Fallout (Crank 3)

What do you know about it?

“Dude, the whole world—well,

a lot of it, anyway—knows

what you did to her that night.

I know because …” The rest

sticks like tar in my throat.

My face is hot and my eyes

sting and oh my God, I will

not cry. Nikki is on her feet.

Montana is too. Brendan just

stares stupidly, waiting for me

to finish. So here goes, “I know

because I’m her son and …”

CAN’T CONFESS EVERYTHING

I just can’t. But I can still

accuse. “She said you raped

her, you son of a bitch.”

My hands clench, but I’m not

going to hit him. Not now.

Not here. Instead I start across

the wide expanse of floor.

I expect Nikki to come, but it

is not her butterfly hand that lights

on my shoulder just as I exit

the big ballroom doors. Hold

on. I think we should talk.

I whip around, dislodging

myself from his grip. Buzz.

“What the fuck do you want?”

People stare. But Brendan