Aggro - CoraLee June Page 0,124
and although I wanted to feel something for the man that gave me life, the man that taught me how to surf and cared for me, I couldn’t. There was nothing left of this man. We spoke through slits in the glass.
“Breeze,” he breathed out. The sound of his desperate tone made my lip curl. I wanted him to suffer. I wanted him to be miserable. “I didn’t think you’d come. How are you? Graduation was a few weeks ago, yeah? How’s your mom?”
I looked down at my lap, then back at him. “I’m not here to catch you up on my life. Mom is doing great. She’s happy. She’s even dating again. It’s like you never existed,” I replied. Mom wasn’t actually dating, but I wanted to hurt Brian. I wanted him to know the world moved on while he was stuck here. Just like the world moved on when Violet died.
“Why did you have an affair with Violet?” I asked. I wasn’t going to waste any time.
Brian leaned closer. His lip quivered at my question. “I d-don’t know, honey. It just sort of happened.”
“You just sort of happened to have an affair with my underaged best friend? You just sort of happened to get her pregnant?”
Brian looked like he wanted to go back to his cell—back to the hell he was locked in—to escape me. “She was always around. She flirted with me. It was harmless at first.”
“And then it wasn’t. How long, Brian? How long were you fucking my best friend behind my back? Behind Mom’s back?”
“About a year.”
I leaned back and rolled my eyes. “Disgusting. You disgust me.” Was Kai just a cover-up to keep their secret?
“I’m so sorry, Breeze.”
Chase spoke through clenched teeth. “And then you killed her, right? You wrapped your hands around her neck and squeezed.”
“I-I’m not going to answer that, Chase,” Dad choked out. Of course he wasn’t. The trial wasn’t for a few more months.
“I bet she thought you were there to save the day. She smiled at you. And you killed her. For what, Brian? To save your marriage? Your business? The only consolation I have, is that you still lost everything. Your wife left you. Your daughter disowned you. Your shop is nothing but an empty shrine to your name. You’re here. Forever,” Chase spat out at him.
Brian’s jaw flexed, and I saw the fire in his eyes. He looked murderous. Was this the expression he showed Violet when he killed her? Had he always been this way and I just didn’t notice?
“Why did you work with Lex?” Kai asked. “I get that he was going to take care of the other shop. Did you know he attacked your daughter? Did you know he almost killed Breeze?”
Brian stuttered. “Baby, I never wanted you involved in this. I didn’t think he’d hurt you. I was just…”
“Shut up,” I yelled, drawing the attention of the guard. I closed my eyes and calmed my breathing. “I’m not here to reconcile. I’m not here to forgive you. I’m not coming back, Brian. Once I leave here, I won’t think about you. I won’t miss you. I won’t spend a single second of my life wondering how you are doing or what life would be like with you in it. You’re irrelevant. You’re nothing to me. I’m indifferent to your existence. And one day, when you’re looking death in the face, I hope you know that you did this to yourself. You ruined your life. You deserve every evil thing that happens to you.”
Chase grabbed my shoulder and squeezed at the end of my speech. I was so glad that both Chase and Kai were here with me. They gave me the strength and support I needed to say what I did and not back down.
I pushed back hard on the chair and stood up. I didn’t want to stay here looking at the pathetic excuse for a man and father any longer. I walked out of the visitor’s room and waited in the hallway for Kai and Chase to finish what they needed to say. Kai came out quickly, followed by Chase about five minutes later.
We walked out into the parking lot completely different than how we had walked in. I felt like a considerable weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I got what I needed from my father, and now I never had to give him another thought.
“Is anyone else hungry?” Chase asked. “I’m starving.”
We all welcomed the distraction of food