When we arrive home, my father is standing on the lawn, his hands on his hips. He usually doesn’t spend his weekends around the house. He finds any excuse to stay away from home. The rumor flying around the neighborhood is that he was seen with a woman in town. It’s no surprise, though. The thought of my father having an affair has crossed my mind in the past. I don’t even care. He can do whatever the hell he wants.
Maggie doesn’t even justify his presence with a greeting or a look. She mumbles a goodbye to me, and strides toward the door of her house.
I don’t bother greeting my father either. As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist, even though he makes sure I know he does by his mere presence.
“I hear you went to visit him.” His voice is casual, but it doesn’t hide the underlying threat.
I stop and finally face him, feeling hate pour through my pores. “You put him there. But you will never take away what he and I have,” I say calmly, which surprises me given the hate I have for this man.
I walk away, feeling defeated instead of victorious for standing up to him. I still can’t believe that Cole banned me from going to see him.
I feel my dad’s foot falls thudding behind me so I hasten mine, eager to get away from him as fast as I can.
“Is that what you think, huh? That I can’t take him away from you?” His voice is still calm, cold. Taunting.
I whip around to face him, preparing my words for my last blow, then freeze as I watch him looking at me with narrowed calculating eyes.
“I put him where he is. I have the power to end his existence.”
Blood roars in my ears. Oh God, please don’t let him do this to Cole.
“Didn’t he tell you what happened? Or was he too much of a coward to admit that I am winning?”
What the hell is he talking about?
“Be careful, daughter. That boy’s life is in my hands right now. I say he jumps, and he fucking does.”
Blood drains from my face and pieces of what might have happened to Cole start to click in my head. “Oh, God. What did you do? Did you hurt him?”
He suddenly grins wide, triumph filling his features. “Atta girl. You’re getting it now.”
“Cole has never done anything to hurt you. Is it because he reminds you of your brother? Or did your father brainwash you, so you can’t see anything beyond hate?”
His gaze flickers to the Holloway house, softening a little and lingers for a few seconds. When he swings back to face me, his face is calculating. Hard.
He swivels around and stalks out the front door. I rush upstairs, the impact of his words swirling in my gut.
I can’t get enough air into my lungs. My thoughts run wild inside my head. Surely, he will have Cole killed in the name of revenge. He must have paid someone to hurt Cole. Maybe Mr. Taylor could really help him. Protect him.
But how? What happens when those officers don’t do their job? Maybe they are the same people who beat up my boyfriend.
When I get to the bathroom, I drop in front of the toilet and finally vomit, tears running down my cheeks.
For the first time in a long time, I feel truly hopeless and helpless.
“YOU’RE A JERK, COLE. A big one. I can’t believe you had Nor’s name taken off the visitor list.” Megs glares at me.
“That’s tough shit, man. Do you have any idea what the girl is going through?” Simon speaks the words for Megs’ benefit. He shakes his head.
I clench my jaw. Flex my hands to loosen the pain lodged in there as a result of a fight that happened three days ago between me and The Behemoth. A tall Hispanic guy with three missing front teeth and a Bronx accent. The last words he spat out before landing a blow in my gut were, “A gift from Stephen.”
I rub the right side of my jaw and flinch as my fingers move over the huge bump there. “Do you think I enjoyed telling her not to come back? You think I enjoyed watching her stricken face when she saw me limping toward her? As much as I hate her father, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that he was the one who was paying people to take care of The Freak. She already blames herself for what happened. I’m locked in here like a caged animal. I can’t bear to see the look of pity on her face.”
Megs throws her hands up in frustration. “Pity? That girl has never looked at you with anything less than adoration.”