Chapter Twelve
Alex
Watching Tommy walk away feels strange. Even stranger is when Tabitha takes his place beside me, nudging me with her elbow. “What? You fucking all of them or something?”
I squint at her. “What’s it to you?”
“You’re marrying Parker. Why would you fuck all of them?”
I play with the hem of my dress, wondering how much she saw, how much she might have heard. Did she notice my confessions to Tomas? Is she going to tell on me to earn favor with Parker again?
A nonchalant shrug and a step toward the dried riverbed are all I can manage as a response. “I’m doing what I need to do. Isn’t that what anyone in my position would choose?”
“It should be me marrying Parker.”
“And how do you suppose that?”
She snorts. “Because I was made to handle him.”
“Is that what you tell yourself while you suck John Trotter’s cock?”
“You’re nothing to him except another chess piece.”
It doesn’t take a genius to see that. Either she’s drunk out of her mind, jealous, or both. She’s not telling me anything useful right now.
But maybe she can. “What else do you know about my father’s murder?”
“What?”
I turn around and cross my arms over my chest. Unlike her, I’ve gone easy on the booze tonight. I have my wits about me.
She doesn’t. “Tell me what you know about my father’s execution.”
“I don’t know shit about that.”
“You knew exactly how he was killed. I’d say that’s more than anyone.”
She rolls her eyes, places the bottle to her lips, and takes a quick sip. I half expect her to extend it to me, but she doesn’t. I don’t know why I expected it at all. I think some part of me is hoping there’s something redeemable about Tabitha. After all, we’re both in precarious positions. We’re both fighting to survive. Getting pushed to the edges together should make us allies, not enemies.
But she insists on being a huge bitch.
“He’s mistreated you too,” I point out. “Don’t you feel the least bit embarrassed by the way he’s acted with you?”
“He’s everything to me,” she retorts angrily, spittle flying from her lips. “He means more to me than he does to you. How much do you actually care about him?”
Not much. “You’re deflecting. You know something.”
“You’re the one who started it.”
“Then I’ll fucking end it. I know your father had something to do with it, so spill.”
She puffs her lips, blows a raspberry, and turns away, eyes draining of strength. “My father knows some stuff, but he wasn’t involved. What else do you want me to say?”
“Just tell me the truth.”
“That’s all I know. I swear, Alex.”
It takes me a moment, but I hum with approval and nod. “You better keep your mouth shut.”