Page 115 of Beautiful Defiance

39

LEIGH

Ishimmy the lock and jack Seven’s truck.

I don’t feel bad at all. Not one bit.

I can’t drive worth a damn. Don’t have my license. My foster family wanted to keep me in line and out of trouble. Well, here is a middle finger to them all.

I careen down the road headed for the sanctuary of my place. As soon as I get there, I’ll smash the remote for the skylight into little bits and pieces, then bury those pieces next to the rose bushes after I yank the roses from the ground with my bare hands. Forget the little thorns.

After what Seven did, I’m numb to feeling anything except for anger.

I hate this town. Regret that I contacted Thomas. Wish to God Alistair never told me the truth of who my real father is.

If he hadn’t, I would be living on my own in a dingy apartment somewhere with a bunch of roommates. Being of legal age, an adult, I can do that. And stuck in that hopeless situation, I would have the motivation to be better, to climb my way out of the hole of poverty and hopelessness for someone in my predicament.

Instead, I got a taste of what money can give me and the type of guy I can be with. Someone who has a future. Who isn’t addicted to drugs or drinking or considers breaking and entering a paying job. I pound on the steering wheel and blink at the tears in my eyes.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid. How could you fall for his dumb words? He only wanted in your pants. Only wanted you to give him oral.”

Except he didn’t just want things from me. Seven gave of himself. Shared with me his dreams and his failures. Dug a hole and planted me roses, for goodness’ sake. Risked life and limb to teach me to drive, a girl who crashed a car on her first time behind the wheel. He’s a good guy.

No matter what I saw, after what he believes his father put his mother through, Seven would never cheat on me. I should go back and get an explanation from him. Should’ve defied and made a stink, demanding to know what he was doing with his tongue shoved down Ginger’s throat. I’d mouth off. I’d defy. I’d pull that bitch’s hair for messing with what’s mine.

I make a wide turn onto the road leading to our houses. Then I see it. Flames shooting from way up past where Seven’s parents’ house is.Sorrow.

I back up and barrel up the street. With one hand on the steering wheel, I reach for my purse. I have to call 911. My hand grazes the empty seat. Crap! I left my purse and cellphone at the dance, and Thomas and Eleanor aren’t home.

I hurry up Seven’s road, and not giving a care that I’ll leave tire marks on the pristine field of cut grass, I step on the gas, hold on to the steering wheel for dear life, and drive across the field and straight up to the back of Sorrow’s house. I shove the driver-side door open, and yelling Sorrow’s name, I hike up my dress and bolt to the front of the house where the door going down to the basement is.

Sorrow stays down there to keep out of her dad’s way. Out of sight, out of mind. He’s a jumpy drunk, but he can also be mean and vindictive. He blames Sorrow for her mother’s suicide, and every chance he gets, he reminds her that his addiction is Sorrow’s fault.

What a bunch of bullshit. Sorrow is the kindest person.

“Sorrow! Sorrow, let me in!” I bang on the door. Last time I was here was for Sorrow’s birthday. She’d answered right away.

There’s none now. Worried, I twist the doorknob and pull. The door doesn’t budge.

I bolt for the front door. The barrel of a gun shoved against the back of my head stops me.

“Get in the house, now.” Sorrow’s dad’s words are slurred, and there is a distinct smell on his breath and his clothes. Alcohol and pot.

“Sorrow—”

“I said get in the house.”

Sorrow’s dad shoves me toward the back of the house. His shoves are forceful, and I fall forward, tripping on the steps of the back deck. He rights me, stopping me from faceplanting. His fingers dig into my arm.

The door opens. Sorrow is on the other side. Her face twists into an expression of terror when she sees me, her dad, and the gun.

“Leigh.” She rushes to me.

Her dad waves his gun. She stops.

“Dad, please, let Leigh go.”

He tightens his hold on my arm. “Did you give my daughter a connection to the outside world?”

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