Page 16 of Viper's Claim

“Yeah I know,” he sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Demon has taken off.”

“I’m not going to him if that’s what you’re asking.” I saw the taxi turning into the street and I walked towards him. I kissed his cheek. “Look after yourself, Viper. You deserve better than to be consumed by the past.” I stood back, and the taxi pulled to the curb. I gave him a weak smile and walked to it. I opened the door.

“So do you Aurora.”

I looked back at him.

“You said, you see me. Well, I see you. A woman who is broken. You feel everyone else’s pain. But won’t feel yours.”

I stared at him for a moment. His words bring tears to my eyes and I get in the taxi not saying a word.

He was right but wrong. Because if I felt what happened. I’d die by my own hand.

Five Weeks Later

Dad had left Kaylee. But I knew it wasn’t permanent. I wasn’t stupid. She could cast a spell over him with one look. Which was why he wouldn’t see her. Answer her calls. I felt myself slowly wishing I had killed Ashley. But instead. He was alive. Which meant Kaylee was going to make sure I suffered for shooting her son, her legacy.

“Aurora?”

I heard the panic in dad’s voice so I rushed from the kitchen to him.

He gulped. “I need you to leave.”

I froze. “You saw her, didn’t you?”

But then it was his slight sway that told me he was high. Not fully out of it. But enough to be hooked again.

“You said you’d get clean. You were four weeks clean!” I roared at him and then threw one of the plates I was holding at him. “I helped you get through the cravings, withdrawals and this is what you do?” I couldn’t stop myself from getting emotional. I was screaming at him. “Why?”

“I love her.”

I shook my head. “No, you love her drugs.” I threw the plate at his feet. “Chase the meth. But this is me, being done. Do you understand? I'm done.” I shouldered past him. I walked straight to my room. My fantasy lasted one month. I packed my clothes. Grabbing my wallet, I opened it and pulled out a photo. It was dad holding me as a baby. I ripped it in half. I was done.

I walked out with tears streaming down my face and he didn’t stop me. Didn’t say a word. Just swayed, as he swirled in the high that she had given him.

I wished at that moment. I had shot at her and not at her twisted son.

I opened the car door. I had swiped dad's car keys. He was too high to stop me. I unlocked it and threw my bag in the back seat.

I could go anywhere. But the only place I wanted was a home. I turned the key. This time I was leaving him in the past. I had no option. Nowhere to go. Then I redirected my car to my old apartment. I knew that Ashley was most likely watching it. But I didn’t care. I should have never answered dad’s call that day. Then none of this would have happened. I’d be still working in my call center, hiding.

Now I drove back to the apartment. I’d apply for new jobs as I had lost my old ones. Due to taking too much time off, to help my father get clean.

I drove to my old apartment, crying like I had someone to grieve. I lost my father so long ago and just a small chance of having him back was what broke me. I pulled out the front of my apartment, grabbing the bag from the back seat.

I could leave town. But I wasn’t someone to hide and I sort of wanted this to end. I guess I was leaving myself open for Ashley or one of them to kill me. I didn’t care anymore. I just…

I closed my eyes tightly. No Aurora, don’t and that’s when I felt it. Someone was behind me.

I gulped. Finally, it was ending. I could get peace.

“I’m sorry,”

I blinked, more tears ran down, and I turned. Demon? I looked at him. He looked like he hadn’t slept and looked exhausted. I could feel his emotions immediately. I had spent so many years when I was younger reading him.

I opened my apartment door. “Don’t be.” I stared at him. “As you said, we’re dead.” And I stepped in my apartment door. Only to have him block it when I went to shut it. I sighed. “What do you want?” I looked at him.

“I want to know why you gave our child away? Why did you adopt him out?”

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