Page 124 of Muted

“Your mother killed him. It’s not over until I get him back.” For the first time, I hear a hint of emotion cracking through his voice, and I huff out a humorless laugh, then groan again at the pain radiating through my entire abdomen.

Shaking my head tiredly, I blink slowly up at him. “No. She didn’t. She was just fucking him. My father—”

“DON’T CALL HIM THAT!”

“My FATHER was a drug addict. Maybe you should have helped him instead of ignoring his problems. That’s on you, not me.”

Turning my face away, I’m resigned that this is where it’ll end. I don’t care anymore. My family is all gone. My guys—

My brows furrow, confused by that thought. Aunt Elaine and Uncle Ronnie are gone. My father is dead. My mother… dead, I assume. There’s no one left.

Dropping to his knees, his kneecaps hit hard, reverberating through the floor with how hard he falls. He leans over me, planting his hands on either side of my head. “Look at me.”

I turn my head away, staring at the grime crusted along the bottom edging of the lockers. Honest to God, I wasn’t lying. I’m fucking done.

“LOOK AT ME!” he screams, spit hitting the side of my face. I ignore him. His fingers wrap around my jaw and wrench my head toward him in an attempt to make me look at him.

I close my eyes on the vision of his jaw dropping open like he’s going to inhale my soul. Drool leaking from his mouth drops to my face and chest, but I only smile.

The roar that erupts from his chest is frightening and peaceful all at once. My monster can take me. What else is left?

Chapter 35

Curbed

Susu

Wake up.

I’m being rocked. It’s so faint and gentle, but it’s soothing. The low hum of an engine vibrates through my back while the easy sway of the car shifts back and forth, enticing me back into sleep.

Wake up.

Wrinkling my nose at the grating voice, I consider rolling onto my side to wrap my arms around my pillow and sink back into oblivion.

Wake. Up.

Cracking one eye open, I try to look around, but I see nothing. Maybe I didn’t open it wide enough. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I groan and let my head fall to the side, and a soft cry comes out broken from my lips like I haven’t had water in days. Swallowing, the act shoots pins and needles down my throat. Maybe I’m sick.

WAKE. UP.

My eyes shoot open, but I still see nothing. It doesn’t matter though. I dry heave into the dark space as nausea and dizziness overtake me, but nothing comes up. A thump followed by my body becoming airborne startles me, and then another raspy cry when my back hits an uneven bed.

I’m awake… I think.

Blinking, I try to let my eyes adjust to the blackness I’m shrouded in. My mind is jumbled as I try to figure out what the hell happened and where I am.

Monster.

I freeze, memories assaulting me, and I heave my body up, slamming my forehead into something and immediately fall to my back. Crying out loudly, I can’t do anything about the sharp pain in my dry throat as I cradle my head, covering the wound I know I’ve just gained.

Pissed that I keep crying, there’s nothing I can do to stop it this time. This is pure pain, agony searing my head as a trickle of warm blood seeps through my fingers. Keeping one hand pressed against the wound, I try to wipe my eyes clear of the tears.

Are you fucking kidding me? He tied my goddamn hands together! This absolute cunt!

Gritting my teeth against my fury, quickly release the pounding wound on my forehead and scrub at my eyes before putting pressure against the swelling skin again.

I’m still nauseous, but that knock to my head cleared whatever cobwebs were confusing me. Looking around the small space I’m in, I lift my leg, only to find my ankles tied as well.

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