Broken Trust(Devastation Duet #2) - Winter Paige Page 0,1

everything in order and be ready. You have the ring?” Daddy slams what sounds like a tumbler to his desk.

“Andrew, she has been catatonic for two months. She hasn’t even had time to fucking grieve. She’s seventeen. When she comes to, the last thing she will remember is the mother she thought dead stabbing her fiancé. Fuck, Andrew, Joshua bled out in her arms. You are being irrational. Think about it. I cannot propose to her yet, and she will never say yes.”

I clutch the locket Joshua gave me for my 16th birthday, still hanging from my neck. He’s right; that’s all I have, I don’t even know where he was buried. I don’t remember much of anything that happened those first couple of weeks after he died. After he proposed. My mother better stay fucking dead this time. All this time… all the years she was gone… Regardless of what Daddy did, she was the real fucking devil and deserves everything that happened to her. I hate her more than I do them. She was my mother, and from the very beginning, she hated me. Joshua and I were innocent, and yet they targeted us that night. They stole the purest, happiest moment of my entire life and then demolished every part of me. I hate them. My only regret, other than not dying with my love, is that her death was too easy. My thoughts are cut short by Costin’s arrogant ranting.

“Fuck, Andrew, why him? You know I want her; I’ll take care of her! Why not me?” Of course, Costin would throw his hat in the ring. I’m a fucking prize worth billions. However, if any of them gave a shit, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.

“You know why, Costin. Don’t fucking start with me.” Why not him daddy? I mean fuck all of you, but why not him in particular?

“I think you need to worry more about the fact that the girl is in serious need of a sandwich. Have you seen her lately? How can any of you stand here, talking as if what you are doing to her is okay? She is a fucking shell of the girl she was.” Abel stomps into the office, closing the door behind him.

I see red, “Fuck them.” If you care so much, Abel, march your big ass up here, and help me!

“Idiots,” Rachel breathes out. “You need to get moving.”

I march directly into my room, turning to Rachel too quickly, I place a hand on the doorframe to steady myself. “If you’re staying, you’re keeping your mouth shut. If you tell them anything, I will show you how much like my father I really am. Understood?”

She nods, “And what aren’t we telling them?”

“Exactly.” I walk into my closet and pull on my tightest black mini then step into my riding boots, placing my Louboutins in an oversized purse for later.

“Huh.” Rachel grins. “Big night?”

“I can’t do this anymore, I’m done. I’m taking my life back, Rachel. The pain is crushing me, and they-” I gesture to the door. “-can go straight to fucking hell. Let’s see how they like being left in the dark.”

“Good girl, but what about…” she gestures to my pendant and phone.

“Welll.” I drop my phone into the toilet, smiling, knowing that the burner cell in my bag is my real connection to the outside world. “Ooops.”

“And the pendant?”

“Oh, I have the perfect place for that to spend the night.” I smirk.

“Be safe, Lili.” She hugs me tightly. “You will be okay, baby girl.”

Sliding open my window, I toss my pumps out, watching my large bag hit the grass with a thud. Slowly, I climb out onto the closest limb. Careful not to fall, I trace the letters we carved the first night Joshua scaled my wall, ‘You’re worth the risk. J <3 E.’

“I’ll be safe, Rachel, but I refuse to die in this room while everyone else goes on living. What about you? What will you tell them?”

“You were gone when I got here, obviously. I told them to bring in a doctor.” She smirks. “But you know, Andrew knows everything.”

I snort a disgusted laugh. “We’ll see.”

Once I’m on the ground, I wave back up to her and sway on my feet. I’m not sure how I will get out of here like this, but I pick up my oversized purse and sprint to the garage. No cars. Where the fuck are they? There in the corner is the bike Costin gave