Page 8 of Our Lips Are Sealed
“You’re a delusional cokehead that doesn’t realize what she’s become,” he went on. “A fat, stupid bitch no one wants around. Not your kids, or your friends. Not even me.” Charlie nudged her with his foot, sighing in exasperation. “Stop crying and get up, you idiot.”
When she didn’t move, his toe connected with her ribs. Not a full kick, but not far off. “Entitlement has been your problem from the start. You think you’re something special, but you’re nothing. You will always be a worthless nothing, Rebecca.”
The world in her head went quiet, and the glowing strand inside her grew brighter, burning with a thousand watts of power that hummed in her bones. She channeled the strength it provided, using it to rise.
“Look who’s talking. You’re the leech in everyone’s life, draining them dry.”
The brightness inside giggled at her defiance, enjoying the show.
“And you know what else? I think you’re jealous of Ben,” she said, watching his face redden. “He has everything you want. The power, the money, and the perfect woman. While you have what? An empty condo and a cokehead to come home to?”
Charlie moved fast. He might be half the man he once was, but his fists were still lightning quick.
Her temple connected with a corner of the kitchen cabinet, pain shooting through her nervous system. Bracing her arms on the counter, she fought not to lose consciousness. If she fainted, it would leave her vulnerable, and that’s when Charlie liked to make it hurt.
She tried to speak, but it came out as a groan, her head hanging loosely over the counter. Fat drops of blood dripped onto the clean dishes laid out to dry.
Plop, plop, plop they fell, landing on the cutlery.
Charlie’s hand gripped her hair, holding her swaying body still. “You’re right,” he raged. “Ben does have everything, including your children.”
It was too much.
Losing now, after so long, was simply too much, and the luminous glow within her surged, popping that precious strand like an overloaded light bulb. Without it, the darkness coiled, ready to strike.
“He always wins, just as you will always lose against him.” Charlie laughed at the tears and blood oozing down her face. “God, you’re so fucking pathetic.”
Rebecca didn’t realize the knife was in her hand until it pierced Charlie’s flesh.
A barrage of fireworks let loose over the inlet, muffling his sputtered cries. Their eyes met, and she tilted her head, studying the choking pain engulfing him.
“Who’s the pathetic one now?”
He tried to push her away, but she held him in place, digging her fingers into his bony shoulder. “You’ve drunk and snorted away the strength needed to fight me off, Charlie.”
Withdrawing the knife, she swiftly struck again, but this time lower, only stopping when an organ or a bone wouldn’t allow the blade to go in any further.
Charlie fell back onto the refrigerator, gagging as he slumped to the floor. It was a glorious sight, and she went with him, keeping pressure on the handle as he fell.
“This won’t change anything,” he gasped, his blood soaking her hand. “Ben always wins.”
Rebecca twisted the blade, savoring the agony in his eyes.
“Not anymore.”
Chapter 2
2019
Therewasagiantnaked man in her bed.
That was Evangeline Eddins’ first thought when she woke in the night after colliding with a very warm—very nude—male body.
Surprised, she retreated to the other side of the mattress, nearly falling off. “What are you doing in here?”
Samuel pretended to sleep, laying on his back with a decorative floral pillow shoved behind his head. The matching daisy covered sheet lay spread across his waist, giving her a prime view of his muscled upper half.
“I know you’re listening.”
