Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
The woman leans to the side—wobbles a bit—sees the kids, and holds out her arms. “Jake, Colby, Tanner. I’ve missed you so much. Come give Mommy a hug.”
I feel like I’m stuck watching a very bad movie.
Drake moves to the side to block Crystal’s view, and in a calm, even voice says without taking his eyes off his ex-wife, “Kiera… take the boys to their room.”
My head whips to Kiera, and I’m stunned to see all three kids have already moved to her, hugging onto her legs and waist, looks of fear and confusion on their faces. Not one of them looks like they want to accept Crystal’s request for a hug.
“Come on,” Kiera says, her voice soothing but with some urgency. “Let’s go play some video games.”
Without hesitation, the boys let their aunt lead them away without a backward glance.
Drake’s voice is so razor sharp, I flinch. “Get the fuck off my property.”
I spin back that way, a hulking beast of a man standing in the doorway, blocking entry to his children’s mother.
“I just want to see them for a little bit,” Crystal whines as she sways side to side.
“Jesus Christ, Crystal,” he hisses. “You’re fucking high as a kite. What were you thinking coming here?”
“I just wanted—”
“You don’t get to just want anything,” Drake snarls, and it’s pure hatred I hear in his voice. “I’ve been trying to contact you for months to figure out where you were. The boys wanted to see you. And then, after months, they stopped asking. I left word with your attorney, your family, that I was moving to Pittsburgh, and still nothing. And now you show up on my doorstep, high on God knows what, and you think I’m going to let you within ten feet of those kids?”
“I’m entitled—”
“You’re entitled to nothing, you crazy bitch,” he hisses, and my blood turns cold at the malice. And yet, I can’t blame him one bit. “You get off my property and do not come back. If you do, I’m getting a restraining order. If you want to have any type of relationship with your kids, you have to get clean, and then it can only be preapproved and supervised. Those are the terms, and you know it.”
“I’ve tried,” she says as she starts to cry. “It’s so hard.”
I can’t see his face, but I can hear the clench of his teeth as his words squeeze out. “You’ve never tried, and now your kids don’t need you anymore.”
“But I need them,” she screams, and it’s such an about-face to her pathetic whining, I involuntarily take a step back. Crystal starts to hit and kick Drake, and my heart breaks as he tries to deflect the blows without causing her any harm.
Finally, he manages to grab her wrist and then steps out onto the porch. He walks her right down the steps and into the middle of the yard with his Thor cape flowing behind him. I step toward the door, curiosity making me continue to bear witness to the horrors of Crystal McGinn.
“You come near me or the kids again, I’ll end you,” Drake says, and for the first time since the woman showed up, I’m actually a little fearful of Drake. They may just be words, but he’s so angry right now, I’m not so sure he wouldn’t kill her to protect his children.
“Hey… what’s going on?” A man steps out of a car parked at the curb, his eyes going to Crystal. “Is everything okay?”
Is that her boyfriend? Does Drake know him?
“I’m calling my attorney,” Crystal hisses.
“I suggest you do it after you leave because if you don’t, I’m calling the cops in about thirty seconds.”
The man scurries forward, apparently not liking the thought of cops arriving and grabs Crystal’s arm. He pulls her across the yard and shoves her in the car, all the while she’s cursing at Drake. It’s horrific to watch and when they pull away, I breathe a sigh of relief.
Drake pivots, storms back across the yard, up the steps, and into the house. He slams the door and marches past me, his face a mask of fury.
I reach out, grabbing his forearm before he hits the hallway. “Drake… what can I do?”
He wheels on me, yanking his arm away. The rage on his face hasn’t lessened, and in fact, it seems as if my words have made him angrier. “You can leave.”
“But—”
“You need to leave. This is a family matter.”
My heart cracks a little, but I understand how awful this is for him. “Okay,” I say softly. “I’ll call you later to check—”
“No,” he growls, shaking his head. “This is none of your business. I just… I need you to leave me alone, okay?”
“Drake,” I whisper, my stomach rolling over the implications. “Once you calm down—”
“It’s over, Brienne.” He steps toward me, but nothing in his posture or tone has softened. I recoil at what looks to be disdain in his expression, and I think it’s for me, not for anything else. “I have don’t have room to care about anyone but my kids. It was stupid to think I did.”