My bottom lip wobbles, and tears form in my eyes. Jaxon’s face falls, and his eyelids droop as something sinister inside him looks back at me.
“Four.”
My vision blurs as I longingly gaze at him, wishing he’d do something. I can get over the heartbreak of him betraying me like this. What I can’t get over is the heartbreak if he dies. I’d join him in death.
“Three.”
Jaxon mouths,Go, and smirks.
I don’t understand what he finds so funny about this.
“Two.”
“Let’s go, Dahlia.” Mom yanks my arm and drags me to the door.
Jaxon’s head dips so that he’s looking at me from beneath his lashes. The corner of his lip quirks, and death looks back at me. My heart beats quicker and feels like it’s skipping in my chest.
“Find me,” I whisper, and a tear drops from my bottom lashes and travels down my cheek, followed by another one.
Jaxon’s disturbing stare follows me as I’m dragged out of the room.
“Cry, little sister,” he says in a dead voice. His warning nips at my heels and sticks with me as I’m forced to grab my bags and get in Mom’s car.
Ilook down at my phone for the hundredth time since we left, checking the messages and finding none. A lump forms in my throat with worry over Jaxon and whether he’s alive. It’s been an hour, and I shared my location with him as soon as we pulled out of the driveway. I still haven’t heard from him, and I’m terrified that Dad killed him, even though I left when he told me to.
“You won’t ever see him again, Dahlia, so stop checking your phone,” Mom says.
I drop my cell on my lap and glare at her, wishing it’s enough to kill her on the spot. “You’re lying.”
Her lips flatten. “Why would I lie about something like this?”
“You’re answering with a question. Proof enough that you’re lying.”
Mom rolls her eyes and looks back at the road. “Strange logic,” she mutters.
“Speak up, Mom. I can’t hear you.” I smirk and pat myself on the back.
She glares at me like that’s enough to damage me more than I already am, then presses harder on the gas. The engine purrs louder. “I don’t know why you’re so ungrateful and horrible to me.”
I guffaw and cover my mouth in a lame attempt to hide my smile. “Me? Horrible toyou?”
Her lower lip wobbles as she holds back the sobs building in her chest. I know they’re crocodile tears. I’ve seen them countless times. At this point, I’m immune to them. She manipulates everyone—especially me—with her tears because herwittlefeelings matter more.
“I’m a good mother,” she says with a dramatic sniffle. “I raised you the best I could. My mother wasn’t good to me, and I promised myself that I’d treat my daughter so much better. But you still turned out the way you did. I didn’t realize how disgusting of a human you are, Dahlia. Having sex with your brother is wrong, and you know it.”
I swear I see my brain when I roll my eyes. “How’s being a good mom working out for you?”
I bypass her snide remarks about me and Jaxon. She can judge all she wants. I’m done with her shit, and I’m done with the world’s shit. Love is love, and what Jaxon and I have is special.
She gasps, her jaw dropping. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this treatment. I’m your mother.”
“You keep saying that,” I say, and shake my head as I look out the passenger window, finding the scenery more interesting. “If you have to keep saying that, then deep down, you know that you’ve been a terrible mom.”
“I was a good mother to you,” she snaps. “Did you not have a good childhood? Was I not there for you? Have I failed somewhere along the way?”
I know this act. She’s fishing for me to pander to her feelings and coo,No, you were a great mom. I had such an awesomechildhood. You never celebrated my birthday, then ignored me when it suited you, then snapped orders at me like I’m waiting on you hand and foot.
But I say none of that. I ignore her, choosing to sidestep her woe-is-me trap. I hate her mood swings. I despise everything about her and what she’s done to me. If she thinks I’m a terrible daughter now, she needs to look at herself and realize I’m the monster she created. A neglected child can only tolerate so much before they bite back.
