Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Shut the fuck up and do not look at her.”
“You have a temper.” He snickers.
“You’re one to speak,” Molly jumps in.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Why don’t you show us in, and I’ll let you know.”
My uncle pushes the door wider and lets us through.
The small room, which is the living room, smells like an ashtray. The smoke from that last lit cigarette still clogs the air. There’s also the faint smell of weed. I look around, clocking a half-empty bottle of vodka.
Drunk and high, today should be fun.
“You here to pay?” He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Actually, I’m not.”
“Oh, you’re not?” He turns to Molly. “Did he tell you what he did? You both will have no place to live when I’m done with you. Actually, this one will. Jail.”
“I don’t think so, dickhead.”
“Yeah, you don’t think? What will your precious coach think when I tell him? Here’s the deal; you pay me twenty grand, or I will go to the press with every sordid detail of your life. I will ruin you unless you pay me.”
“I think you’ve got shit. You have nothing. And I called around. Your source? The bet . . . yeah, you don’t have that source. Nick’s gone. No one’s seen him, and seeing as that’s all hearsay, I don’t think anything’s going to happen to me, so why don’t you fuck off with your threats?”
“Threats? You think this is just a threat?”
“No, I think it’s blackmail. Which is highly illegal, and my sister here, she heard you—” I incline my head. “So this is how it’s going to be. You’re going to leave me and my family alone. And I’m going to live my best fucking life.”
Molly steps forward, manila folder in her hand. I shake my head at her. I don’t want her hands dirty; I never did. I wanted her here for support. I’d never let her put herself at risk. Whatever picture she has of the bruise he left on her, that’s her story, and if she chooses to do something with it, I’ll support her, but I won’t let her dredge up the past for me.
She nods. She knows me well enough to know, but she does lift her phone. Then she presses the button.
On video is my uncle, clear as day, from thirty seconds ago, and all that’s recorded is the blatant blackmail.
She smiles as we all listen. “Don’t get any big ideas. I’ve already emailed it to my Dropbox.”
“You bitch.”
I take a step forward, towering over my uncle. “And you’re a fucking loser. Stay out of my life. Anything I have ever done in my life was to protect my sister. I wouldn’t change one minute of my life because when I look at her, I know it was all worth it to see the woman she’s become.”
Molly turns toward me and places her hand on my sleeve. “Let’s go, Dane. He’s no longer important.”
“I don’t think so. You don’t get to win, not again.”
“Yet you’ve never understood. It’s not about winning; it’s about love and family, and you have none. I wasn’t going to do this, but just know you have skeletons in your closet, and we own them.”
My uncle’s brows pinch in, and he looks at Molly and then at me.
“My sister is resourceful when she needs to be. Don’t test her or me. You understand?”
We don’t wait for him to respond.
Once in the car, Molly turns to me. “Why didn’t you let me use the evidence from when he hurt me?”
“Because that’s your story, Molly, and only you get to decide if you tell it. I’ll never make you do something you don’t want to do or are not ready to do. When the time comes, and you’re ready, I’ll be here to support you, and if not, I’ll still be here.”
“Thanks, Dane.”
“Anytime, Mol.”
“Now, let’s get you home to your girl.” We both laugh before driving off into the future and closing the door on the past once and for all.
80
DANE
Hudson: Daney boy have you been holding out on us?
Dane: I have no idea what you’re talking about. And I don’t want to know.
Hudson: My sources tell me you and coach daughter are an item.
Dane: Your sources are still searching for their two brain cells to rub together.
Hudson: Awkward. My source is your sister.
Mason: Backs out of the room slowly.
Aiden: Happy for you man. Josie is the real deal.
Dane: Thanks.
Hudson: Is it just me or has Aiden become a real sap since Cassidy and him got together?
81
JOSIE
“We need to go to your dad.”
“Do we really?” It’s all I’ve wanted for so long . . . then why am I so nervous? Because the truth is, I have no idea how my father will react. Even though Dane thinks of me as a hellfire, I’m really not. Just for him.