Page 94 of Dmitri

She doesn’t say a word.

Next, Dad turns to me. “Jesus fucking Christ, what the hell happened in here?”

He must be truly blind and stupid if he can’t figure this out. Anger has me grinding my molars. “Look with your goddamn eyes for once.”

Tearing off my shirt, I show him what he’s failed to acknowledge for far too long.

And the worst part is…

My dad’s eyes go wide and all the color drains from his face because he really never saw the signs that I’ve been abused for the better part of ten motherfucking years.

I turn around so he can get a good look at my destroyed back. All the cuts she’s made with knives. All the burn marks. All the scars bruises can’t hide to remind me exactly who and what my mother is.

Mom has never hit me above the neck or below the belt until today. She always aims at the places I can easily cover with clothes.

“You did this to him?” Dad’s voice is dead calm. “Anya. Did you do this to my son?”

Mom shrugs with no remorse. “He’s mine as much as he is yours.”

Dad swipes his mouth with a shaky hand.

Our gazes meet and I hope he sees all the hate I have for him. All the resentment. All the pain. I hope it hurts to know he’s failed me.

And even as I stand raw, exposed, and bleeding from a split skull, I only feel sadness for someone I’m not even related to.Miss Ashley.It’s so surreal, I can’t grasp why I’m focusing on her when I can’t do anything to make her better. Then again, I can’t do anything to make my home life better either. I’m stuck in this Hell until I’m eighteen and can move out.

Then I’ll never look back…

“Come on.” I pull Daelyn up off the bed. “Pack a bag andcome with me.”

“What? No, I…”

“You what? Want to destroy my life? Do it. I’d love to see you try.” I pull out the blade from my back pocket and flip it open. “Go ahead,” I say, handing it to her.

She pales and won’t take my knife. “Dmitri, no.”

“Why not?” I must be certifiable at this point. “Here. I’ll help.” I hold the tip of my knife to my heart, piercing the skin easily. “Just push it.”

I won’t beg her to twist it, too. One can only hope for so much.

“Stop!” she cries. “I’m not going to do this!”

“Why not, Daelyn?”

“Because I don’t want to hurt you!” she screams at me. “And I can’t tell you anything more because I don’t want anyone to fuckingdie, okay?”

She starts hyperventilating and backing away from me, only she can’t get far because the bed is in the way.

Jesus. What am I doing?

Closing the knife, I shove it into her hand and curl her fingers around it. “Then keep it and shove it into the one that’s got power over you.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not that easy.”

“I assure you it is. I’ll do it for you if you just give me his name.”

“It’s more complicated than you think.”

“I can’t help if you won’t tell me more.”

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