Page 18 of The Devil's Deal

“Think what you want.” An evil chuckle falls out of his wicked mouth. “But I’m not lyin’.”

My chin trembles as I back away slowly, shaking my head as tears continue to fall.

“You’ve only got me now, Chiara,” he snickers while digging into the top drawer of his desk. “Here.”

He reaches out a hand, my phone clutched in his grasp. I go back to retrieve it, even though I don’t want to be anywhere near him.

He’s a liar. I know he is.

He hurt Mom. He had to have.

He’s evil.

A monster.

Yanking the phone from him, I turn, beginning to leave.

“Close the door on your way out,” he demands. “And don’t bother me anymore. You got your answers.”

I rush out, leaving the door the way it is. He can close it himself. He can get mad, do whatever he wants to me. It doesn’t matter anymore.

Reaching my room, I lock the door, panting with a whimper, my pulse hitting me hard with a thick web of agony. I can’t handle this. It’s too much.

A sob tears its way out, and then another, until I’m crumbling against the wall, wailing for her.

Needing her.

Mom.

Come back.

Chapter Seven

Chiara

Two Days Later

Mom is gone,but I’m still here. Dom is gone too. Everyone is gone but me. And I want to be where they are, but I’m not and I can’t be.

It’s been two days since my father’s lie: that my mother abandoned me. Four full days without her. I could barely go to school yesterday. My eyes have been puffy and red since the day I realized I’ll probably never see her again.

All the kids stared at me as I passed the halls. But none have bothered to ask if I’m okay. No one cares. Even the girls who’d be a little friendly with me in class, didn’t bother with me.

I’ve called Mom every hour since I got my phone back, and hers goes to voicemail now. I’ve left so many messages, the robot voice says her voicemail is now full.

And to make things even worse, I don’t know where Dom is either. He didn’t show up at school for a third day now. How could they both abandon me? I’ve called his cell, leaving messages, begging for him to call me, but it’s dead like my mother’s.

I decide to skip school today as soon as I saw he wasn’t here. Our lockers are right next to each other’s, and we always head to class together.

Worrying my father’s goons will spot me while they stalk me at his command, I make my escape from the back of the building and head for the bakery, a quick walk from school. I know that the one place Dom would be is there, and if he isn’t, someone from his family will be.

But as I get there, a chill rolls down my spine.

I’m wrong. So wrong.

My heartbeats echo in my ears while I stare into the dark emptiness, no longer a place filled with so much life.

They’re all gone.

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