“No. You’re not.”
“Yes I am.”
“Matt,” she said. “No. Take it back. Take it back,” she sobbed.
I couldn’t bear it. I knew she’d told me no. But she was breaking right in front of me. And I wanted her to know that I’d be there to catch her when she fell. I put my arms around her again.
For a second she tried to push me away, but then she melted into me. She sobbed into my shirt. Her back shook with her breaths and I just held her tighter.
She was crazy if she thought I’d ever walk away from her like this. She needed me. And God, I needed her too.
Homecoming - Chapter 2
Saturday
Brooklyn
Sixteen years ago, my father ruined my life. I never should have given him a chance to ruin it again.
And I definitely wasn’t going to give him a third chance.
The gun started shaking in my hand when I heard footsteps on the other side of the door.
I knew I was doing the right thing.
My father was a monster.
And for half my life, he’d convinced me that I was too. That everyone was better off with me dead. It didn’t matter whether it was true or not. What kind of father did that? What kind of father tore his daughter down instead of building her up? He’d known how broken I was after my fight with Matt. He’d known I was vulnerable. And he’d taken advantage of me. He’d never loved me.
He’d told my mother to get rid of me.
He’d stolen my kidney.
And I forgave him. I let it go. But I couldn’t ever forgive him for what he’d done to Miller.
No.
Never.
Nunca.
My father was a monster. And he deserved to die. Miller deserved justice. Jacob deserved that for his father. I had to do this. For Jacob. For Miller. For myself.
I took a deep breath to steady my hand. And then I cocked the gun as the door slowly opened.
My father was standing there in some weird little nightcap and nightgown. I would have laughed if I wasn’t so fucking angry with him. He’d just ruined my life for the second time. I’d been happy back in high school before he kidnapped me. And I’d been happy now in my life with Miller.
Why did he have to do this to me? Why was he always trying to break me? Why couldn’t he just let me live my life? I clenched my jaw to try to stop the looming tears.
“Angel,” he said with a sad smile.
My hand started shaking again. He looked ridiculous. And the sad smile on his face just made the whole thing even more ridiculous. Why was he sad? I was the one that was sad. He’d taken everything from me. For a second time. I was barely holding on.
“You’re okay.” He put his hand to his chest. “Thank goodness you’re alright.”
Thank goodness?I couldn’t tell whether he seemed surprised or confused. But tears started forming in his eyes. And I had the oddest sense that he was…relieved. It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting. He wasn’t supposed to be relieved that I was okay. He’d been trying to kill me. He was probably just trying to throw me off because I had a gun pointed in his face.
I tried to steady my shaking hand. “Yeah, I’m okay. No thanks to you.”
