Page 69 of Shattered Echoes

I feel my world crumbling, the betrayal too much to bear. "You son of a bitch," I whisper, my voice raw with pain.

"Look, Antonio, you were always just a stepping stone. Don't take it personally," Ricky says, his tone dismissive.

Motherfucker!

"Don't take it personally?" my voice shaking with fury. "You ruined lives! Cassie's dead because of this!"

"She was on a downward spiral anyway," Ricky says. "I just sped up the process."

No, No, No. How is this the Ricky I knew?

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. "You're a monster," I say, my voice a whisper.

"And you're a washed-up rockstar," Ricky retorts. "So, I guess we're even."

FUCK!

I can't take it anymore. I end the call, throwing the phone onto the passenger seat in disgust. The silence in the car is deafening, my thoughts swirling around in my head.

How could he do this to me?!?

Betrayed by someone I trusted, the pain feels insurmountable. Ricky was more than just a manager; he was someone I believed in, someone who saved me when I was at my lowest. Now, the revelation of his betrayal cuts deeper than any wound.

All this time, I thought it was my fault or Nicole’s slip-up, but it was him. Cassie's dead because of him, and he doesn't even care. How could I have been so blind? Everything I confided in him, every secret, every vulnerability, he used it all for his gain, for some payday.

The realization is a bitter pill to swallow, and the anger within me feels like a raging storm, each wave crashing harder than the last.

The urge to numb the pain becomes overwhelming. I start the car, driven by a need to drown out the tormenting thoughts. The engine roars to life, but I don't have a destination. I just need to drive, to get away from the crushing weight of my thoughts.

As I drive aimlessly, memories of Colette flood my mind once more. I wish I could be with her right now. She’s the only one who seems to know what I need. The only one I can feel safe with.

What would she say if she saw me now?

The darkness threatens to consume me, and I know I need to fight it. But right now, it feels impossible.

I drive, my thoughts a tangled mess of rage and sorrow. I need to find some semblance of peace, of clarity. But as the miles blur together, it feels like I'm running from something I can't escape.

The betrayal, the guilt, the grief—it's all too much. I grip the steering wheel tighter, trying to hold on, but it feels like I'm slipping.

What now?

The question looms large, but all I have is the road ahead, and the hope that somewhere, somehow, I'll find a way through this.

I navigate through the city streets, driving aimlessly, searching for an escape. My hands turn automatically as my thoughts jumble up in my brain.

I can't face this sober.

I make my decision. I need to shut it all off, just for a while. I try to think of my rehab and techniques. I work on staying in control, but it is a losing battle.

I already decided.

I park in a sketchy part of town, the surroundings a stark contrast to my life at Shadow's Bend. The buildings are dilapidated; the streets littered with debris and the occasional shadowy figure. I step out of the car and look around the street. Raven Cove, the sign reads. This place is unfamiliar to me. I should be worried, but that is none of my concern at the moment.

What would Colette, Henry, and Leo think if they saw me now?

The thought of their disappointment gnaws at me, but I push it aside. I walk through the grimy streets, my eyes scanning for a familiar face. I find a dealer standing in a dark alley, his eyes hidden under a hood, his clothes tattered and stained.

“You got a gram?” I ask once I am within earshot.

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