Page 44 of Traces of Her
“She wouldn’t,” I say lightly, honing in everything I’ve ever learned about psychology. “This is sick and fucked up. This isn’t about her anymore. You’re making this about you. She married Ralph. Robert didn’t make her do that. She knew what Ralph was doing to both of us, and she didn’t stop it. So maybe you need to reevaluate who you’re actually angry with.”
He lets out a harsh laugh, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor by my feet.
“Fuck you and your psychobabble shit. Were you there when Robert left her? No, you weren’t. She found out she was pregnant and he was gone. Back to his cunt wife that he cheated on. He ruined Mom, and he left her with no other choice but to settle down with someone like Ralph instead.”
Shaking my head, I open my mouth to retort when he silences my words before they are spoken.
“Did the sick fuck ever beat you, Griffin? No, he fucking didn’t. Did he let the bitches he brought over fuck you? No. I got it all. So you can fucking thank me for that, you piece of shit. And you can thank me for getting rid of him too.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “You have no idea what happened to me, Jared. So don’t you fucking tell me,” I say, my voice low and cold. He knows exactly what happened, but now he wants to play the victim card. For what? What the fuck is he even trying to accomplish anymore.
Suddenly my phone starts ringing in my pocket, bringing me back to where we actually are. Glancing at Lydia lying on the table, I rip my phone out of my pocket and answer it without looking at it.
“What?” I bark into the phone.
“There’s someone here to see Jared,” Scarlet mumbles.
My eyes grow wide as I glance around the room. “We’ll be right there,” I tell her in a rushed voice, abruptly hanging up the phone. I turn toward Jared, who’s fucking oblivious to the entire world. “Someone is at the front door. We need to get up there. Now.”
Turning my back on him, I walk to the door with every intention of handling this all myself. Enough is enough. Jared curses under his breath and starts walking, but his footsteps are in the other direction. Spinning around, I catch him dragging the table, turning it so Lydia is looking right at me. I divert my eyes to the ground, suddenly feeling equally like a piece of shit like Jared.
“Smile at the camera,” Jared says quietly. “Your little boyfriend’s getting quite the show.”
Silence. I don’t look up.
“Oh wait,” he says mockingly and starts laughing. “You didn’t know?”
I don’t look at her, I can’t but letting him continue this is something I’m not going to let happen.
“Enough, Jared,” I bark at him, finally gaining his attention. He shrugs and rolls his eyes as he follows me out of the room.
Jared whistles as he follows me up the stairs and into the hallway. Slamming the door shut behind him, he stops in front of me, cocking his head to the side. “Okay, Daddy. I know I was a bad boy so go ahead, spank me and send me to my room,” he mocks with a sinister grin forming on his lips. I clench my jaw, my eyes bore holes into his as I stay silent. “What’s wrong, Griffy? Ghost pussy got your tongue?” He laughs, ruffling up my hair.
I shove his hand away from my head. “This isn’t a goddamn joke, Jared.”
“Well, holy shit, Griff. You surprise me more and more every day with that big ol’ brain of yours,” he smirks and winks at me, opening the door beside him as I shake my head, glaring at him.
“Cut the shit, Jared, this has gone way too far now,” I grind out every word as he pulls a blanket out of the closet.
His smile falters for a second and he slowly shakes his head, waving his finger in my face. “That’s where you’re wrong, little brother. This hasn’t gone far enough yet.”
“No,” I start to argue, but he cuts me off.
“I’m needed elsewhere right now, so this will have to wait. Go clean that shit up downstairs and put Lydia back in her room.” He waves his arm back at the door.
“I’m not your fucking maid, Jared,” I scoff. This is not what I signed up for. Shit, I never signed up for any of this.
“You’re not wrong there,” he says with a smile playing on his lips. “Although a little French maid outfit would look cute on you.”
Rolling my eyes, I go to walk past him when he steps in front of me, blocking my way.
“Not so fast, little brother,” he breathes in my face as he pulls out his phone. “I know you’re in a rush to get back to your little ghost girl. I mean damn, she does look good in your shirt,” he smirks, showing me a picture of Rowena standing by the window. “I can only imagine what’s underneath.”
My stomach drops. “What the fuck is this?” I demand. How the hell does he have a picture of her?
“Oh, this?” he asks, looking back at his phone. “This is just a picture from one of my guys that’s posted outside of your house.”
He smiles. The motherfucker lights up like a Christmas tree.