Page 93 of Hollow Heart

What am I supposed to do?

Let the man treat me like shitin publicwhere people are watching?

I’m not some weak little thing he can just?—”

Once he starts spouting off more words that are incoherent, and that I don’t care for, I sigh and respond, “I got to go, Lou.”

I hang up as the anguish starts to spill over. My sights settle on a bar a few doors over, and I think that maybe a stiff drink will quiet the awful thoughts threatening to infiltrate my sanity.

You are trash.

Sully knows it, Lou knows it, you know it.

I swallow harshly as I try to fight the words, fight the desire to drown myself in the Black Sea, in the bottom of a glass.

I turn the engine on, trying to drown out the impulse, the voices in my head that tell me we can forget about it.

I can call up Jinger and Page Six and forget all about fucking Sullivan Reign and his cruel touch, his loathsomely smutty voice.

The song that comes over my radio pulls me back to the here and now, as Duncan’s deep voice croons about being a loose cannon, and I know exactly what it is I need.

CHAPTER 21

Felix

I knock twicebefore a shirtless Duncan answers the door. My gaze settles on his broad shoulders, the coarse, thick mat of dark brown and gray hair decorating his chest, his chestnut hair and eyes like a beacon in the dark.

“Felix? Is everything?—”

My throat feels tight, as the last several years converge on me all at once like an avalanche.

“No,” I reply, shaking my head. My voice slips, which only happens when I am not in control of who I amsupposedto be.

My vision blurs as I try to fight the tears, but they are stronger than I am.

“No, I’m not okay.”

Duncan’s thick eyebrows knit together as he pulls me into his arms immediately. His hold is tight, strong, and I crumble like a deck of cards.

“It’s okay... Come on in.” His voice stern and authoritative as he leads me into his house. Though there’s an edge to his voice that is different than all the other times he’s been the bearer of hard truths.

I know if there is one person who will be straight with me, who will tell me the truth, no sugar, it’s Duncan.

Duncan shuts the door with one hand, leading me toward the couch.

“Wh—where’s B—Bobby?” I ask through sobs and sniffles.

“Spending the night at a friend’s house, why?”

I sniffle, my voice shaking. “Didn’t want to look a fucking mess in front of your kid. Got... got an image to uphold.”

Duncan sighs and the sound is heavy as he pulls me down to the couch.

“You’re not a mess, Felix.”

“Yes, I am!” I sob like an absolute mess.

Is he fucking blind?

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