picks up on the first ring ’cause you got money.”
Oh no. How did he find us?
I whipped around. “That’s enough.” I glanced back at Garrison. “I’m sorry.”
He nodded and ducked back into the safety of his shop.
“Dad?” Eric stepped closer. “Did you get my letter?”
“No, shit for brains. I didn’t get your letter.”
My hand flew before I could think. The slap connected with my father’s cheek so hard, his head turned.
His eyes widened and then he laughed. “You are your mama’s daughter.” He rubbed his cheek.
My hand shook. “Let’s go, Eric.” I took him by the elbow, but he remained rooted in place.
“You’re not going anywhere with my son.” His tone was back to acid and it stopped me cold.
“You no longer have any children.”
Save your breath, Lexie. It’s pointless.
“Not sure that’s what the state of New York thinks.”
“Stay away from us.” I tugged on Eric’s elbow and thankfully he followed me.
I wobbled as we walked the short distance to the van.
“Shit for brains. Shit for brains.”
My heart broke as my brother muttered under his breath.
The urge to go back was strong, but I refrained. I'd never desired bodily harm on anyone, but I wanted to kill my father.
Eric kept mumbling as we loaded into the car. I dropped the keys while trying to insert them into the ignition. After a deep breath, I cranked the engine and shifted into drive.
My grip was iron on the steering wheel to keep from trembling.
“Why did you hit Dad?”
“Because he’s a horrible man,” I said quickly. I regretted my brother had seen my behavior, but the action was justified. “And a liar. Don’t you listen to anything that comes out of his mouth.”
He’d spoken terribly to his son.
My tolerance level for that was zero.
If I knew a police officer to call, I’d try to have him sent back to jail. That was where he belonged. Far away from us.
“You should leave him to the state. Live your life and forget about him.” My mother took a drag off her cigarette. “I get it. The money they send is good.”
How could she?
I couldn’t leave Eric to the state’s care. Who would make sure he was okay? Why would she want him with strangers? How could she be so callous to her own children?
And I hadn’t known anything about the money because she had the checks sent to another address.
“This was a mistake.” I pushed away from the table. Everything was stark here. The walls, the carpet, the furniture. Her.
“Sit down, Lexie.”
I’d obeyed that tone all my nineteen years. But she couldn’t tell me what to do any longer. Because she was locked up in here, and I was free.
“You should think about your life while you’re in here. Maybe if you ever get out, you can do something good with yourself.” It felt good to be able to say what I pleased without fear of what she’d do to either me or Eric.
“When I get out, I’m gonna lock you in that closet again for talkin’ to me like that.”
I shoved away the darkness that threatened. She was the one in a closet now. One with bars. And guards.
“Then I’ll have to make sure you stay right where you are, Mother.”
That was the one and only time I’d ever been to visit my mother. After that, I hadn’t bothered with my father. They were selfish scum who manipulated their son’s vulnerabilities and tormented their children.
Everything was about what they could gain. I hate them. I hate them both with everything in me. What they did to us, said to us, how they treated us like garbage.
Mostly I hated the hate within my heart because of them. Why? Why did they act this way toward us?
When will I be free?
And even worse, how long before my mother was free too?
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lincoln
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hollingsworth. Your assets at First National Bank and Trust are frozen.”
I slammed the phone down.
That was the fifth call that had gone the exact same way in the past half hour.
Someone had cut me off.
It wasn’t just my credit cards, but every visible financial account I had. If it weren’t for the stash of cash in my vault and a few offshore accounts, I’d be hitting the panic button. I hoped I had enough to last until I could get things unfrozen.
I banged my fist on the desk.
“That outburst is no way for a Hollingsworth to behave.”
Slowly, I lifted my gaze to find the last person I wanted to see.
My father.
He made