Page 19 of PET

I can feel the blood drain from my face as I move from the bed, swallowing the knot in my throat as I creep up to Christian. But before I actually leave, I freeze in my spot and peer up at him. He’s looking anywhere but at me, his jaw tight.

His changing demeanor is quite alarming, and I have this uncontrollable urge to drop to my knees and beg him to forgive my stupid mouth. I can make this all better if he’ll let me. His cock deep in my throat would be a start, right? But here I go again, letting a guy manipulate what I want. Holden used to do the same thing to me, too.

I swallow the words on my tongue, square my shoulders, and leave his room with my head held high. But as I walk out, I feel the loneliness seep into my bones, begging me to turn around and make this right. Even though they’ve offered me sex, they offered me so much more. Protection, for one. Except, they haven’t been here to protect me until now, so why should I let them now?

Ignoring the gnawing in the back of my thoughts, I push forward and leave the Veradin estate with my dignity still intact. I don’t stop the tears streaming down my face as I leave through the front door, though. I’m allowed to purge, right?

When I make it halfway down the driveway, wondering how the hell I’m getting home, my phone rings and startles the hell out of me. I don’t recognize the number on the screen but answer anyway.

“Hello?”

“Hello, this is the Wright County Correctional Facility, calling on behalf of Lucille Lucas. Do you accept this call and the charges that may accrue?”

“Yes!” I shout, giddy as all hell to know I’m about to talk to my mom. I miss her so fucking much.

The line goes dead for a second before a beeping greets me, and then I hear her. “Billie baby? Are you there?”

“Mom!” I shriek. “How are you calling me right now?”

“I’ve been good, so I gained some phone time. How are you, my girl?”

It’s so great hearing her voice. Tears blur my vision for entirely different reasons now, but when I look back at the Veradin estate, the bad tears come back.

“I’m miserable, Mom,” I whisper, telling her the truth. “Everyone hates me. They blame me for what you did.”

She curses under her breath. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I’m going to make things better. You trust me, don’t you?”

Nodding, I remember she can’t see me. “Yeah, Mom, I do,” I answer truthfully, wiping the tears from my heated cheeks.

“Is Christian’s mother treating you well?” she inquires, confusing me.

“Christian’s mother? Why would she—”

“She’s your godmother, Billie. You were to go to the Veradin’s upon my arrest. Where the hell have you been staying?” Her voice rises, filled with panic.

And now I’m panicking, too. “I’ve been staying at home. Your brother has taken over everything. I thought you knew…”

“No, baby, he’s not supposed to be there. You’re supposed to be staying with the Veradin’s.”

Turning my gaze back to the estate, I wonder why I was pushed aside. Does Christian know about this? I have a feeling if he had, I’d be staying not only in his house, but in his bed. He probably doesn’t have a clue, just like I don’t.

“Where are you right now, Billie?”

I snap out of it, gripping my phone harder. “I’m at Christian’s,” I whisper. “Should I not go home?”

She sighs. “I just don’t understand why you’re not at the Veradins full time. Can you stay there tonight? I’ll call the lawyers in the morning. I’m running out of time to do so now.”

“Should I be afraid of him?”

“Let’s just say he was kicked out of Reaper years ago for a reason. Keep your phone charged. I’ll have my lawyer be in touch with you, okay?”

“Okay, Mom,” I reply quietly as my heart hammers in my chest.

I knew there was something off about my uncle being here, but I couldn’t figure it out. Now that my mom is acting like this, I’m terrified of going back there. But now I’ve burned my bridge with Christian, and I refuse to go back in there with my tail between my legs.

There is only one other place I can stay tonight, but it means facing all the peers who hate me. I guess I’d rather face them assholes than my abusive uncle, though.

After ending the call with my mom, I turn right out of Christian’s driveway and make my way up the looming hill toward Reaper Academy.

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