Page 26 of Wicked Nasty

Tears prick at my eyes as fear and anger bubble inside me. "Go the fuck away. Jim already told you to stay away."

"That motherfucker ain't gonna do shit. He's thousands of miles away. Now open your damn door. You can't ignore me forever."

"Get away from my car! I'm calling Jim right now." My voice trembles as I reach under my seat and grab the handgun, cocking it back with a loud click.

"You hear that, motherfucker?Da ya tebya zakopaio!" I shout, my finger ready on the trigger.

"You fucking crazy bitch! Don't think this is the last you'll see of me!" The man's footsteps retreat further and further until the lights are finally gone.

I let out a shaky breath, leaning back in my seat as I put the safety back on and place the gun under my seat once again.

Danny stares at me in shock, his eyes wide as he looks from the front of the car to me. "What the fuck just happened, Becca?"

"Nothing. You need to leave."

"Are you serious? You just threatened to kill a man with a gun. I didn't even know you had! And don't think I'm just glossing over the fact that you just yelled at him in Russian. And I’m guessing it wasn’t kind words."

I wipe a lone tear away as I try to compose myself. "Exactly. Do you want to be an accessory to murder, Danny?"

"Becca..."

"No. Forget everything you saw tonight. Everything." I cut him off before he can say anything else. I don't need his pity or his judgment. I can handle this on my own.

I open the car door and make sure the coast is clear before stepping out. Then I go to the passenger side and pull Danny out of the car with me.

"I swear to god, Danny. If you so much as whisper a single word about this, I will end your life. Do you understand me?"

"Becca..." He starts to protest, but stops when he sees the fire in my eyes.

"Stop saying my fucking name. Now go home." My voice is cold and hard as I push him away and turn to walk back to my car, leaving him standing there in shock and confusion.

With a heavy heart, I climb back into my car and close the door behind me. The sound of Danny's car starting up and driving away echoes in my ears. I take a deep breath and wrap my blanket tightly around me, my trusty stuffed bunny clutched in my other hand.

I feel completely overwhelmed. This is more than I can handle. Tears stream down my cheeks and I let them fall, not even attempting to wipe them away. All I want to do is curl up and disappear.

At this moment, I pray for the wintry nights to take me away peacefully in my sleep. It all feels like too much…

Chapter eight

Daniel

Fortnight

Mymindisawhirlwind, thoughts swirling and colliding as I try to make sense of the chaos. Images of Becca sleeping in the car flood my mind, intermingling with flashbacks of Cat’s hand around my sister’s throat, blood dripping from her lifeless body. The pain and heartbreak that constantly surrounds me threatens to consume me whole.

In an attempt to find some solace, I reach for a blunt, not caring that I am sitting in the kitchen. Anything to calm my racing thoughts and bring me back down to reality before I spiral down into that dark abyss.

As the smoke fills my lungs, I feel a familiar numbness spread throughout my body. It helps to ground me, but those haunting thoughts still linger in the back of my mind. Those damn demons are always lurking, waiting for their chance to drag me back into the darkness.

The echo of heavy footsteps reverberates through the quiet hall as my dad comes walking in, a beer clutched in his hand. His face is etched with concern as he asks, “You okay?”

I shake my head, unable to find the words to express the turmoil inside me.

“Wanna talk about it?” My dad’s voice is gentle, the offer of support evident in every word.

I shake my head again and hop down from the kitchen counter where I had been sitting.

My dad lets out a sigh as he leans against the counter, taking a sip of his beer. “Danny, I’m always here to talk. No judgment or anything. I know losing your sister-“

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