“What in the shit? My dad’s here, and so are your parents. Shh.”
He places his finger over his mouth to tell me to be quiet when he gently opens the door. We make our way onto the porch without anyone noticing us. Manny tucks his gun into the back of his pants. We stand there listening to them talk about Kryder and whether or not he has been found.
Manny and I exchange a knowing glance. This is the best news we’ve heard all day. That is, until I hear Cain start to yell when my dad drags a man out of the back of the car. A man Cain punches and manhandles. A man now on the ground begging for his life.
And then I hear a name. Every time I hear that name, think about that name, I see red—the bright color of blood. Heated waves of violence take over my body.
Emerald.
I move, my flip-flops slapping against the gravel roughly. I move until I’m standing next to Cain. Everyone’s eyes are on me. Watching, waiting to see what I will do.
I bend down to eye level with this scum of a man.
“You know what? I don’t think you’ll be around to see what I’m going to do to your daughter,” I hiss. “I do believe my father has plans for you.”
“Fuck you, you little bitch. None of this would even be happening if it wasn’t for you. You all have to find her first, and my little girl has been fucking all of you over left and right for years. Right under your noses. And all the while fucking your man,” he sneers at me.
“Watch it, fuckwad. That’s my daughter you’re talking to. I’d hate to blow your brains out right here.”
“That’s okay, Dad. I can handle it. You see, I get why you’re trying to save your daughter’s life. I really do. You love her, just like any parent should love their child. Just like my dad loves me.”
I lift my gaze from this piece of shit and give my dad a loving look. His eyes turn soft and he nods in understanding. Yet I see a warning look in there, too. One that’s telling me to say what I have to say and be done with it.
“But the thing is... and I would listen very closely if I were you... my father’s love outweighs the love you must have for your daughter. My father will always protect me, just like you’re trying to do for your daughter now. But the difference between you and my dad is, he never loses. Your daughter, on the other hand, lied, deceived, and obviously helped a man who wanted me dead. That doesn’t sit well with me and my family. So while my dad is doing his thing to you, I want you to be thinking about the fact that I’ll be doing the exact same thing to your daughter. Your daughter who was fucking my man, along with many others, I’m sure.”
Then I stand. I’ve wasted enough words on this man.
“You’ll rot in hell, bitch!”
“Probably. But just like my husband said... you and your daughter will beat me there first.”
***
“Please tell me you didn’t grow a pair of balls. I love your * way too much, baby,” Cain rasps in my ear.
“Very funny,” I retort.
We all stood there watching as my dad bore his fist into Monty’s face, finally shutting him up, before shoving him into his car and taking off with another man in the passenger seat to places I don’t even want to think about.
“I don’t know what came over me. I’m shaking so bad. I would never kill her, you all know that, right?”
I tear myself free from Cain and hurl myself into my mom’s arms.
“Oh, God. What have I done? Dad is going to kill them all.”
“Shh. You have done nothing, honey. They did. You only stood up for yourself and for this family.” Her arms feel so comforting around me. It doesn’t matter how old you are, to be encircled in your mother’s arms is one of the best feelings in the world.