The amounts for them are exorbitant and cruel considering they’re being sent to their grieving children. Don’t these things usually take longer to get processed? Whoever works in that billing department needs a gold medal for expedience.
I flip through more medical bills for everyone, including her brother and Tyler, until I come across legal documents. I snap pictures of the foreclosure notices. Two to be exact. One for this house, and one for the diner where she works.
I close my eyes with a sigh. I’d already figured it out after Tyler’s little slip the other day, but this explains her appearance as paid entertainment. To know that she resorted to that tells me a lot about her desperation.
I swallow down irritation and nauseous ire that builds in my throat. Once again, my rage has become solely focused. If not for my mother, Heaven would never be in this position. I wouldn’t have allowed it.
“Didn’t anyone teach you in all those fancy schools you went to that it’s not polite to snoop?” That voice already grates on my nerves, and I just met her.
“Didn’t anyone teach you it’s not polite to sneak up on people?” I counter with annoyance. “It seems you know a lot about me. I know your sister didn’t tell you, so that means you must spend a lot of time looking me up. You can stop now. You’re not my type.”
I enjoy watching her cheeks flush red with embarrassment for a brief moment before she composes herself. I do have to admit she’s tough. Or she puts on a phenomenal show at the very least. “Don’t flatter yourself, rich boy. You’re in all the tabloids.”
“Don’t try to con me, little girl. The schools I went to haven’t been in the tabloids since Iwasin school. You were nine, maybe ten when they published something like that. They like the juicer stuff now.”
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “And it’s not sneaking if it’s my house.”
“Clearly, you need to redefine the word ‘my’, Nova.”
Her brown eyes go wide, not realizing I knew her name. “You plan on coming to the rescue for Heaven? Help her keep her promise to Matt? I know you saw the foreclosure papers.”
“Heaven doesn’t need a savior. She’ll figure it out. What I can’t understand, for someone so quick to claim something, is why you aren’t helping her figure it out?” I already know the answer. Nova isn’t here to save the house or the family business. She’s here to collect.
What I don’t know is how she is so different from Heaven. Even Matt, from the few moments I saw him, didn’t seem so self-centered and self-absorbed. Heaven always told me she was difficult, but this seems like something else.
“Why should I help when there is no way she can get that kind of money?” she shrugs callously. “She can’t suck enough dick to make that much money.”
“Why do you hate your sister?” The question has been burning my tongue since I walked in the door. “What did she do to you?”
Her eyes narrow as she glowers. “You know I figured after her little stunt with that kid of hers maybe everyone would see she’s not so perfect. You didn’t know about him until a few days ago, but you still think she walks on water, don’t you?”
“She’s not perfect. No one is perfect, and no one can live up to that standard. It’s cruel to expect someone to. Believe me, I know. She made mistakes.So,did I. But why does it matter to you?”
She shakes her head and begins to walk off, mumbling a string of curses under her breath. I grab her by the arm before she gets too far. “I’m not done with you.” I drop my tone, letting her know that what I’m about to say is more than a threat. “You won’t make things hard for her. And if she does find the money to keep this place, you will give her your part. Or you’ll walk away.”
“Or what?” she hisses.
I squeeze her arm harder making her wince. “Or all of mymoneyyou keep throwing back at me will be used to make your life fucking hell.”
“Want me to leave them alone? Go and never come back so they can live their apple pie life? Give me what I want. I just want what’s mine.”
The corner of my mouth twitches. This girl really is something. “You think you can use extortion on me? Little girl, you really should’ve Googled harder to think that will work. I’m not giving you anything. Especially when it will just encourage you to come back for me. Try again.”
My eyes shoot behind her for a second to Heaven who’s standing on the stairs listening with her brother. They start to come to put a stop to all of this, but I give a slight shake of my head. I want to hear the garbage this girl comes up with.
“I could tell my sister that you fucked me or better yet, forced me.” Her eyes water as she beginsa surprisingly good act of pretending to be distraught, playing the victim.
“You can try that if you like. Wouldn’t be the first time someone said it. Won’t be the last. But, love, your sister knows me better. I have never had to force anyone to be with me. And I’ve never denied a single person I’ve been with. I’m nothing if not honest about my extracurricular activities. Why would I need to hide it?”
Chills erupt all over my body. Her eyes grow cold, dark, menacing as a wicked little smile crosses her lips. The resemblance to my mother, at the moment, is uncanny. Not in her features, but in that cruel, calculating glint in her eye. “Then how ‘bout I just grab a few pictures from Heaven’s room of the two of you and your little bastard and sell it to the papers? They’d probably pay a pretty penny for the exclusive about the rock god’s bastard son and whore.”
Snap.
My vision goes red as blood begins to boil.
Snap.
Roaring voices fill my ears.
