Filthy (The Reckless Series #2) - HJ Bellus Page 0,54

and leading the race.”

“You can’t destroy me, Father.” The word father bleeds venom as I speak it.

“When you’re dead you’ll be destroyed, do you understand me? I’ll make you go away if you even think about leaking this.”

“You’re pure evil.” Silent tears and heartbreak roll down my face. “Did you ever love me?”

“Darby…”

I hang up before he even has a chance to answer, knowing the real answer. The musty hotel room spins and I feel sick. No amount of alcohol or drugs could even begin to curb the disgust coursing through me. I wretch once before rushing to the bathroom.

My hand hit the cool ceramic of the tile before I throw up over and over until I have nothing left in me, then everything goes black. A black endless hole of despair.

19

Darby

Me: Ava, I’m going back home to take care of some business. If you don’t hear from me in two days please report it to the authorities.

Ava: What in the hell?

Me: Please Ava.

My phone lights up with Ava’s goofy picture alerting me to a call and I take it.

“Darby.”

“Ava, please listen to me. I’m about to board a plane back home. If you don’t hear from me in two days then report it to the police.”

“What in the hell is going on, Darby? Are you in trouble? Please.” I hear her voice crack and envision the tears of hurt streaming down her face, but I don’t have it in me to tell her the whole story. I’m broke like never before. Packing up my bags in the hotel room and walking in the airport took everything I had in me.

“Is that her?” I hear Rhett’s voice roar in the background and then some rustling for the phone.

“Darby.” His voice is deep, harsh and commanding. He feels like home even though I know he’s not mine anymore. He was the first to crack my solid foundation and then my parents destroyed the rest of me, sending me into a crumbling pile of ash on the cold dirt.

“Rhett,” his name floats of my lips and I hate myself for it. I want him, need him right now and don’t even give a fuck if he feels the same about me. I need him.

“Where are you?”

“I don’t know.” It’s honest because right now I have no clue where I’m at.

“Why did you run?” He growls on the other end. “I met with Gia to let her know she doesn’t get to control any of my future.”

The image of her holding his hands and leaning forward for a kiss is actually a pleasurable image right now. As much as it hurt me in the moment and I thought it ruined my world, it really didn’t. I let out a cruel laugh.

“Where are you? I’m coming for you.”

“You were about to kiss her.”

I hear the flight staff call for my flight to board.

“Do you really fucking believe that? Do you not have any fucking faith in me?” He’s hurt and pissed, and it makes me feel good in a sick and evil way. Maybe I’m more like my sick and fucking twisted dad.

“I saw it,” I whisper.

“I leaned forward to tell her to stay the fuck away from me and that I’d never forgive her for killing our baby. I was letting my past go so nothing or no one had any control over our future. I was so scared of losing you or you walking out on me, Darby, that I wanted to make everything perfect.”

“I ran out.”

He goes silent on the other end and I hear the final boarding call.

“You’re better without me, Rhett.” I pause, making the hardest decision of my life. “Goodbye.”

My thumb hits the red circle to end the call and I stand, brushing off my jeans and board the plane. It’s a full flight and my nerves are shot. I have no future and am ready to crush the good senator of Tennessee once and for all. He thinks he’s won with his threats, but he has no idea the hell that’s about to invade his life.

A twisted laugh escapes me thinking about his threat of ending my life. He has no idea how big of a favor that will be. “Breathless” by The Corrs blares through my ear buds. A smile spreads across my face listening to my favorite high school song. It always made me feel weightless and happy back in the day, but today it will be my victory song. A pile of white pills