Filthy (The Reckless Series #2) - HJ Bellus Page 0,55

fill my palm, and I wash them back with one gulp of water to get through the four hour direct flight. My eyelids flutter shut when they sing out about there being no tomorrow and I float away into happiness.

20

Rhett

“Fuck.” I slam the cell phone down onto the kitchen tile floor and don’t even give two fucks about it being Ava’s new iPhone.

Zane remains in a stone cold stature with Ava who's sobbing, tucked to his side.

“She fucking had the nerve to say goodbye and hang up,” I growl running my hands through my hair. Fuck her, I think to myself. Fuck her and her stubborn ass.

“It’s bad. It’s real bad if she’s going home,” Ava squeaks out.

“You know what, fuck her,” I yell. “She doesn’t want me or my help.”

I spin on my heels to bust out the front door and am only stopped by Ava hollering my name.

“She said if we don’t hear from her in two days to call the cops. She’s going home to her family and is going to do something. They’ll take revenge. She’s afraid for her life, Rhett.”

I face Ava, who is still holding onto Zane. “You heard her, Ava.”

Zane growls at me warning me, but I don’t give two fucks anymore.

“Fuck Darby Frye; she ran and destroyed me. I’ve texted and called her for days with no response. She doesn’t want my help.”

“Sit,” Zane demands.

I listen to him because I honestly have no clue where else to go. Fuck, Darby.

21

Darby

“I’d like to file charges.” I hand the detective the letter.

It’s taken me hours of waiting to finally get the attention of the detective, and now that I have him in front of me I won’t leave until he listens. I watch his face as he reads the letter.

“This could be fake.”

“It’s not. The senator admitted to it.” I knew I’d have to pressure them because this isn’t something the force would want to take on, and I’m pretty sure they’re being paid plenty to keep shit like this closed. “I’m going to the media after this, so it’s your choice to look into or not.”

“You’re playing with fire, young lady.” The man behind the desk strokes his chin, trying to intimidate me.

“I’ve been abused by this family my whole childhood, and now I find this out? Damn right, I’m going to dance in the fire to bring them down. I also have this.” I slap down another file on his desk.

It’s the missing child’s report filed by Francis and all the work she went through to find me, along with the prisoner’s ID who sent me the letter. I study his face as he reads through the information. It feels like an eternity of hours pass before he speaks again.

He clears his throat. “What’s your endgame here?”

“I want charges pressed and Francis to have justice. They need to pay for the crime they’ve committed, and I could give two fucks whether they’re the greeters at Wal-Mart or a high power senator. Fair is fair. And if you don’t have the balls to follow through, I will.” I stand on steady feet with conviction like I’ve never felt in my life before.

I’m empowered, strong, and for the first time in my life have reason to fight for what is truly right and just in the world. I don’t say another word before turning and walking out of the office. In the sunlight of Tennessee, I check my phone and have twenty minutes before my interview with the local news channel.

The list of names of the men I remember who studied me naked as a child and stroked their dicks, burns a hole in my pocket. I’m bringing all the bastards down because no one is going to stop me. For the first time in my life, I believe in myself. Know that I’m worth it and I’m going to defend myself. And I know exactly where all this power came from…Rhett Westburn. He showed me love and gave me confidence, and all I ever did was what wait for the bottom to fall out. I looked for every chance to run and I did.

Me: I love you

He has to know how much he means to me and how much I love him. I heard him when he was talking about Gia, and knew deep in my gut he wasn’t cheating, but it gave me the excuse to be a coward and run.

Me: You have to know how much I love you and how