Page 56 of The Deception You Weave
"Oh… um…"
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you."
"But you said—"
"I know what I said. Now do you want to change or not?"
"Y-yes." Without thinking, I quickly pull the disgusting shirt over my head and throw it to the ground.
"Lucky motherfucker," Reid mutters as I take the hoodie from him.
"What was that?"
"Fuck. N-nothing."
Swiping the fabric I discarded from the ground, he opens the backdoor and throws it in.
"Get the fuck in," he says, glancing into the back seat of the truck.
"Oh… uh… sure."
I scramble in, in two minds as to whether I actually want him to take me away. On one hand, I want to be as far away from this place as possible but on the other, my father is inside and I've no idea if he's going to be able to leave as easily as I seem to be.
The second I'm inside, Reid slams the door closed on me and climbs into the driver's seat.
"What about my dad?" I ask, poking my head between the seats.
My body screams at my sudden movement but I push it aside, my need to know if my dad is going to be safe or not more important.
"Your dad can look after himself, Letty, He's been a part of this life for years, he knows the drill."
"Yeah, about that."
"Letty," he sighs, pulling out of the compound parking lot and turning toward the highway that leads toward Maddison County. "It's not my place to tell you about your dad's life. You should talk to him."
"Well, you're helpful," I huff, sitting back and resting my head against the window. "What time is it?"
"Six a.m."
My eyes feel heavy as I stare out at the passing traffic. The effects of the alcohol I'd consumed before my night turned into a living hell has long worn off. My head throbs but I think that's more to do with the fact that Victor knocked me the fuck out more than anything else.
The longer Reid drives for, the more I feel my body begin to shut down. My need to fight, my adrenaline drains from me and leaves me exhausted and broken. It's not a feeling I'm unfamiliar with, but one I'd quite happily never feel again.
"Here," Reid says, and when I look over, I find he's holding out my purse, shoes, and dress that I abandoned at the party.
"How'd you—"
"How about just a thank you?"
"Thank you," I whisper, taking them off him and placing them on my lap, too exhausted to do anything else with them.
I'm not sure how much longer I last, but eventually, my heavy eyelids flutter closed and the vibrations of the car send me to a much-needed sleep.
11
Kane
Ilay on my bed with Letty's still unopened letter in my hand and staring out the window at the orange glow that's beginning to light up the sky.
