by Ashley Jade
I’m about to run to the bathroom, but a knock on my door halts me in my tracks.
I quickly usher Sawyer and Dylan inside.
I can’t tell my brothers what happened because it would mean telling them about our mom’s affair, and I can’t tell Oakley because he was close to Hayley and I know he’s shouldering enough guilt already.
I also can’t tell Stone because he’s super busy with work and school.
If Hayley was still here I could be strong and keep her secret for as long as she needed…but she’s not.
And I know this knowledge will slowly eat me alive over time if I don’t do something about it.
Therefore, that leaves me with Sawyer and Dylan to confide in.
I’m hoping the three of us can sit down and come up with some kind of plan to get justice for Hayley since she never got the chance to do it herself.
However, that requires me telling Dylan and Sawyer something that no one else knows.
Unless you count that piece of shit Mark Young.
“What’s going on?” Sawyer questions.
“You sounded really freaked out on the phone,” Dylan notes.
I motion to the bed. “Have a seat.”
When they do, I utter, “I need your absolute word that what I’m about to tell you won’t ever leave this room. I don’t care if my brothers beg, plead, or threaten to end things with you. I need you guys to swear you won’t ever fucking tell them.”
Their eyes widen.
“Okay you’re really starting to scare me,” Sawyer says.
Dylan nods. “Me too.”
What they feel right now is nothing compared to what they’re going to feel once they know the truth.
“Swear you won’t tell a soul.”
After exchanging a nervous glance, they both nod.
Since I can’t bring myself to say the words aloud, I typed up a letter with everything they need to know.
I pluck it off my dresser and hand it to them. “Read this.”
With shaky fingers, Sawyer unfolds the note and they both start reading.
The first gasp comes a few seconds later.
Sawyer looks up at me with glassy eyes. “Your mom…the accident. She—”
“Keep reading,” I press.
Because it gets so much worse.
Dylan’s mouth drops open. “Your mom was having an affair?” She shakes her head. “But Jace said your dad was the one having an affair.”
“Keep reading,” I repeat, my heart in my throat.
Sawyer slaps her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my God.”
Dylan clutches her stomach. “Holy shit, I feel sick.”
After they’re done, I snatch the letter back, walk to my bathroom, and light it on fire in the sink.
I come back to see Sawyer praying and Dylan with her head in her hands.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Dylan whispers.
Sawyer tries to speak, but she only ends up crying.
And me? I’m trying to find a way to go numb, but it’s not working.
“I tortured a girl who was being tortured by her father in secret for years.” A shudder runs through me. “I’m so disgusted with myself I want to wash my soul out with bleach and then light myself on fire.”
Hell, it’s what I deserve.
A full minute passes before Sawyer speaks. “You didn’t know.”
I open my mouth to argue, but then she says, “You only found out what he was doing to her after the fact.”
I scoff. “Still doesn’t make it right.”
Neither of them put up an argument.
Sitting on the floor, I draw my knees to my chest. “I need to make him pay.” Revulsion pushes through my veins. “For her.”
Dylan chews on her thumbnail. “Not to be negative, but I don’t think there’s much we can do.”
Sawyer nods. “Yeah. I mean if Hayley was still here, we could support her and urge her to go to the police to report him, but…she’s not.”
I know.
A nauseating thought occurs to me. “He sees kids in his office sometimes.”
Who’s to say he might not do the same thing to them?
He’d do it to anyone he suspects might make an easy target.
Because that’s what repulsive assholes like him do.
First, they charm you, then they manipulate you, until eventually…they break you.
“Jesus,” Dylan exclaims. “That’s…fucking sickening.”
Sawyer’s bottom lip quivers. “So that means there has to be another victim for him to get caught?”
I jump to my feet because I can’t take it anymore. “I have to do something.” I start pacing the floors again. “Something that will make him pay without giving up Hayley’s secret to the rest of the world.”
Sawyer and Dylan exchange a strange glance.
“No,” Sawyer hisses. “We’re not doing it.”
Dylan concedes. “You’re right. We can’t.”
It’s safe to say they’ve piqued my interest. “Care to share with the class?”
Dylan starts fidgeting. “You don’t know this, but back in high school Sawyer and I came up with a plan for me to seduce Tommy in order to get him to confess to what he did to Liam. I ended up recording it so Jace could hear it, but it turns out he didn’t even listen to it.”
They might be on to something.
“That could work.”
They both look at me like I’ve sprouted another head.
“What could?”
“Well,” I begin as a plan starts formulating in my brain. “I highly doubt he’d confess what he did to his daughter so I could get it on tape, but there might be a way I can seduce him and then…you know, report him to the police.”
Dylan blinks. “Report him for what exactly?”
“Rape, sexual assault…does it really fucking matter? The bastard deserves to have the book thrown at him.”
