pulls the gun away from Journey, who is awake but not crying. Thank God she is so young. I don’t want her to ever remember any of this.
My mother then takes the keys out of the ignition and steps out of the car. I hear her demanding Zack meet her, no mention of Turner at all. She threatens him with killing me, selling my baby, and more. My heart slumps to the floor, chastising myself for believing Turner was alive.
I know nothing happened, but I still get Journey out of her seat and inspect her for any sign of injury, all the while counting in my head. I’m up to thirty when my mother throws the phone on the ground and smashes it to pieces with her heel. After a moment, she gets back in the car and pulls out, merging back onto the highway with more calm than I have ever seen from her before.
Running my fingers over the back of my head, I wince as I feel the egg-shaped lump tender to even the slightest touch. If I make it out of here alive, I can only hope Zack will be willing to turn the other way so I can beat the living shit out of my mother before she rots in prison for the rest of her life.
The silence in the car becomes eerie as we travel in darkness toward the city of Atlanta. The only sound comes from the GPS directing her where to go. Waves of anger radiate off of my mother directed toward me, and I welcome them in the dark with a deathly smile aimed right back at her.
Neither of us has said a word to the other since my call to Zack. I, however, have been extremely observant in where we are going, jotting everything down in my memory as best I can.
“You know Zack is a detective, right? This game of yours is as good as done. I think you just fucked up, Mother.”
“Think all you like, darling,” she says without an ounce of worry in her voice. “He’ll come, and he will come alone, because if he doesn’t, he knows I will kill you without a second thought and none of them will ever see that baby of yours again.”
For the first time in a long while, I feel a rush of real confidence sweep through me. Just as Tina has underestimated me and my ability to survive, she has extremely underestimated my brother. She can think what she wants, but she isn’t going to be able to strong-arm him. He will snap her scrawny, slutty frame in half.
We pull up to a small, sleazy motel and she parks in a slot out front.
“I thought we were going to Caleb’s house?” I ask.
“Not until noon, you stupid girl. Do you take me for a fool? I know your brother is more than likely there by now, trying to catch me off guard. Now hand me the baby and get out.”
I grab Journey’s bag and carefully get her out of the car seat, walking at a fast pace behind my mother as we climb the stairs to the second floor. She opens the first door at the top, gesturing for me to walk in. The room smells like stale piss and cigarettes as we enter. I burst out laughing when I see there is only one bed in the room.
“What the hell is so funny?” she asks, nudging me to proceed all the way in.
“One bed. What are we going to do, have mommy and daughter bonding time?”
I pull a blanket out of the bag as there is no way in hell I am setting my child on this filthy, stained comforter.
“Geez, Mommy. Couldn’t you have found a little nicer place for us to stay?” I ask, mockingly.
“I’m not sleeping here, and neither are you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I spit out.
She looks at me condescendingly.
“You’ll see. Besides, I’ve decided I may as well tell you the whole story, not that you will live long enough to do anything about it. I’m going to tell you and let you suffer until you take your last breath. Now do what you have to do with her and make it fast. I am exhausted and the sight of you is making me sick.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Finally being out of that house and so close to freedom has made me bold. I could try and take