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“Not help!” Riley presses. “It’s not him!”
“Oh, yeah? Who the hell is it then?”
“I…I don’t know.”
I mumble, into the mouth of the bottle pressed to my lips, “That’s what I thought.”
Scar crosses the room and swats my arm. “Don’t be an ass, Neo.”
My eyebrows lift, humor playing on my lips. “I thought we were beyond name-calling.”
She rolls her eyes as she sits down on the bed with Maddie, ending this conversation before it has a chance to get good.
The effect of all the beer I drank has taken hold, but reality slaps me in the face when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and look around at everyone in the room. “It’s him.”
They all go quiet and I take in a deep breath before answering. “Hey, Dad.”
“Get your ass down here and unlock this fucking door before I break it in.”
“Yes, sir.”
I don’t say anything to anyone before I leave Maddie’s room. With hurried steps, I skate down the hall, then take two steps at a time going down. Somehow, I manage to keep my balance, but when I pull open the front door and see my father, my stomach gets queasy.
With a stern look, he steps around me, followed by another guy, who I take to be his security guard. Before I close the door, I glance outside and see the news crew, along with my father’s publicist, who is giving them a story—or a lie. Whatever appeases them.
Once the door is closed, Dad curls his lip. “If I find out you know where your sister is…” He raises a stiff hand, snarling. “So help me God, you will feel my wrath.”
“How the hell would I know where Maddie is?”
“Don’t you take that tone with me.” He leans close, drawing in short, wispy breaths. “Have you been drinking?”
My shoulders draw back, chin up. “I had a beer.”
Nostrils flared, he squares off. “Your sister is missing and you had a beer?”
“I’m sure she’s fine. Maddie’s a tough girl.”
“Maddie is supposed to be in a coma! She’s anything but fine!”
Scar comes down the steps slowly, but stops before reaching the bottom. I shake my head slowly at her, warning her not to come down. But it’s too late. My father sees her before she has a chance to go back up.
“I’m sorry,” she says softly, “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was just wondering if you’ve talked to my parents.”
“You’re sorry,” my father huffs, turning his full body to face her. Scar backsteps up two stairs. “You know, you should be sorry. If it weren’t for you, none of us would be in this mess.” He turns back to look at me, but I’m too focused on Scar, who looks like she’s on the verge of tears. “I thought I told you to stay away from that snake.”
Scar continues to backstep up the stairs, and her chest rises and falls rapidly.
Once she’s gone, I come to her defense. “Don't call her that!”
“Don’t call her that?” He laughs. “But that’s what she is, Neo. She’s a fucking snake. And let me guess, you let that whore wrap herself around you, didn’t you?”
“Shut the fuck up! I told Scar the truth, so now you have nothing to hang over their heads. How does that make you feel?” I snap, immediately wishing I could take it back.
I’ve never stood up to my father. Not once. And when his open palm slides across my face, leaving a sting I’m all too familiar with, I’m reminded of why I don’t.
But I don’t even flinch. Just hold my arms at my sides, head down.Don’t look him in the eye. It just pisses him off more.
“Congratulations. You just ruined that girl’s life. How does that make you feel?” He tsks, spinning around, unable to look at me because I’m that despicable to him.