Dylan stands. “Okay, first of all, that’s incredibly dangerous—”
“You did it with Tommy,” I point out.
“Tommy was confined to a hospital bed with a broken leg.” She looks at Sawyer. “He couldn’t do anything to me even if he wanted to. Plus, Sawyer was waiting right outside the room just in case it went south.”
“So, you two can wait outside his office. If things get out of hand, you guys can swoop in.”
Sawyer rubs her forehead. “I don’t like this at all.”
“Fine.” I throw up my hands. “I don’t need you guys. I can do it myself.”
“You’re not doing this by yourself,” Dylan argues.
Sawyer sulks. “You shouldn’t do it at all.”
“Well, it’s happening. Whether you like it or not.”
It’s the best course of action.
Will he fall for it? Probably not. But I know if I don’t at least try, I’ll never forgive myself.
And yes, it’s wrong to claim to be a victim when you’re not, but his real victim doesn’t have a voice anymore.
Therefore, I’ll be hers.
Given every fucked-up thing I’ve done in the past, it’s the very least I can do now.
Sawyer gets off the bed. “Okay, let’s say you go through with this and you report him. What then?”
I chew my bottom lip as I think about this. “I don’t know. He gets in trouble.”
“Yeah, best case scenario. But before it even comes to that, it’s going to involve a lot of extensive questioning by the police. Maybe even a long, drawn-out trial down the line that will undoubtedly be mentally exhausting for you.”
She makes a great point, but it doesn’t matter. I’m willing to pay the price to get justice.
“I’ll deal with that when the time comes.”
Dylan rubs her temples. “Are you sure about this, Bianca? Because once you do it…there’s no going back.”
I look them in the eyes. “I’m positive.”
I’m doing this for Hayley.
Chapter 42
> Bianca
“I’ve just been so lost and confused.” I look the piece of shit in the eyes. “So vulnerable…you know? I have no one in my life to turn to.” The next words burn. “Despite what happened, I know my mom trusted you…so I figured you’d be the best person I could vent to.”
Mark rubs his chin, assessing me. “I can’t imagine how difficult this has all been for you.”
A sick lurch goes through my stomach. “One can say the same about you.”
He tries to fake genuine sadness, but he fails.
Because he’s a motherfucking sociopath.
“Yes, well…” His sentence trails off. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.”
It’s taking everything in me not to snatch the pen from his hand and stab him right in the jugular.
I uncross my legs and watch as his eyes track the movement. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I’ve had no one to turn to. I’ve been so alone.” I give him a forlorn look. “I really appreciate it.”
Looking down, I stand and make my way to the door, stopping right before I exit.
Chewing my bottom lip, I pretend to think about my next move. “Dr. Young?”
“Yes?”
“Would it be....do you think I can have a hug?” My mouth curves into a sugary sweet smile. “Bury the hatchet?”
His eyebrows shoot up to the ceiling before he recovers. “Sure.”
Bile surges up my throat the moment he walks over and embraces me.
Here comes the part I hate most.
The vile part.
I almost chicken out but then I remind myself I’m doing this for Hayley.
Wrapping my hand around his neck, I kiss him…
And force my mind to go somewhere else so I don’t actually have to think about it.
Just like Hayley must have forced herself to do every time he violated her.
Instantly, he freezes…
Not the reaction I was hoping for.
“Oh, my God.” Feigning embarrassment, I take a step back. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking—”
The words are barely out of my mouth before he closes the distance between us and shoves me against the door.
Gross.
Reaching inside my pocket, I press the record button on my phone.
When it’s clear he’s really enjoying our exchange, I put the brakes on.
“I’m sorry.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “I can’t do this.”
Come on, asshole.
I turn to run away, but he grabs my arm. “I don’t enjoy being teased.”
“Get off me,” I scream loudly as he edges away. “You’re hurting me, Mr. Young. Please, stop.” Lunging for him, I scratch his face. “Get off.”
His mouth drops open in shock and for a moment I almost feel bad.
But then I remember what he did to Hayley and my mom.
He deserves to have his life ruined the way he ruined theirs.
I don’t give a fuck what anybody says.
I quickly knee him in the balls and run out the door.
Sawyer and Dylan rush over to me when I reach the waiting room.
“Are you okay?” Sawyer questions.
Dylan scans over every inch of my face. “Did he hurt you?”
“No,” I tell them as we start walking. “That’s the weird thing…he kind of stopped and looked surprised.”
We’re almost to Sawyer’s van when I realize. I’m gonna need some more evidence.
I look at Dylan. “I need you to punch me.”
Dylan blinks. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I need you to punch me so I have more evidence.”
Dylan shakes her head. “Are you out of your mind? I’m not punching you, Bianca.”
Sawyer holds up her hands when I look her way. “Me either.”
