Page 146 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

I couldn’t stop seeing that dour expression on Veda’s face when she asked if Gio touched me. It was the same look I got from everyone after her attack. Sympathy mixed with pity and unease.

They all felt sorry. The doctors, the cops, even some of the press had that guilty expression on their faces. They knew what happened to my sister, yet not a single one of them was willing to testify on Kato’s behalf.

Then when we moved in with Maw Maw, that sympathy turned into hushed whispers of judgement. What was she wearing that night? How could she keep the baby? What will she tell him about his father, and what kind of example is she setting for her sister?

I went from being the lost cause daughter of a depressed mother to being a victim. I preferred the lost cause. Couldn’t disappoint anyone if they expected nothing from you. Besides, I didn’t need or want their pity. Pity did nothing but drag people down. My sister was a perfect example of that.

A horn blared through my ears, followed by someone yelling, “Slow down!”

“Eat shit.” I yelled back while sticking my finger out the window.

Let’s see how fast they would drive if their broken sister was threatened by an asshole.

How much did Veda have to take? How much more could she take? The once bright shining star of Soiree High that used to be my sister, was now a mere shadow that skittered around like a scared mouse. The only reason she got out of that hospital bed was because Rita and I made her.

We were the only people in this entire town who didn’t treat her like she was made of glass. And I’d be damned if I was going to let her give me the same useless pitying stare she used to get.

‘You can talk to me.’

Yeah, right. What good did that do for her? Two years in therapy and Veda still jumped at loud noises.

Come to think of it, Veda had been extra jumpy recently.

Last week I caught her peeking out the window as if she thought someone was watching us. And three days ago when Billy and Kyle decided to play a round of ding dong ditch, she jumped off the couch and ran to her room. I didn’t think anything about it at the time, but now that I thought back, it did seem like an extreme reaction. Even for her.

The timing was also suspicious. When exactly did Romeo show up, and what did he say?

Rounding a patch of cypress trees, I headed for the Mancini’s driveway.

I had nothing to go on here but gut instinct, and that was telling me that there was more to the story.

Gio’s family didn’t do anything unless it had an advantage for them. So, what advantage did scaring my sister give them? That was something I would not put up with. They could do whatever they wanted to me, but my family was off limits.

If that meant I had to crack my trusty bat off the side of Romeo’s head to get my point across, then so be it. Maybe I’d luck out and get Gio as well. Two for the price of one.

I swerved around the garden in the center of the driveway and pulled to a stop just as Atlee was opening the door to his Corvette.

My eyes instantly narrowed.

So, he was with Gio. What exactly were they doing all day? Planning to scare more innocent people? Assholes.

Atlee stopped and cocked a brow when I threw my door open and hoped out.

“You got a problem?” Cause I had no problem giving him one.

“Whoa, someone’s in a pissy mood. Let me guess… now that you’ve had a taste of dick you can’t go a day without.”

Maybe I should make it three for one?

“Why are you here?”

“Why are you here?” He asked back.

I crossed my arms. “I asked first.”

“You do know that Gio is my friend, right?”

Uh huh?“And what other friends did you spend the day with?”

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