Page 97 of Forged in Rain

“Cyn is a lowlife just like his dad.”

Balling my hand into a fist, I say snarkily, “Really? Because John’s such a great guy?”

Her cold eyes bore into mine and she says, “Listen, Rain. This is real life, not a fucking soap opera. I’m doing what I have to do to protect us.”

“Protect what? What about Iris? Did you protect her?”

Iris shifts beside Pam, and I spy her look of warning from the corner of my eye.

Pam sucks in a deep breath. “You don’t understand.”

“Okay, well, make me understand. Because from where I’m sitting, my aunt is a psychopath who’s commanding a bunch of teenagers like a drill sergeant. And since you’re blackmailing a man in prison for murder to do it, I’m assuming it’s not because you want to be president of the PTA.”

Pam leans forward so quickly I flinch, but I grab her wrist just before she reaches my cheek. We glare at each other for a moment before she pulls back stiffly.

Iris is staring at me with wide eyes, and I smile because the timid Rain who obeyed her elders to the detriment of her own safety is gone. No one will lay a hand on me without my permission again.

Pam sits back down with a cool stare. “Need I remind you that I hold the power to ruin your world?”

“How so?” I keep my tone even, but the hair on my neck stands on end.

“You love that boy?” She sits back and picks at a piece of lint on her pants.

Oh, so Bitch wants to play. Fine.

I drop my chin and level an icy glare her way. She smiles, raising a brow. “I’ll take that as a yes. If you don’t step in line, I’ll ruin his world. I bet his daddy would like to know how he’s performing.”

My stomach lurches, but I ignore the painful swoop and lean forward, wiping my sweaty hands down my thighs. “You want to play hardball? Bring it. I don’t care about your plans, and if I have nothing to lose, well . . .”

I shrug my shoulders for effect, and her mouth pulls into a snarl. “You little bitch. Don’t threaten me.”

“Don’t fucking threaten me. You think I’m going to stand by and listen to this shit? I don’t fucking care about you. I don’t care about your crazy as fuck plans. But if you want my cooperation, you’d better back the fuck off.”

She stands and leans into my face, her nostrils flared, and I widen my eyes to keep from flinching.

“You don’t know who you’re messing with, Rain. I’ve had to do things that would make you snivel like a little bitch.”

“Yeah, you don’t know what I’ve had to do either. You back off, and you’ll get what you want. You don’t, and I’ll fight you every step of the way.”

Sniffing, she sits back down and I follow suit, hiding my trembling hands under my legs. How did I miss that Pam’s unhinged?

“Here’s how it’s going to go down,” she says.

Miraculously, I hold my shit together, but once she’s done, I can only stare at her wide eyed.

She’s going to get us killed.

∞∞∞

After a long hot shower, I drop into bed with a moan and snuggle deep. My body hurts from my tussle with Shelby, and I’m exhausted by the showdown with Pam. But I’m resolved.

I’ll see my way out of this mess with the people I love in tow if it fucking kills me.

Typing out a text, I sit back and wait, sure that he’ll get back to me quickly.

I need you

Hate: What’s up?

---