Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“That summer…” I mutter.
“That summer I did take her to rehab. But I also saw an opportunity. Your mother, despite her addictive ways, was a genius and ruthless when it served her own needs. Having her on my side could be beneficial to me. I told her I’d keep her secret if we were to marry.” He chuckles. “I reminded her she had a child to think of. That I could help care for and protect that child. No one had to go to prison. She just needed to be smarter and more careful.”
“You’re a monster,” I snap.
“No, I’m an investor. Not only do I have a beautiful, intelligent wife, but I have one who pays like interest. An annuity if you will.”
“You disgust me. You’ll pay for this.”
“Me? No, Willa, I won’t. The one who’ll pay is your mother. Over the years, I’ve kept everything that could implicate her. As long as she skims and covers her tracks, no one will be the wiser. Meanwhile, I keep several of Leo’s businesses he owns knee-deep in lawsuits with the Parks so that Leo doesn’t know he’s being robbed blind. Everyone wins.” He smirks. “Well, not the Parks or Leo, but that’s neither here nor there.” Darren releases my mother and then walks toward the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to bail my son out of jail. Later, we’ll sort this mess out and finally work together as the family we are. There will be no more dealings with the Parks, nor will there be any altercations between you and Levi.”
He exits the house without looking back, leaving me hollowed out by his words. Mom can’t even look at me. And she shouldn’t. I don’t think she’d like the expression on my face.
“All these years,” I croak out. “You betrayed me. You broke the law. All because you wanted to get high?”
Mom’s head snaps up, eyes bloodshot from tears. “My heart was broken. When your father died, I was destroyed. I did this so I could survive and keep you. I was managing the best way I knew how.”
“Who are you anymore?”
“I’m your mother.” Tears race down her cheeks, but her eyes are glazed over, the Xanax now numbing her to the bone. “I love you.”
“I love you too…”
“But?”
“But I can’t do this anymore. I’m leaving.”
“Where will you go?”
“Anywhere but here.”
Though I don’t divulge my destination, I have no doubts where I will go.
To him.
Always to him.
“Please don’t go. I can still protect you and keep you safe. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I recoil from her disillusioned words. “Safe? I’ve been sexually assaulted under your own roof several times. You didn’t keep me safe, Mom. You moved me in with a monster.”
“Willa, baby…” Her face crumples. “Where will you go? You don’t have anyone but me.”
A burst of anger swells inside me. “I have him. Callum Park. My boyfriend.” Even as the words tumble out of my mouth, I wish I could reel them back in.
Her eyes slightly widen despite the drugs creeping through her system. “That man? Your statistics teacher?”
“I love him,” I tell her, lifting my chin. “I’m going to stay with him and I’m not coming back.”
“But he’s your teacher. How long has this been—”
“Don’t start in on your high horse,” I snap. “You don’t get to take the moral high ground. Not now. Not ever.”
“I should go to the police,” Mom tries, though her voice is weak. “This is disgusting.”
“You stealing from a man who rode horses with me that summer and promised everything was going to be okay when Mommy came back for me is disgusting. It looks like we both have our fair share of shameful secrets.” I shake my head at her. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”
“Willa…”
“Goodbye, Mom. I love you and I really hope you can get the help you need.”
The last tether keeping me in this unhappy life of mine snaps indefinitely. I’m free. Finally free of the guilt and desire to protect my mother. Free to go to him. Free to go home.
Callum
The door from the garage to the house opens and in steps Spencer. His grin is wolfish and knowing. If I weren’t such a mess worrying about Willa, I’d tell him to go the fuck home. But seeing someone who’s recently been with her and knows her well-being, I can’t help but rush over to him.
“How is she?” I demand. “Tell me.”
“Aside from Gemma trying to accost her in the front yard, I think she’s just fine.”
The front yard?
Gemma left a few minutes ago to go home. Spencer must have given Willa a ride over here. I shove past him, storming into the garage. The overhead door is open, revealing the two girls standing in the driveway. Willa has two bags at her feet and a backpack hooked over one shoulder. They both turn their heads as I rush toward them.