Annoyed, I growl, “I used to hate you, Dylan. Like literally wished you would die so I could piss on your grave. I haven’t gotten all my memories back, but something tells me I wasn’t very nice to you and I made your life a living hell. Therefore, you must have wanted to punch me at least a few—”
Her fist goes flying into my cheek. Hard.
“Jesus, Dylan,” Sawyer breathes. “What the heck is wrong with you?”
Dylan shrugs innocently. “She asked me to punch her.”
She’s right, I did.
But who knew the girl had such a mean right hook?
I rub my throbbing cheek. “That should do it.” I climb inside Sawyer’s van. “Let’s go to the police station.”
Chapter 43
Bianca
After what felt like an eternity filled with non-stop questions, the police finally let me go.
I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Mark, but at the very least his medical license is in danger of being taken away since I made an appointment with his office and was therefore listed as a client.
Is it justice?
Not close to the kind Hayley deserves, but it’s better than nothing.
It also made me realize something.
I kept my mother’s secrets because I thought I was protecting her…but in the end they only ended up destroying me.
Maybe it’s time for me to stop living in my cocoon and start letting people in.
But the only way to do that is to start being honest with the people I love.
Let them inside.
After putting more coverup on my bruise so Oakley doesn’t freak when he sees me, I snap my compact shut.
My hand trembles as I knock on the door of Oakley’s apartment.
I didn’t want him to know about Hayley or my mother’s affair with her dad, but I also don’t think it’s right to keep this from him.
He answers after the third knock. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I take a deep breath. “Can I come in? I really need to talk—”
“Is that the food?” some woman questions behind him.
A moment later she comes into view.
She’s a little older than him, but very pretty.
Very pretty and very blonde.
My throat constricts. “I didn’t know you had company.” Heart heavy, I stagger back. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Oakley starts to say something, but I don’t give him the chance because the wave of pain that washes over me is so severe it threatens to break me into a million tiny little pieces.
I feel so stupid. So goddamn stupid.
Why wouldn’t Oakley be with another woman? It’s not like we’re together.
How could we be? I have a…
“You okay?” someone who sounds a lot like Stone says.
I was so out of it I didn’t even realize I walked up the stairs to his apartment.
“I—” I shake my head, unable to process anything except for the fact that Oakley’s in his apartment with some other girl doing God knows what.
“I’ve been trying to call you all day,” Stone says as he ushers me inside. “Where were you?”
It hurts so much I can barely breathe.
“With Sawyer and Dylan.”
He tips my chin, forcing me to look at him. “What’s going on? What happened?”
I don’t give him an answer.
I can’t.
Instead, I just go numb.
Because the thought of Oakley being with another girl…a girl who’s not me.
Feels like death by a thousand cuts.
I push Stone away when he tries to hug me. “I have to go.”
Chapter 44
Bianca
Past…
My heart’s in my throat as I make my way into the seedy bar.
Flipping my freshly blown-out hair over my shoulder, I open the door. Almost immediately the stale scent of smoke fills my nostrils.
Across the room, there’s a pool table and a dartboard set up on a wall. As if on cue, cheers erupt from a small group of what appears to be bikers playing a game of darts.
No one blinks
an eye or asks for my ID as I saunter over to the nearly empty bar and take a seat.
It’s so dim in this place, I don’t notice Oakley right away, but the moment I see him pouring some old man a drink at the opposite end of the bar, my heart soars into overdrive.
Desperate to the bone, Hayley ended up telling Oakley that I texted her from his phone to meet up.
Needless to say, he was pissed.
Which is exactly why I’m here now.
I hate fighting with him.
But even more than that? I hate him thinking I betrayed him.
Therefore, I have to apologize and make things right between us.
I open my mouth to call him over, but some woman sidles up beside him.
She looks to be in her early forties with long blonde hair and legs for days. She has far too much makeup on her face and not enough clothing because her boobs—which I’m guessing are only perky because of the very obvious pushup bra she’s wearing—are popping out of her tank top and she’s in serious danger of giving everyone a free show.
The bitch is straight-up trashy looking…the kind of woman you’d end up bringing home when you’ve had one too many and you’re in desperate need of a cheap screw.
In other words, she’s exactly Oakley’s type.
I clench my fists so hard my nails leave indents in my palms as I watch her shamelessly flirt with him—draping her arm around his neck to pull him close while she whispers sweet nothings in his ear that makes him smile.
A knot of dread forms in my belly when her hand caresses his stomach and he makes no move to push her away.
By the looks of things and how comfortable they seem to be around each other, it’s clear they’ve fucked a few times already.
Tears prickle my eyes, but I force myself not to cry. Not here.
God, I feel so stupid. So fucking stupid.
I thought we were together. Hell, I thought we were a couple.
But that was foolish of me, because Oakley never once told me I was his girlfriend. He made it crystal clear when we started that we were just a fling and the end of summer would be the end of us.
I just didn’t want to believe it.
“Bad night?” a deep voice asks.
