”
“Becky!” The voice wasn’t my mother’s. It was male and enraged, just like I felt at the moment.
My eyes shot to my left, and I squinted to see someone approaching closer.
No. No. No.
“Stay right there,” Kate shouted. “Don’t you dare come closer.” She had her gun out.
The scene played out in slow motion. The flicker of the lights from the lamppost highlighted the dimly lit parking lot, accenting his approaching figure.
My mother erased the gap between us, standing directly beside me.
She had both hands on the gun.
It was cocked, ready, loaded.
And directly pointed at Charles.
Might as well have been straight at my heart. Because he was my heart. Those girls and Charles owned my heart.
Watching my mother point that gun at him, at my heart, I knew I was done. I wasn’t playing nice anymore. I went apeshit crazy.
Charles
Shit.
This had to be the stupidest move I’d made to date. Coming here and not telling anyone.
I hadn’t known what to expect or what I’d find. The cops were out, looking for Becky, and my brothers were home with the kids. But when I received notification that there was a big withdrawal from the bank, I drove to that location. Then, I had my credit card company notify me when there was another transaction.
