Page 82 of Twisted Heathens
“What?” I bark.
“Britt… she’s just pissed off.”
“Because you won’t fuck her or because you stopped?”
Hudson looks away, letting out an unsteady breath. “Stopped.”
What a truly disgusting mental image that is.
“Tell your little hook-up that she has no need to be jealous and she can keep the tea to herself in future. I have zero fucking interest in you.” I step closer, offering him a derisive sneer. “Frankly, if you died tomorrow I would have a party in celebration.”
Chilly wind whips between us as Hudson looks at me, his expression hardening. “When did you become such a cold-hearted bitch?”
“Why don’t you ask yourself that question?” I laugh, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “I’m sure you’ll find a suitable answer if you cast your mind back. What was it you said to me then?”
Hudson shakes his head, refusing to answer. Coward.
I walk right up to him, gently cupping his cheek as he sucks in a startled breath. His eyes close slightly when I tenderly caress the stubble on his face with my thumb, like he’s savouring my touch. With my lips scant inches from his, tricking him into thinking I’m here for a kiss, I fire my parting shot.
“You said to trust you, because you love me and will never hurt me. Look where that got me. Don’t lecture me on being cold hearted, you piece of utter, utter scum.”
I swing my leg back and kick Hudson right in the balls, hard enough to elicit an agonised cry. He goes rigid, eyes bugging out before crumpling to his knees. Just for good luck, I punch him in the face too. “That’s for ruining my motherfucking life!”
Just as I draw back, the other two guys round the corner, screeching to a halt when they see our altercation. Hudson slumps onto his side, spitting blood and cupping his undoubtedly sore crown jewels. So goddamn satisfying, I could watch him cower all day long.
“What the fuck?” Kade shouts.
He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Phoenix is staring too, although he looks somewhat more understanding. I gesture down at their groaning, pitiful friend.
“Why don’t you ask your brother how he paid off his addiction before you swept him off into the sunset? I assume he hasn’t told you that part.”
Kade remains silent, confirming my suspicions. They don’t have a damn clue, just like I thought. Hudson will never admit to the truth. He’s too fucking ashamed to own his shit.
“I didn’t think so,” I summarise. “Word of advice? Don’t believe a word this lying son of a bitch says. When you’ve heard the full story, then you can think about judging me.”
I shrug, relishing the dawning look of dread on Kade’s face as he glances at his groaning brother. “Until then, mind your own goddamn business.”
Stalking away with my head held high, I leave Hudson to pick up the pieces. All three watch me go in stunned silence. I have to walk away before I end up killing every last one of them for my own satisfaction.
Prison sentence be fucking damned.
Twenty-Eight
Brooklyn
Hurricane by I Prevail
I’m bouncing nervously on my feet, glancing at the door to the group therapy room for the third time. Still shut. Conversation buzzes all around us, patients standing in huddles and gossiping while they wait. Teegan places a hand on my shoulder to still my movements.
“Hey, chill. Thursday’s group is a decent bunch. You don’t even have to speak if you don’t want to.”
“Yeah, right. It was a rather unpleasant experience in Clearview though.” Shuddering, I hug my stomach tighter. “Usually ended up getting messy, one way or another. Although the supervisor was one of the good ones.”
After getting away with not attending so far due to cancelled sessions and my stint in the hole, the doom that is group therapy has finally arrived. The doors open and the line begins to move, with Teegan squeezing my arm.
“Try not to worry. It’s just forty minutes and then you’re done for another two weeks. Besides, it’s not too taxing. Just your standard shared pain fest and some meditation crap,” she explains.
Delightful.