Page 135 of Hate So Deep

“No. No!”

He gently pushes me away as I reach for him and sob, “Don’t leave me.”

“Fuck, Lauren. I’m sorry,” he groans, running his hand over his face. “I have to. I’m sorry.”

“No, we can figure this out together. We can,” I gasp, beating the weakened muscle of my heart in my chest.

“Stop,” Dirk growls, grabbing my hand. “Just stop. You’re stronger than this, baby girl. You’re the strongest person I fucking know.”

“I’m not,” I whisper, and he touches my hair.

“Yes, you fucking are.” he says before slamming the door closed and starting the truck.

In a daze, I back away as he reverses out of the driveway, swaying in the bitter cold while he disappears out of sight and never looks back.

Chapter 49

NOW

Lauren

After meeting with the police accompanied by my lawyer, they recorded my statement about what I remember from that night and my suspicions regarding my mother and Buck.

What I didn’t know but helped my case is that the police impounded my mother’s car when they searched the house and ultimately found fibers and blood stains that led back to Aimee’s body in Turner Park.

They also found the missing video footage that my mother erased because nothing truly disappears after it has a digital footprint and the evidence within that alone was damning.

It shows the timeframe in which I left the house and when Buck returned with Aimee in tow, my mother’s vehicle clearly in the background.

Not only that but my brother left the house again an hour before midnight without Aimee.

The police were able to retrace the events using the evidence they found while searching the house to determine that Buck and Aimee probably fought in his room.

Whether it was an accident or on purpose, Aimee ultimately died after a blow to the head from the giant ass bed Mom bought Buck.

Further showing the lengths my mother was willing to go to protect her son, the police also found some of my hair wrapped up in that fucking blue rug, which explains why she had my hairbrush the following day.

The rest is mere speculation, but it makes sense that Buck was sent to retrieve me and when Dirk ended up bringing me home, Buck ran into trouble before he could follow.

The charges against me were dropped and although I’m relieved that my nightmare is over, it’s replaced with a new worry.

No one has explained anything about Dirk’s involvement and while I appreciate that my father wants to protect me, I’m also annoyed.

I need answers and as usual, I’m the only one in the dark and fucking alone.

What’s going to happen to him?

Mindful of his warning, I didn’t ask the police about it, but the lengths Colt was willing to go to maintain his loyalty toDirk leave me drowning in the damn dark when he told me he couldn’t say a damn thing because Dirk asked him not to.

And despite our efforts to create a relationship out of a shitty situation, I’m not ashamed to admit that I told him to fuck off, right along with Dirk.

Thankfully, he didn’t take it personally but I’m a boiling mass of emotions that’s going to overflow if someone doesn’t do something to change this situation.

We decided to skip a funeral for my mother and thankfully my dad agreed to step in at the company.

The days are long and lonely and although my family, those left have rallied around me, it’s hard to let down the wall growing wild around my heart.

It’s been four months since Buck ended up on life support and two since my mom killed herself. I’m trying to find solace in having a family who’s finally accepted me but there are times when I look at my dad and see my mom’s angry countenance, or I find Colt on the phone and wonder if he’s talking to Dirk, who still refuses to speak to me.

---