REprisal - Kathy Coopmans Page 0,35
open and shut. Then, the crunching of gravel.
It’s when I hear Journey crying loudly that I begin to panic.
“Let me the fuck out of here!” My mom hits the trunk.
“Shut the hell up.”
I hear the jingle of her keys. The trunk lifts. It’s dark out.
“Shut this crying brat up.”
I haul my aching body up out of the trunk, but I don’t say a word; not wanting to, until I have my daughter securely in my arms.
“I see you managed to get yourself untied. I’ll give you credit, you’re a smart one, quite determined, too. It’s too bad I’m the one holding the gun.”
Her smart-ass comment deserves no response from me. I want my daughter safe in my arms and this time, damn it, this bitch is going to have to kill me if she thinks she will get her back from me.
“Give her to me now.”
I extend my arms out to take her, my heart hammering, my body aching and very much needing to bond with my baby in the way no one else can. The minute she is in the comfort of my arms, she stops crying, her tiny little body sweaty and clammy.
While the woman who I am sure is the spawn of the devil himself watches with rapt attention, I adjust my clothes and Journey immediately latches onto my breast. Once she is eating comfortably, I turn my attention to my mother.
“You listen to me you fucked up, crazy bitch. You can beat me, sell me, or feed me to the goddamn wolves, but if you ever take my daughter from me and drive for fucking hours again, I swear I will kill you.”
Her eyes flicker and a hint of terror passes across her features but is quickly replaced by fury. Sliding her hand into the back of her perfectly pressed skirt, she pulls out her gun, letting it dangle at her side.
“It’s dark out, so you can ride in the back with her. I’m warning you, though. Don’t try anything.” She lifts her wrist to check her watch. “We have about four more hours until we reach our destination.”
Alarm takes hold of me and I pull Journey closer to my chest.
“Where are we going?”
“Well,” she says calmly. “Since Trent decided to go against me and forced me to kill him...”
“Wait. What do you mean, he went against you?”
With one hand she reaches up to firmly grab my chin.
“He threatened me just like you did. You see, he thought he had me fooled. I’ve known all along he has never gotten over you, planning and plotting in his own mind how to get you and leave. It’s sad really, because for some silly reason I cared about Trent. I wasn’t going to allow that to happen. I want you dead. Now that you know the truth and my plans have been screwed up once again because of you, you’re about to make a much needed phone call for me. Now get in the back seat and finish up with whatever it is you have to do with her.”
Securing the baby with one hand, I hold my other hand up to stop her.
“What do you mean, I know the truth?”
“That Turner is alive, of course.”
Chapter Twelve
Clove
“You’re lying.”
This is absurd; first Trent, and now her.
“You’re trying to trick me into believing that he’s alive, I know you are! It’s because your plans have all gone to shit and now you’re grasping at straws to do anything to be able to get your greedy little hands on some money? My God, Mother, haven’t you done enough to me already?”
I know damn well she could shoot me at any minute, then take my child and leave me here. But I’m done being her whipping post and letting her bully me. Done.
“Get in the car so we can get back on the road, and I will give you all the proof you need that I am not lying.”
She leaves me standing there and walks to the driver’s side of the car. Could it be true? What kind of proof does she have? No matter what she shows me¸ I will never believe it until I see him with my own eyes. Touch him, kiss him, and hear him tell me he loves me and has forgiven me for all the wrong I have done.
Journey and I get into the back of the car. Leaving the door open to use the overhead light, I quickly change her soaked diaper and clothes. I place