Page 48 of Gonzo's Grudge
“Nothing,” I choked, swiping at my face.
“Doesn’t look like nothing,” she pressed, eyeing the puffy redness around my eyes.
I sat up, my jaw tight. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be here.”
She blinked. “Okay? Where are you going?”
“Home,” I said, shoving my books into my bag. The zipper jammed, and I yanked it hard, angry tears burning again. “I need time away.”
Darla frowned. “Over what?”
I ignored her, grabbing clothes, toiletries, shoving them into my suitcase without caring how they fit. Every second in that room with her made my skin crawl.
By the time I wheeled my bag down the hall, I didn’t look back.
My parents were surprised to see me that night.
“Sweetheart?” my mom said, stepping forward to hug me as I dragged my suitcase through the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Just needed a break,” I choked out, forcing a smile. “Things are hard at school, had a bad test. And I… I just needed to come home for a while.”
Her eyes softened, pity and relief mixing in her gaze. My dad watched from the study doorway, his expression unreadable.
“You can stay as long as you need,” Mom said quickly, pulling me into another hug. “Your room’s always yours.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, letting her hold me together for a moment before I pulled away.
That night, in my old bed with the familiar quilt, I stared at the ceiling until the words in my head turned to fire.
Pawn.
Leverage.
Ruin.
I picked up my phone, fingers trembling.
I know who you really are now. I won’t be a pawn in your game anymore.
I hit send before I could take it back.
Then I powered the phone off and shoved it deep in my drawer.
And for the first time in weeks, I slept without his arms around me.
I’d never felt emptier.
Chapter 16
Gonzo
The text landed like a round in my chest.
I know who you really are now. I won’t be a pawn in your game anymore.
Blue bubble. Delivered.
Oh the blow was definitely delivered. I stared until the words blurred and the world narrowed to the width of that screen. The roar in my ears wasn’t my bike. It was blood finding places to pound where fists couldn’t. I hit call before my brain caught up. Straight to voicemail. I called again. Same.
