Page 87 of Beauty & Chaos
Mama coughs, and I don’t fucking know if I should sit her up or not.
“What happened?” I ask as the ambulance sirens sound outside.
They’re close.
“I fell.” She forces out, blinking at me, then focuses on something behind me with a wonky smile.
I twist around and find Brook leaning against the wall with worry on her face. But she’s confused, and this is where things get blurry. She’s going to ask questions after this that I can’t answer. Not without telling her more lies.
“It’s her.” Mama coughs. “It’s the girl.”
Okay, she’s clearly out of it.
“Mama, tell me how you feel. How many fingers am I hol—”
“She’s going to destroy your daddy, Terrance.” Mama grins as the bottom falls out of my stomach. “He can’t hurt you anymore, my darling boy,”
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
“What did she say?” Brook gasps, pushing away from the wall.
I know she heard.
She heard every single word and will be piecing it together.
It’s over.
My entire plan.
The paramedics come flying in, Elena updating them on what happened as I touch Mama’s cheek and kiss her forehead. “I’ll meet you at the hospital, Mama.”
“My boy,” she says as I pull away and give the medical team space.
When I turn, Brooklyn looks pale, her bright blue eyes filled with the words,how dare you.Which I deserve.
I climb to my feet, and her eyes snap to mine. Then she turns and walks out of the house.
“Brook! Wait.”
I go after her, but I already know how this is going to end. A woman like her doesn’t give second chances, and frankly, I don’t deserve one.
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BROOKLYN
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Striding out of the house, I hit the path, spotting the ambulance parked in the drive with its lights flashing.
It feels inappropriate to be worried about being deceived while someone’s life was almost taken. And yet.
“Brook!”
I spin. “You lied. You lied to me this entire time.”
“Yes,” Travis says, his face dropping momentarily, but then his arrogance returns, and he looks me in the eye. “Let me explain.”
I laugh darkly.
