Page 30 of Falling Too Late

I actually needed something from her this time.

She wasn’t going to live in my nightmares anymore.??

“You fucking lay a hand on her and I’ll—”??

“Do nothing.” I shook my head. “He won’t do anything.” I picked up my book, brushing off the bark. I took a few steps over to her, and like I knew she would, she held her ground. She had no reason to fear me. The only reason I was sure she did fear me was because I could tell someone about what she did to me. “But I,” I lowered my voice, “will make sure you don’t survive the next fire.”

I watched as her eyes went wide, and it sent a thrill through me.

She was finally scared ofmefor once.

She didn’t know if I was bluffing or not, and honestly, I wanted her to think I was the one to start the fire. I wanted her to think that I was capable of killing her.

Because honestly, I thought I could.

The results from the fire inspection seemed to point to the curtains hanging too close to the baseboard heater. The ones Mom had pinned up when we first moved in. Before Dad died.

I could barely remember who she used to be before he passed. I don’t remember her being overly loving or caring. She made sure I ate, had clothes, and got me to school on time. She hadn’t been a bad mom, but she hadn’t been a great one either. Dad had always been the one to play with me and bring treats out. When he got home from a long day at work, he always made sure to read to me and teach me things. He let me hang out with him and included me whenever he could. Mom would be there, too, telling him to be careful with me, or to not let my dress get dirty.

“So, mother dearest,” I made a circle around her, “you have two options: Go to the cops, tell them I started that fire. Or,” I opened the book and pulled out the documents I had gotten from thecourthouse, “you can sign these papers, relinquishing parental rights over me.”

I was tired of worrying about every single time a cop passed us on the road. I was tired of wondering when we would get found out and they would take me back to my mother or put me in some group home. Letting her or someone else figure out a way to sell me to the next person. I did all the research I could into granting guardianship over to Gloria. I just needed my mom to sign these, and then Gloria to sign them. They technically made me a ward of the state, but Gloria would get a stipend to help take care of me, taken out of whatever social security my mom may or may not have.??

“I’m not signing shit.” She spat at me. Alex’s face darkened, hands fisted at his side, and I wiped the spittle off my face, looking at my hand, seeing it glisten.

And then I slapped her.

My hand stung, and it felt good to finally hit back. Her hand went to her cheek, eyebrows raised in shock.

“Oh, you will sign this, because if you don’t. I will go to the hospital; I will ask them to pull my rape kit out, pull out all the photos they took of my body and the report. I will tell them I want it run. You will be put away for sex trafficking, I will figure out what prison you are in, and I will find a way to make sure someone kills you in there. That’s what they do to people like you. They will rape you with every object they can get their hands on and shove it up your cunt and your ass, just like you let Kevin and Lloyd do to me.” I let all the hate and venom I had for her spill out. “Do you remember that last beating you dealt me?” Kevin had shoved his pencil dick in my mouth. We were in the living room and the door wasn’t latched at the top. I just needed to get him down long enough to get out.??

So, I bit down as hard as I could.??

What I hadn’t realized was that she was walking out of her bedroom directly behind me just as I did. She’d kicked me in myribs with her boots three times before I was able to reach the lamp that had fallen over in the mess and hit her with it.

Alex moved directly behind her, startling her with his height. “Sign it,” he hissed in a tone that I was grateful wasn’t directed at me.

I put the papers over the book and handed her the pen I had been holding onto for this moment.

CHAPTER 14

ALEX

“Dude,where the fuck have you been?”

I tensed at Jonathan’s voice. I had managed to avoid him since Wren moved in with us, only chatting with him between classes and not meeting him at our usual spots. Every time he invited me out, I declined. Trading time with him for more time with her.

I had been so consumed with making sure Wren was okay that I honestly hadn’t thought much about Jon.

And after dealing with her mom over the weekend and Amanda’s curiosity, I had no desire to deal with my best friend.

I turned to him and brought my hand up. He clasped it and slapped my back in our usual greeting. “Hey, man. Nothing, just been busy.”

Jon’s face fell. “Did I do something to piss you off?”

The guilt hit me then. Jonathan had been my best friend for years. He had always been there for me, and whenever I needed something, he handled it. There were times when he bought me shoes because mine didn’t fit anymore. Or if he caught me grabbing something out of the lost and found, the next day he would have bought me some new hoodies or jeans.

It was embarrassing, but I appreciated it. I knew he did it because he cared, and he didn’t try to make me feel bad about my situation.

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