Page 134 of Misted

“He was a good father.” Molly flips to a dreamy, distant tone so different from her rage-filled one. “He was the best father. When your slut mother died of cancer, he came back for Mum and I. We were happy for a few months. True he beat us. True he threw things on us, but we were a happy family.”

Her gaze zeroes in on me with so much hatred, it hurts. I doted on her and protected her like she was my blood sister. “Then he was killed in cold fucking blood.”

“What…?”

“Someone broke into our house!” She shouts, her shoulders tensing as she tugs on Jessica’s hair harder. “Daddy hid me in the wardrobe thinking it was one of his meth providers. It fucking wasn’t! The intruder slit Daddy’s throat open like he was some sacrifice and while Daddy was dying and gurgling on his blood, the murderer said, ‘This is for putting your hands on Mist.’ And then he was out.”

My lips part. Shit. Molly watched Hawk kill her father because of me.

That was both Hawk and mine’s original sin. Me for telling him about my mother’s boyfriend. And him for taking his life like he had every right to.

I open my mouth to say something, I don’t know what, but I want to talk to Molly. She cuts me off with tears in her eyes. “When Mum heard the news, she rushed home and died in an accident on the way. I told the police about the murderer who’s no older than a teenager but kills without second thoughts. But guess what, Misty? The police officer I told my story was under Hades’ control.”

Wait. Molly was taken to The Pit a few years before my tragedy with Hawk. I didn’t know he killed Scott at that time, but if he did right after I told him about it, then it’s no coincidence that Molly — Scott’s daughter — joined The Pit right after.

“Hawk was already becoming Hades’ ace sniper,” Molly continues in a deceptively calm tone. “I was a rock in his shoes. An insignificant nobody. Do you know what happens to an orphan seven-year-old girl who goes against Hades? She gets kidnapped into The Pit to keep her little mouth shut.”

“Molly…” My heart breaks for the child version of her.

“I didn’t mind.” She nods as if to herself. “It was my chance to take revenge. I gotta admit, getting close to Hawk was impossible. He’s kind of a scary arsehole who shuts everyone out. But you were so fucking inviting, it was a piece of cake. God. You really believed I was weak and took pity on me, trained me, and thought yourself my fucking benefactor. And that’s what ruined you.”

“What are you talking about, Molly?” I don’t like where this is going.

“You know, Mama taught me to be patient. When Daddy kicked and beat us, all I had to do was wait for it to eventually go away. It’s true that I wanted revenge against you, but I knew I was weak compared to your Omega shit. I was patient. Sooo very patient. I watched over the years, noticing how you and Hawk were each other’s world. To ruin you, I had to take away the one thing you cared about the most: your disgusting little world.”

She grins, caressing Jessica’s hair like she’s a pet. “I always followed you out on your missions and stayed in the room beside yours. Those motels have the thinnest walls. I heard you fucking and talking about a future – disgusting by the way. When I found out you were pregnant and planned to run away, I finally made my move.”

“No… no…” My legs begin shaking and my fists clench by my side.

“Yes.” Her smile widens. “I saw how much Nero lusted after you so I sent him to your room. I knew either you or Hawk would kill him and escape, so I told the guards about a suspected escape plot and they caught you. Knowing Hades is so strict about any escape attempts, especially from his precious Zeroes, I knew he wouldn’t let you go unscathed. You lost the baby – and every baby. Hawk thought you betrayed him and it was all fucking over.”

Malice and pure sadism mar her wide grin. “There’s nothing more fulfilling than watching Hawk’s love for you turn into hate while you cried to sleep every night. Aaah good times.”

I charge at her with bare hands.

She caused my child’s death. She killed the life and dream I protected with everything in my might.

Molly digs her gun into Jessica’s forehead. “If you don’t want the bitch’s brains all over the floor…”

It’s with a miracle that I stop. My chest is heaving and my hands are balled into fists.

I’m going to kill her.

I’m going to fucking murder her and every bond I thought I had with her.

“Then, well, I blackmailed you all these years.” She sighs. “I enjoyed seeing you in pain and trying to be so fucking strong and almighty, but you allowed yourself a weakness in Hawk and these bitches.” She shakes Jessica by the hair. “You allowed me to destroy you so you can only blame yourself.”

“You want to kill me, is that it?” I grit out. “Let Jessica go and we’ll deal with this one on one.”

Molly laughs long and loud. “Kill you? No. I want to ruin you. I want to see you weeping blood and tears and wishing you were dead, Misty. Just like I did in that wardrobe while Daddy’s throat was slit open.”

“Why now? Why not all those years before?”

“You dared force my hand by removing the tracker. Aaand you didn’t listen when I told you to stay the fuck away from Hawk. You don’t get your happily ever after. Nuh-uh. Both of you need to die alone and miserable.” She cocks her gun at Jessica. “Let’s start with your precious bitches.”

It’s now or never.

I stare at Jessica then nod down so she’d lower her head. She does and in a split second, I reach into my waist, retrieve the knife and throw it at Molly’s hand that’s holding the gun.

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