Page 46 of Reckless

If it wasn't for his bodyguards following me around, I almost would have thought I imagined the whole thing. Kaleb appearing at my doorway, devouring me on the couch, saving me from my own clumsiness in the bathroom.

If it wasn't for his bodyguards I could pretend it wasn't real. I could pretend I didn't care. That I didn't foolishly miss him.

Fuck I must be crazy to miss the demon that pulled me out of nightmares he created. After all, he was the one who pulled me into dealing with the devil. A deal I thought had expired. I still couldn't believe he had accepted. That he had offered his protection at all. He was like a dial always switching from hot to cold water when it pleased him. He left so fast after coming onto my kitchen floor that I almost thought I had done something wrong. It was like he couldn't get away fast enough and now it's radio silence at his end.

I even tried painting to erase him from my mind but the artist in me has been quiet ever since he stomped out my apartment in those cursed timberlands. Squeezing my mom's hand I distract myself by telling her about my job and my failed attempts at art.

She doesn't reply, just like the nurses predicted she wouldn't. Holding in my sigh of defeat I close my eyes and that's when I notice how quiet it's become. How I can no longer feel my bodyguard's eyes burning a hole in my back.

And then his voice spills into the space, cracking my heart,

“Hello there Rosie darling.” The words crawl up my spine and I think I’m going to be sick. His frame fills the doorway before making his way inside and I squeeze my mom's hand until I feel bone. His smile cracks across his skin from ear to ear and I can't stop the goosebumps from blooming on my skin.

Uncle John sure did love his fucked up version of surprises.

“I met your little idea of muscle outside. Friends of yours?” He asks and I know better than to answer him. Most of Uncle John's questions were rhetorical. And I knew from one too many stung cheeks that answering him when he was in a mood wasn't a good idea. Kaleb's bodyguards didn't stand a chance against the storm that was brewing behind that ringleader's eyes.

“What do you want?” I whisper, my eyes focused on my mom who had fallen asleep only minutes ago.

Excellent timing as always mother.

“She sure does look peaceful when she sleeps doesn't she?” Him talking about her like he had the right to make me want to punch something. The previous anger I thought I had locked away coming out to play. He made anger burst like bubbles in my blood whenever he spoke and I really wish he would just go away. Doesn't the guy ever take a vacation? Because if you asked me he could really use a pina colada and a white sandy beach right about now. The dude needed to chill.

He places a jar of fresh daisies next to my wilted petals and I turn to him with fire in my eyes.

“You know it really shouldn't be this hard for you to give me what I want. I gave you simple instructions, and still, you disappoint me.” He frowns the lines settling into the creases on his forehead. He’s not looking at me, instead, his focus is solely on my mother.

“Maybe you just need the proper motivation.” He reaches his hand out, smoothing my mothers hair out of her face before tucking a strand behind her ear. Memories of how she ended up here flash behind my eyes and I’m left seeing a rainbow of red. His face flashing before my eyes. His hands gripping my mother's arms, hard enough to hurt, and then darkness. Stupid idiotic darkness that swept over me.

Because like the coward I was I had passed out. Fainted. And because of my bodily defect, I had missed the entire sequence of events from that point onward.

But I know it was him. He was the reason she was here. I would stop at nothing until his treacherous lips admitted it. My dad may be gone but I was still paying for his sins. And I had a feeling Uncle John had come to remind me of that very fact.

To make me pay.

“I stopped by your charming apartment today and must say it came as a grave disappointment when I didn't see any new paintings lying about.” He turns to me and I suck in a breath at the pure malice his gaze held.

“After all, we did have a deal. Three precious little paintings from my little artist and in turn I take care of you and your dear mother.” I nearly scoff. Some ideas he had of “taking care of us” we’re nearly drowning in bills, the rent is almost four weeks overdue and we are very much in danger of losing our “charming little apartment” any day now. But the look in his eyes makes me hold my tongue.

“I’m not a patient man, Rosie bug.” My nose scrunches at the nickname and if it's even possible his eyes darken even further at the gesture.

“And unfortunately your time just ran out.” And before I can register what he’s doing he reaches for my mother's heart monitor and rips out the cords. He tears out her IV and blood starts gushing from her hand, staining the white tiled floor, and the sound of screaming fills the air.

Nurse's shoes echo down the hall and I’m stuck staring and watching as Uncle John's pupils become nonexistent and his smile turns into ice. Completely breakable and cold enough to burn. I realize distantly that my throat is on fire and it must be me that's screaming.

“Are you insane!” I yell not even caring if I rip out my vocal cords.

“Consider this your final warning.” He states the smile wiping off his face. “I want what's mine. You have three days.” And just like that, he's gone. His feet storm out the door and I'm left feeling like my chest has been ripped open and it's my heart lying on the ground, staining the tiles red.

No no no this can't be happening.

I chant while proceeding to tear my blonde hair out of my head, watching as my mother's hand continues to gush blood onto the floor. She's awake now but her eyes are still distant and it's clear she has no idea what's going on. I wonder if she feels pain or if the drugs these nurses pump her with is enough to drown out any sensation she could possibly be feeling at the moment.

The nurses rush in in a panic and I watch distantly as they scramble with her machines, my thoughts going a million miles per hour, blurring everything rational and irrational together into a tangled web.

He said I had two weeks! Had it really already been fourteen days since I last saw his disgustingly empty face?

I mentally slap myself until my cheeks turn raw. How could I have been so ignorant, so stupid? A boy's dark smirk flashes across my retinas and I want to curl up and die from the sight. I foolishly thought he could protect us. That he could help. But all that boy’s done is distract me to the point of madness.

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