Page 27 of The Lie
“He owes me rent money. If you give it to me, I’ll give you Roman.”
My fists ball and I grit my teeth, so I don’t say anything to upset him. I know he used to beat Roman. I’m not stupid. But I don’t want him to have a reason to try something on him because of me.
But no way should any child owe rent money. I wouldn’t trust Damon with money; I know where he’s been sticking it. I want to cry, scream, and rip his eyes out. Beat him with the baseball bat I see just inside the door, until he realizes he’s a father and starts acting like one.
Not that there’s any point. He will never be a real father.
I don’t know what he was like before Roman was born. Was he always like this? I can’t see Jeanie ever marrying a man like this. She was sweet and pretty. She must have seen something in him…maybe he was a good man once? But then I think back to the first day I met Roman—his bruises—and I want to strangle him again.
“Roman,” I scream out at the top of my lungs, and the edges of my eyes darken as I keel over at the pain in my ribs.Fuck. Fuck…how could I forget?
“Shit, Lala.” Hunter’s voice is pained as he tries to hold me so I don’t slump to the ground.
“Mila?” I hear the roar of Roman’s voice and a tear pricks my eye. He heard me; he’s coming. I’m going to take him away from here. Away from his father.
“The girl defective or something?”
There’s a thump and a grunt, but before I can see what causes it, Roman’s there, and I try smile up at him. Oh god, Roman.
My tears are now flowing and they both help me to the car. Once I’m back in the front passenger seat, they close the door and I reach for it. Hunter looks down at me and presses the key fob, and I’m trapped. They move around to the other side, and I can see Damon, holding his middle and slumped over in the doorway. Roman must have punched him.
Hunter and Roman are arguing. I can hear their deep voices, but they don’t raise them high enough for me to make out any words.
“Hey,” I call out, and the two of them bend and look in the window at me. The look Roman gives me sends chills down my spine.
I’m not sure if they are good chills or bad ones.
TWELVE
ROMAN
Mila turns to me as I sit in the back seat of Hunter’s Audi. When she opens her mouth, I let out a low warning growl. I’m not ready to talk. She closes it but pins me with her glare. One that tells me she will put up with my shit for now. But soon…she’s going to unleash. She wouldn’t be Mila if she didn’t.
I need time to cool down after they came to my place. Hunter knows how much I hate it; I hate him being near my father. But bringing Mila there? Fuck, what was he thinking? With his dick, obviously. He needs to think with his head and tell her no, be strong about it. Anything could have happened to her.
The trailer park is full of deadbeats, junkies, and I’m sure most of them wouldn’t listen to the word no. Hell, even my own flesh and blood looked at her like she’s some whore, and that angered me in a way I’d never experienced before. At the sound of her screaming my name, I’d never jumped out of bed so fast. And the pained sound she made right after had me seeing red. I thought my father had hurt her; I wanted to kill him in that moment. He’s lucky I only dropped him.
We decided that going to Hunter’s place is the best option. His mom is probably drunk, but she’s a million times better than dealing with my father. Not that I would have let either one of them into my place with my father there.
We drive up the streets of the wealthy side of Ridgecrest, which is right beside Lakeview, just a little cheaper. Hunter’s family is well-off. They have money, but not as much as some of the assholes over in Lakeview with their ridiculous mansions.
Hunter says his house isn’t a mansion, but I call it one. There are six bedrooms, a huge staircase, and marble tiles that run throughout the lower level. They live on all this land and have a pool. But Hunter’s house isn’t a home. It’s cold, to the point it doesn’t feel lived-in. I prefer Jace’s house; it’s warm and inviting. Ella is always cooking amazing meals, always asking me to stay for dinner. That won’t be happening for a long time now. I’m done with Jace. I hate who he’s become.
Hunter’s mom’s version of cooking is opening takeout containers and saying, “Grab a plate.” It’s not the same. Although, it’s unfair to compare them, considering where I live and that I cook my own food.
When I was younger and I pictured a future for myself, it was always in a house like Jace’s…or Mila’s. Growing up, that’s what I wanted. I told my mom that, one day, we would live next door to Mila. Then Mom died, and I was left with an asshole whose only ambition is to see how many drugs he can take without dying. Days like today, I wish he would just OD and get it over with.
Hunter stops the car; I reach over and grab the food they bought from Annie’s Diner and get out. We all walk in silence to the front door, waiting as Hunter unlocks it.
“Mom, I’m home, and I have visitors.” The sound of his voice echoes off the walls. We stand still for a moment. I strain my ears to hear her reply, but there’s none.
Hunter turns to us and gives us a half smile and shrug. “She must be sleeping. Let’s go eat on the back deck.”
I don’t say anything to that. We both know that it’s more likely that she’s passed out. With as much as she drinks, she blacks out a lot. And since Hunter’s dad is barely around, he has to take care of her. More often than not.
As I follow behind with the food, Mila keeps glancing back at me. Does she think I’m going to run? I would be lying if I said the idea hadn’t crossed my mind. Not because I don’t want to be with her. Hell, I love this girl. If I could keep her as mine forever, I would.
But too much has gone down for it to be a good idea to spend time with Mila and Hunter here. The Amato family found me right after I left the club on Thursday. Fuckers were waiting for me. They cut me off and wanted to have a word with me.
