Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
“Proof?”
“Pictures, birth certificates, something. You’re telling me I got a kid, I need evidence before I let myself feel it here.” He hits his chest with his fist.
“This evidence enough?” I ask, pulling up my nightdress to my waist, showing him my lace-clad pussy and the scar only a couple of inches above it. It’s a silver and pink blur now, resting below stripes that wrinkle my otherwise tight skin. Evidence that I was pregnant once and it changed my body.
“I don’t know dick about love,” he reads, his expression intense but vacant, from the tattoo directly above the scar. It sits at the left side in pretty scrawl. “But I know that I love you.”
His eyes find mine and mine fill with tears. I register the look of horror on his face as we share this revealing moment. Our souls collide and burn together, forever changing with the intensity of just our gazes locking. Finally he is learning the truth. “Where’s my kid, Immy?”
“I told you this would haunt you Kane. There’s no going back.”
“Where’s my kid?” His tone is dark and desperate and his breath is faster now, more agitated.
“I don’t know.” I close my eyes and tears spill down my cheeks. “I don’t know.”
“HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW?”
“SHE WAS TAKEN FROM ME!”
He places his hand against the wall for support. “You’re gonna need to start from the beginning.”
“I did try,” I snap, wiping my eyes on the back of my wrist.
“I know.” He rubs his face with his hands, looking ready to vomit. He’s trying to stay calm but I can see his pain and turmoil. “I’m listenin’ now. I’m listenin’ and I ain’t talkin’ unless I have to. There are so many gaps that I need filling but I’m gonna try and be respectful. But if you give me bullshit or you give me an answer I don’t like or believe, I’m fucking done with you Immy. You hear me?”
My body is trembling as I approach the sofa and sit on it. He moves to the window and looks out at the scenery, likely unable to look at me.
“Matthew knew I was pregnant. He was the only one who knew…”
17 years old
“Oh dear Lord, save me from this child.”
“Fuck off, Mee-maw,” Matthew snarls and I hear Officer Barny reading him his rites. What the fuck is going on?
I leap out of bed, tired and dazed and skid into the hall, almost tumbling down the stairs. “What happened?”
My brother has been pinned to the ground with his hands at the base of his spine. His eyes are bloodshot and swollen, his nose is bleeding. He looks awful. He definitely looks high.
“Please Officer Barny, be as discreet as you can.”
“Of course,” the officer tips his hat and smiles sadly at me. “I’m sorry y’all had to see this.”
“What’s going on?” I ask, moving to Mee-maw’s side as my brother thrashes on the ground like a possessed man.
“What do you think?” she replies bitterly. “He’s been poisoning his veins and soul!”
“He assaulted two people tonight, that’s all I can say on the matter,” Officer Barny whistles and another backs up the police car to as close to the house as possible.
“Please tell me Poppy is okay,” I whisper, looking at my brother.
“You know about it?” Barny asks.
I shake my head. “Poppy is his ex, he hasn’t gotten over her. She had her first date with Brandon tonight.” I sneer at my brother, unable to see past this monster that has taken over him. “What did you do to them? Why couldn’t you just leave her alone?”
“Shut up,” he retorts, spit flying from his mouth. “You don’t know shit about anything!”
“They’re both in hospital, I’m sure they’d appreciate a friend visiting tomorrow when they’ve been treated.”
That must mean they’re okay for the most part but it hasn’t exactly stopped my stomach churning with worry.
I turn to the side and vomit, it bubbles up and unleashes before I can stop it. Mee-maw coos and rubs my back. Acting every bit the doting grandmother.
“It’s hard on her, he’s her twin,” I hear her explain. “His behavior has really gotten to her.”
I can’t speak around the powerful force of bile coming from my mouth. Snot and saliva stream from my nose and mouth. I hate this.
“I’m so sorry we had to do this on your property ma’am.”
“Not at all, Barny. I can only apologize for failing to be a good parent to him. He’s always had a demon inside of him this one has.”
“Yeah, well perfect fucking Imogen has a baby in her!” Matthew hisses as he is shoved through the doorway. “So apologize for being a shit parent to both of us. I might do drugs but at least I use a fucking condom.”
My heart shatters and for a moment the pain of his betrayal outweighs the nausea I feel for just long enough for me to gape at him.