Page 76 of Free to Breathe
“You bitch!” Jack’s harsh breathing echoes in my ears. “What, are you fucking the surgical coordinator now to get your way? Seems to be the only way you get the things you want.”
I can’t speak. Shaking, I put the phone on speaker as I pull my phone out of my pocket. Without saying a word, I choose the first app that has audio recording capabilities. Laying my phone next to the cordless handset on the counter, I say, “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he snarls.
“Actually, I didn’t,” I reply in as calm a voice I can manage, with my heart trying to pound its way out through my ears.
“I should have guessed you were deaf as well as being a fat, stupid skank, Corinna.” Jack’s words would have had the power to gut me even just a few days ago. I was reminded as recently as this weekend that when you’re made up of strength and pride, you attract the same in the people around you.
And you push away the people who have none of it.
“Is there a purpose to this call?” I’m forcing the impression of being bored, although I’m curious to see how far this prick will hang himself.
“The purpose is to tell you you’re a fucking bitch. And I hope you die on that operating table. It’d sure as fuck make my life easier.”
Wow. Even I’m not prepared for the strike of venom from this little snake. I decide to say nothing, and instead, I breathe in gulps of air, struggling for more oxygen.
“He’s a Hunt, for God’s sake. He should be surrounded by the best people in the world. You should be lucky if you’re allowed to clean his cock for money. It’s impossible to believe you’re what he wants. I mean, he can fuck the best there is. What are you? Used. That’s what you are.” A tear falls from my eye that I brush away. “I mean, even your family thought injecting something was better than having you around.”
I’m pissed, so why am I crying? I still don’t say anything but let Jack’s vitriol fly.
“He’s my brother. He’s supposed to take care of me—that’s what family does. They take care of each other. I made sure he had everything he needed. Like Addison. He needed to fuck hard. Does he fuck you hard? Has he fucked your ass the way he did hers?”
My hand comes up to hold in the wail of pain. Its bitter taste is insidiously worming its way into my stomach. I want to wretch.
I won’t give the bastard the satisfaction.
Then I feel arms slide behind me. I start to fight back instinctively. Colby presses me hard against the table, his finger lifting to the center of my lips. He glances down at the recorder. “Keep him talking,” he mouths to me. I nod. He squeezes me before letting me go. Pulling out his phone, his fingers begin flying.
“Every time Colby would come home, he’d come see me, not you. See? That’s what brothers do.” His voice takes on an almost dreamy cast. “He’d tell me about his missions and the women. Want me to tell you about them? How their legs could wrap around his back twice before they stopped? How their breasts were so tight he could fit both of them in his mouth at once. Not at all like your body. I mean, I’ll bet he could get a couple of those women in a pair of your jeans with those overstuffed sausages you stand on all day.”
I try to wipe my eyes surreptitiously, even as Colby tightens his arms around me. We’d talked about our pasts enough to settle them, but having my face shoved in it like this is practically transporting me back to the night I was stuck in the room when he had sex with Addison. Jack plows on.
“Seeing your pain the night I dropped off those letters was almost as big of a high as hearing you tripped and fell the night Colby fucked Addison in college. God, it was delicious to know I helped push you over that edge.” His lips smack. “Hey, since we’re practically family, would you like hearing about the Hunts, knowing you’d never be accepted even now that you’re famous?”
“Considering he doesn’t particularly care since he doesn’t speak to them, I’m not sure I give a shit.” Colby nods approvingly at my response.
“Since they never acknowledge their bastard children, what makes you think they’ll ever accept you? Do you really think you’ll ever see Grandpa Zach walk you down the aisle to his precious grandson? Think Daddy will ever open his arms to accommodate you the way his son did? Maybe if he wants a quick fuck. Grow the hell up, Corinna. The world Colby’s supposed to live in isn’t where happily ever after exists. It’s made up of power, and whoever has all the pieces wins.”
Colby shakes his head in confusion. Neither of us have any idea where this is going.
“At least, that’s what my father told my mother,” Jack says, right before he hangs up the phone.
“What?” I yell at the same time Colby does.
Colby stills. “Did he say what I think he just said?” Colby lifts tortured eyes to me.
I cup Colby’s face and hold on. “Just breathe.”
“Cori, what if he’s not just yanking my chain? What if he’s…”
I finish the thought for him. “Telling the truth?” He nods wearily. “I don’t know. Is there any chance he could be…?” I can’t say the words.
“I don’t know.” His voice is broken. “But I’ll be damned if I’m not going to find out. I mean, he doesn’t look a damn thing like me. How the hell would I know? It’s not hard for someone who’s obviously gone off their rocker like he has to make a claim like this. When I was living at home we used to… Well, it’s not like it wouldn’t have been hard to find out information about me.” He scrubs his fingers over his head. “Jesus, I’m talking about this like it’s a possibility.”
“Think back, Colby.”
“I’d rather not. I might lose my lunch.” The look of pain on his face physically hurts me.
