Page 71 of Ruthless God

“What did you find?” my father asks, leaning against the mantelpiece.

I offer him the folder from my seated position, and he flips through it.

“There are pictures of Bailey and Lyrical. He was following both of them. June Jones was her boyfriend.” I look at Lyrical and her face turns pale. “He wanted to kill you for a reason, maybe he thought you knew something about him abusing Bailey.”

“Why didn’t you let me know?” Clemon asks, folding his arms across his chest, watching my arm around Lyrical’s waist.

I always had a lot of respect for my future father-in-law, and he always treated me like I was his son, even when he used to catch me sneaking into Lyrical’s bedroom. He used to tell us to use protection and close the door.

“With all due respect, Lyrical is mine to protect. She’s no longer yours to protect, not since the moment we first met.”

He nods and straightens his spine. “Understood. But anything that goes on with my daughter, I should be the first to know. Are we clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Nora sits next to us, wrapping her arms around her daughter and crying silently. My mother looks so distraught, tears falling down her face.

My father keeps his eyes glued to mine.

“Did you find out something about the car accident? Any proof we were set up?” Lyrical wonders.

I shake my head. “I have a theory, but you’re not going to like it.”

“What is it?”

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and stroke my knuckles across her delicate face. “Maybe you weren’t drugged. Maybe you told yourself you were to cope with your trauma.”

“Bu—”

“I think he’s right, sweetheart,” Clemon says, interrupting me. “I called every precinct in town, and no one pulled you over. There wasn’t any evidence of your tags being ran in the system. It’s okay to admit that you made a mistake. We’re not holding it against you.”

“But… but… I wouldn’t make this up. I wouldn’t lie. I don’t remember taking any drugs before driving.” She sobs uncontrollably, so I pull her head close to my shoulder, stroking her back and squeezing her gently.

My father frowns in disgust, while my mother looks away. Nora strokes her shoulders, soothing her close friend.

“We handled the situation. You went to grief counseling and rehab. We forgave you,” her father states, hugging her tight.

My mother gives her a hug as well, then she keeps her eyes glued to my father who walks out of the living room.

“I lost my first daughter; I don’t want to lose my second daughter,” my mother whispers. “We will get through this. I’ve been taking my antidepressants and working on my depression to help with the grief. We’ll heal in due time.”

Lyrical cries hysterically, shaking her head no. She wanted to believe her story so bad, and it’s okay. I’ve been too hard on her, I realize, and I didn’t take the time to think about how the car accident affected her. I was blinded by rage, because I felt like she took something from me—but not anymore.

I bring her chin to face my way so she has to look at me. “I forgive you, Lyrical. It’s okay.”

Lyrical

Ilie in the tub, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. There wasn’t any evidence I was drugged or proof I was pulled over. Everyone back at Snow’s parents’ house thought I was losing it, except for Snow’s father. He looked at me with disgust and left like his ass was on fire. I’m disgusted with myself too.

All the pain I felt over Bailey’s death comes crashing inside of me.

Rage.

Sorrow.

Guilt.

The fucking guilt.

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