“For heaven sake Irene, you want to keep living in the big house and driving the most expensive cars, wearing the latest in designer wear? Well then I have to earn the money for that.”
“Oh bullshit Carter, that’s such bullshit. Have you noticed that our daughter is unhappy and has been for a long time now?”
“The kid is fine, if anything she’s this way because you disappeared inside your head for months and deserted her.”
“That’s low, why are you treating me this way...”
“ENOUGH! Stop this badgering or you’ll not like the consequences. Would you like me to leave you for your desertion, remember what our prenuptial agreement says.
I can divorce you for abandonment and take both kids if you keep this up. I suggest you look after the children and be grateful for the life I’ve afforded you these many years.”
“And don’t forget what it says about you committing adultery. Do you think I’m a fool?”
“You’d have a hard time proving that since it’s all in your head. Now I don’t want to hear another word it’s late and I need to get some sleep.
And in the future if you want to get a man’s attention whining isn’t the way to go about it. Why don’t you take some more of those pills and go to sleep it’s all you’re good for anyway.”
All that was heard after that was mom’s soft weeping and the bed rustling as dad got in.
I stood frozen with tears once again flowing freely down my face, and my mind was made up.
I never would’ve thought of such a thing, but maybe I could use Sian’s disappearance to my advantage.
I felt like I was betraying her with that thought but I was sure if she were here she would agree with me.
My trick now was how to do it. Maybe there was a way; if I could get a hold of my dad’s phone then I could get her out of her house.
Not tonight though, I needed to plan. With my mind set on a course of action I felt better as I went off to bed. I didn’t feel any guilt over what I was planning to do, it had to be done.
Chapter 3
BELLE
Monday Afternoon
School has been almost surreal without Sian here. We’d all spent the weekend since Saturday when she’d been found, at the hospital.
My parents have been very understanding and had even made it to the hospital, not so much to see Sian, since visitation was limited, but to show their support for me, and her family as well. Aren’t they the coolest?
The three of us, Tammy, Cassandra, and I were a little lost, and it was strange to realize that she’d become the center of our little family.
It hurt to think about what had happened to her, what she must’ve felt while being attacked.
I kept wracking my brain to figure out how it could’ve happened, how she could’ve ended up in that alley and nothing was making any sense.
Jared was pissed but trying hard not to show it. The guys, minus Jace still hung with us at lunch that Monday afternoon, but the mood was somber without our king and queen.
I wanted to reach out to Jared, but didn’t know how. None of my quips or funny anecdotes were going to work here. I can’t use my usual mouthy rants to ease the situation.
This was real; someone we knew and loved had been hurt and left for dead. I felt Jared tense next to me two seconds before I heard Mandy’s laugh ring out across the room.
I followed his fuming gaze to where she was sitting and felt the barely leashed temper under the hand that I still held.
When he made to get up from his chair I held on firmly and shook my head at him when he looked at me with all that anger and venom in his eyes.
“Don’t.” He fought an inner battle there at that table surrounded by our friends, who had no clue in that moment what was going on.
I got it; he thought she had something to do with his sister’s near death and I would too, if things lined up that way, but they didn’t.
Everyone had seen her on the bus and no one had seen her get off. I know she’s evil, more so than what we see here in these halls, but as much as I would like it to be her, I can’t see it.
My chair toppled over when I found myself dragged up from it and pulled across the room in the opposite direction from Mandy and her friends, and over to the door.
Kelly tried stopping us by getting in the way and I thought he would run her over. He didn’t stop and if she hadn’t jumped back out of the way he would’ve walked right over her.
It would’ve been funny to see one of the popular ones flat on her ass, but I don’t think he was in a joking mood.
“Jared.”
“Don’t talk.” Oh well excuse the hell out of me. Would you like to tell me where you’re dragging me off to caveman?
Of course I didn’t say anything out loud, I’m not stupid, the boy looked like he was ready to skin somebody alive.
“Oh crap!” that was all I could get past my lungs when I suddenly found myself pushed up against the outside wall and his chest pressed into mine.
The kiss was a mind blowing, toe tingling, hair-raising thing of beauty. I didn’t know what to do so I just followed his lead, and oh what a lead it was.
His tongue played with mine as I held my breath, inhaling everything about him. Trying to implant it all into my memory so that I could take it out later and relive this.
“Nothing smart to say Red?” He held my head back and stared into my wide eyes. Who can talk let alone form a thought? All I could do is shake my head as I watched his head lower to mine for another one of his tongue assaults on my senses.