Wicked Princess - Ashley Jade Page 0,2

mid-sentence.

Oh, no.

Mom was full-on hysterical crying in the parking lot of our school.

“Crap,” Liam says. “Should we go out there?”

I start to nod because Mom’s episodes—as Jace referred to them—isn’t something she’d want on display, but Mom starts walking again.

“Wait. She’s coming back.”

My relief is short-lived though because she proceeds to kick the side of her car. “I was going to give up everything for you!”

“Mom, what are you doing?” Liam whisper-shouts, panic rising in his voice as she continues kicking her Mercedes.

Whatever my father was saying to her was sending Mom into an adult temper tantrum.

The worst tantrum I’d ever seen.

“You can’t do this to me,” she yells, pounding her fists against the hood. “You promised we’d get married and be together forever.”

Yeah, our mom was definitely not okay right now.

“Maybe we should take Mom’s phone away and call Jace?” I suggest.

He’d know what to do.

Liam nods. “Yeah.” He eyes me warily. “How?”

I had no freaking idea.

“She’s on your side of the car, Liam. Open your door and grab it.”

My brother looks at me like I just asked him to kill a python. “Nuh-uh.”

Wuss.

“Fine. I’ll do it—” I start to say, but the pounding gets worse.

“She’s gonna break the window,” Liam says, scooching over to my side.

“She’s gonna break her hand.”

“Don’t do this to me,” Mom screams so loud we both wince. “I love you, Mark.”

Liam and I exchange a wide-eyed glance.

Who the heck is Mark?

“I’m fine,” Mom says, attempting to wipe away her mascara streaks with the back of her hand.

She tosses her head back and laughs. “Everything is fine.”

I clutch Liam’s hand. Everything wasn’t fine.

Mom wasn’t acting like herself.

“Can I use your phone?” Liam questions, sticking to the plan to call Jace.

“No,” Mom snaps.

So much for that.

I glance out the window in confusion. “Where are we going?”

“The waffle house is the other way,” Liam reminds her.

“Don’t worry,” Mom says. “There will be plenty of pancakes and ice cream soon.”

Liam’s face lights up. “Are we going to Disney World?”

I pinch his arm.

I had no idea where she was taking us, but it wasn’t Disney.

“Mom,” I begin. “I love you.”

Whenever I reminded her how much I loved her, it usually helped calm her down.

“I love you too, baby girl.”

“You’re going really fast,” Liam says. “Slow down.”

“It will be all right, baby.” A fresh set of tears roll down her cheeks. “Everything will be okay.”

Her words offered no relief to either of us.

Liam grips my hand tighter and whispers, “Do you think she’s kidnapping us?”

I open my mouth to remind him that Mom wasn’t a scary man on the news, she was our mom and therefore couldn’t kidnap us…but then I realize he might have a point.

My heart is nearly pounding out of my chest. As much as I complain about my family, I loved them, and I need us all to be together.

“Where are we going?” I croak, my voice trembling.

If I knew where she was taking us, I could call Jace and Cole and tell them what was happening.

“Someplace without pain,” she answers as the car begins to swerve.

“Where?” I urge, a bad feeling churning in my stomach.

It feels like forever before she responds.

When she does, it sends a chill down my spine.

“Heaven.”

Bile surges up my throat and the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

For the first time in my life, I finally believed it.

This wasn’t normal. Mom was sick.

“No,” I choke out. “I don’t want to go to Heaven.”

I wanted to join ballet.

I wanted to get a cat.

I wanted to graduate elementary school.

I wanted to see Dad, Jace, and Cole so I could tell them I love them.

“Mom, please,” I plead. “You’re just having a bad day.”

“A bad life.” She punches the steering wheel with her fist. “So many things have been taken away from me.” Big, ugly sobs fill the car. “I refuse to be without you two.”

Turns out being Mom’s favorites had its drawbacks.

“You don’t have to live without us,” Liam tells her. “We’ll never leave you.”

“It’s true,” I assure her. “We love you.”

More than anything…but I didn’t want to die.

“Close your eyes,” she instructs as she unclips her seatbelt. “It will all be over soon. I promise.”

Liam lets go of my hand and covers his eyes as the car accelerates. “Mommy, stop!”

“Mom, please don’t do this!” I cry out, wrapping my arms around my brother. “I love yo—”

Chapter 1

My throat feels like sandpaper, but it’s nothing compared to the dull ache coursing through me.

Mom.

Liam.

The thought has my body jerking as I open