Page 83 of Losing Faith

“Where the hell did you take her?” She bites out and a voice I haven’t heard in over a decade sends a chill down my spine.

I try to say something, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out.

“Are you drunk or stupid?” she drawls before looking in the back of my seat. “Where’s that rich family you’re always with?”

Harmony steps out before grabbing her hand. “Mom, come on…”

Elaine snatches her hand as she steps closer to me. “Did they come to their senses and cut you off?” She looks around my car before her eyes land on the water bottle on the door.

She snatches it and I feel my hands start to shake as she watches me. Images of her beating me come in flashes, the phantom pain aching through my back.

Unable to pull my eyes away from her, I watch as she takes a whiff. A smirk grows on her face before her eyes meet mine.

“You have some nerve drinking and driving with my baby girl in the car.”

I shake my head in response, willing myself to deny it, but nothing comes out.

Beside her, Harmony’s eyes dull as she looks between me and the bottle. “What? No, she’s sober.”

Ana steps between them, pulling Harmony’s hand. “She’s a liar.”

A knot grows in my throat as I shake my head again. “I’m clean.” I surprise myself with how strong my words come out.

Elaine looks over at me again and the anger in her eyes shakes me to the core, forcing my eyes to fall. “Do the Hales know you’re driving arounddrunkin their car?”

I shake my head, a tear falling on my cheek. “This is my car.”

She lets out a bitter laugh. “Who’d you fuck to get it?”

“Mom!” Harmony steps in and when I glance over, she’s pulling at her arm. “She’s your daughter too. What is the matter with you?”

“She is no daughter of mine.” She shoves Harmony away so hard, she nearly falls.

“Hey!” I sit up in my seat. “Keep your hands off of her.” I snatch my seatbelt off, but Harmony quickly steps between us.

“I’m fine.” She looks at me, silently begging me to stay put.

Elaine shoves her out of her way again and I bite my tongue. “You ruined everything.” She takes a swig of my liquor before throwing the empty bottle at me and as the small drops land on me, they nearly burn like acid.

“You couldn’t stand being a part of this family.” Her words slur as she leans against my car. “You ran after that little boy every chance you got, but you know what? I’m glad you were off getting high with him rather than doing that shit in my house. You have no one to blame but yourself and him.”

My vision blurs but I hold my tears back. “Sire isn’t to blame for my addiction. You are.”

She reaches into my car so fast I barely have a chance to defend myself as she grabs a chunk of my hair.

“Get off of her,” Harmony cries.

I don’t know what comes over me, but I finally snap out of the shock and grab her hair in return before punching her head.

She pulls me harder and I think someone is dragging her out of my car, but I keep my grip on her hair as I keep hitting her. Even when she releases my hair, I still keep a strong hold on her.

“If you lay a finger on my sister again, I’m going to kill you.” I swing at her one more time, the blow landing on her mouth.

She stumbles out of my car, Ana’s arms around her as she spits out blood.

“This is who you want to give another chance?” I point at her sorry excuse of a mother. “You hate me so much, but she gets to walk in and out of your life? You’re pathetic, Ana.”

“Don’t throw stones from a glass house, Lisette.” She looks at me in pure disgust. “You really expect us to believe you’re sober with a bottle in your car? Where are the pills?”

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