Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 141281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“Bruce, Bruce! Thank God. I just came out here to talk to her and I...I found her like this. She was just sleeping out here with that crap in her lap. When I tried to get a better look and took it, she pushed me. I dropped my mocktail and...and...”
The conniving mega-bitch actually gives me the evil eye for a split second before she’s gasping, covering her face with one hand to hide the fake sobs.
Dad whispers reassuring words I can’t hear—or maybe I just don’t want to—crushing her protectively against his chest.
What is even happening?
I have a pretty good idea, but my brain doesn’t want to believe it.
I listen to her exaggerated blubbering for the next thirty seconds, too shocked to roll my eyes.
“Come on, darling. Let’s go inside and get you cleaned up.” He takes her hand so gently and kisses it like she’s a scared kitten, wiping the drink splatter off her arm with his sleeve. Then he looks at me again with a betrayal I’ve never seen in his eyes. “You, Cordelia, take your plate to the kitchen right now and wait for me in my office. Don’t try to leave. And if you wreck anything else around here, if you damage our home, I won’t be bailing you out next time.”
His words are sheets of ice.
I’m so sick at how cold, how disappointed, how delusional he is that I can’t speak.
They turn sharply and head for the house.
No flipping way.
I take off, jogging after them, feeling several stray glass shards sticking in my shoes. Ugh.
“Dad, no—wait! She’s lying. Do you really think I’d ever...” I swallow, still too bewildered to say it out loud. “That crap is hers. She pulled it out and startled me, and I—I didn’t mean to hit her. She threw her drink at me. I’m not crazy! Dad, she’s nuts. Please, wait! Don’t listen to her.”
Evie makes an exaggerated, broken sound before he can look at me. Her face lifts off his shoulder, and she’s wailing so loud it hurts my ears.
I’m going to vomit.
Dad stops, turns around, and gives me a look like he’s ready to strangle me.
“Cordelia, shut it. Haven’t you done enough to my wife? Or were you just keeping that trash safe for your stepbrother when he comes home?” He shakes his head limply as my mouth falls open. “Jesus Christ. I...I can’t believe you. You’re in no position to judge anyone after today.”
I’m not sure what’s crueler—his words or that arctic gaze that spears through me.
I’m totally paralyzed.
So I stop in my tracks and watch them retreat inside, Evie still clinging to him like a wounded animal, and Dad hypnotized by every wicked word.
The skies have cleared up overhead.
The stars struggle to shine out through the lingering thin clouds and the city’s light pollution.
For once, I know how they feel, struggling through the infinite, empty blackness.
I’m completely alone in my own home.
* * *
Dad doesn’t look at me as he marches past into his office.
He just stops behind his desk and scowls like an inquisitor.
I’ve only seen that look on his face once or twice before, during airline financial stress, and never so furious. Never so personal.
He’s less angry CEO and all scorned father.
My voice feels so small when I find it. “Dad, before you start, I want you to know—”
“No. No more excuses, Cordelia. What you did affects this entire family—and if you were hiding drugs for him, if he put you up to this, I need you to come clean. Right now.”
What?
For a second, I just blink at him because I can’t believe my ears.
“Drugs? Are you out of your effing mind?” I’m yelling. “Seriously? You think Chris is on drugs?”
His face falls.
“I don’t know what the hell to believe. I’m working that out. Regardless, you won’t be seeing any more of Evie’s son. He’s not welcome here while he’s bringing addiction to our doorstep—and with his mother’s demons, too. My God.”
“Her 'demons' are why he’d never touch that crap in his life!” I shout back. “Dad, are you that blind? You really don’t see it...”
“Evie’s tests were clean,” he says sharply, pulling at his collar. “Cameras confirm she hasn’t left the house since rehab without me. She simply couldn’t have smuggled anything in, let alone started using again without someone knowing.”
Jesus.
For the first time, I’m more afraid than I am furious.
I don’t know how she did it, but she did.
She’s working black magic to set me up.
Dad’s mouth is moving, but I’m not listening anymore, too up in my own head to process more grueling accusations and lies he’s fallen for.
I don’t refocus on what he’s saying until he’s in the middle of another lecture.
“...and if he steps foot on my property again, I won’t hesitate to call the police. I’ll have him thrown behind bars in a heartbeat if that’s what it takes to keep him away from you.”