Page 59 of Shattered Union

“But he’s married,” I remind her. It’s the big motherfucking elephant in the room.

She tuts. “Not for much longer. Girl. You are not stupid. You know who he is. What he is. If this was any of your uncles and they found out the woman they loved was beaten. What would they do?”

They’d kill her. No questions asked. They wouldn’t even hesitate in doing so. It’s their way of life.

“Exactly,” she says when I don’t answer. “The way Denis feels about you, do you really think he’ll do anything else?”

“What about the kids?” The thought of them losing their mam makes my heart ache for them. I couldn’t imagine if it were to happen to me. I’d be a wreck. While I’m a daddy’s girl, I love my mam.

“It’s a shit thing to say, but from what I know about that bitch, those poor kids would be better off without her.” There’s no emotion in Ava’s voice.

I remember what Chloe told us about her mam and what she’d say and do to her. Then I think about what Denis has told me about her, how she’s blackmailing him, using her son as a bargaining chip.

“I don’t get it,” I tell her. “How can you be so evil towards your own children?”

It makes my stomach churn at the thought of anyone doing something so horrid to my children when they’re born.

“Some people are born like that, hun,” she says softly. “When the wicked witch is gone, what’s going to happen with you and Denis?”

I laugh. God, she’s relentless. “I don’t know. Okay? I really don’t know. He lied to me, Ava. That’s not something I can get over. It wasn’t just a small lie. He lied about something major. He made me the other woman and I’m not okay with that.”

Silence fills the space between us. I know she wants to say more, but there’s nothing she can say. There’s nothing that excuses what he’s done.

I love Denis. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever love someone as deeply and wholeheartedly as I do him. But a relationship needs more than love. It needs respect, honesty, communication, trust, and loyalty.

I don’t trust him. He wasn’t loyal or honest.

It’s not something that can be swept under the rug.

“Just don’t push him away,” she whispers when I pull up outside her house. “Some people make mistakes and deserve a second chance.”

“I know, and sometimes, Ava, you need to know when to call it quits and guard your heart.”

She opens the car door and slides out effortlessly. “Whatever happens, I’ve got your back.”

I close my eyes. She doesn’t know just how much I needed to hear that right now.

“Love you,” I tell her, my voice cracking.

“Always, Callie girl. Always.” She closes the door and blows me a kiss.

I beep the horn at her and wave goodbye.

I drive around for a while, hoping to clear my head. But it doesn’t work. Instead, I’m even more confused than I was when I left the house. My mam’s reaction is playing heavily on my heart, she’s never been like this before and I’m hurt and annoyed by her actions.

I’m sore. I need to lie down and get some rest. I’m exhausted. Today has been chaotic and stressful. My hormones are all over the place and making things worse.

I pull into a car park and reach for my phone. Quickly I find a hotel that I know will be safe and I’ll not be interrupted. Thankfully, they have rooms available and I book two nights. Glad I’ll have the reprieve of being able to sleep and not have to worry about my family hovering over me.

As soon as I’m in the room, I text my mam, dad, Ava, and Mav, letting them know I’m safe and I’ll talk to them tomorrow knowing they’ll pass the information on to Jerry and Butch.

I climb onto the bed and within minutes, I’m fast asleep.

18

Denis

“She’s gone, Da,” Mal says as I glance upstairs, where Callie disappeared up.

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