Page 36 of Shattered Love

“Who are they, Avery? Stay away. They could be dangerous.”

I turn to face her. “They are my in-laws.”

Her eyes widen. “Dominic’s parents?”

I nod. There is not a single person in town who doesn’t know who Dominic’s parents are. They are usually passed out in a bar somewhere by now or too high to wander this far out of town. They’ve never been here before, so I’m curious about why they’re here now, after all these years.

I bend down, trying not to gag on the smell. “Mrs. Stone?”

A noise comes from her that sounds like her chest is rattling. She lifts her head and stares at me. Her eyes are the same deep green as Dominic’s, but they are dead. It’s like she is just an empty carcass. There’s no warmth in them. “Little shit knocked you up?”

I’m confused until I realize that little shit is Dominic. I nod. “Yes, we’re having a baby.”

She makes another sound. “So I’m going to be a grandma.”

I smile. “Yes, our daughter is due in a few months. Wou—”

I’m cut off by a voice that sounds like he smokes eighty cigarettes a day.

“I’m surprised the little shit had it in him. Don’t go asking for money when he fucks off, because we ain’t got any.”

I frown down at Dominic’s father. “Dominic wouldn’t leave us.”

The man looks much older than he should. His skin has a yellow touch to it, he has only a few teeth left and his fingers are yellow from nicotine.

“The bastard is his father’s kid. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.”

My eyes widen when I realize he’s telling me he’s not Dominic’s father. I stumble back. “Does he know?”

He laughs, which comes out a hacking cough. “He’s a bastard to a rapist that ruined his mother’s life. Yeah, he knows. I made sure of it.”

I suck in a breath just as I hear screeching tires. “Get the fuck away from him, Avery.”

The cold tone of his voice has me spinning, but for the first time, his eyes are not on me but the people who raised him.

* * *

Dominic

“Dominic?” there is confusion in her tone, but for once, my eyes are not on my girl. I watch his every move.

The fucker smirks and I look to Avery. “For once, Avery, just listen.”

She takes a step back, nodding her head. She doesn’t know this man I kept away from her. She goes to speak when he starts spitting his fucking poison.

“Why you got to spoil it? I was giving the beautiful Avery a family tree lesson.”

Well I’m not a little boy anymore and I already know what this “lesson” of his really entails.

I can’t help but recall my last vivid memory of him.

“You want a drink? I’ll give you a drink.” He grabs my hair and I clench my jaw tight as to not make a noise. The bastard loves it when I make noises.

I frown when we go to the kitchen. Is he really getting me a drink? The water in the barrel made me sick, so I wouldn’t drink that again, but I am so thirsty.

He runs the water and fills the sink. He smiles. “Have a drink., lap like the fucking dog you are.”

I do want a drink. I am so thirsty my mouth is dry, my tongue is hairy. I take slow steady steps keeping my ten-year-old body steady. I bend over and lap at the water. The cool engulfs my mouth. I’m grateful until he grabs my head. I suck in a breath not knowing what’s going to happen next.

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