“I’ll get you an apartment,” Winston clips out, his words cold and businesslike. “There are plenty of furnished places near the office—”
“No.” I let out a groan. “It’s fine. I said Dad will keep me safe.”
Dumb girl. Did you really think he’d beg you to move in with him?
“Don’t be obtuse,” he grunts out. “It makes the most sense, and you’ll be safe.”
“I don’t want a whore’s apartment, okay? I’d rather take my chances with the monsters.”
My heart thunders in my chest as I wait for him to fight for me. Because a real boyfriend would do that. Someone who cared would ask me to stay and not send me to the wolves.
“Speed up,” Winston says once we turn onto my road.
“What? Why?”
“Do it,” he clips out.
“We’re almost there. Are we not going to my house?”
“How did it feel when they were violating you? Cutting your clothes from your body? Stealing your hard-earned money? Ruining you? Hmm, pretty girl?”
His words cause a mixture of violent fury and the desire to melt at his sweet pet name.
“Horrible. I hate them,” I hiss. “They’re monsters.”
“Then destroy what they love.” His blue eyes flash in a maddened way in the darkened vehicle.
What do they love? I already know. The three matching Audis, cars that mean more to them than any other status symbol.
“This SUV can take the hit,” Winston continues. “The airbags aren’t going to come out. It’s designed that way.”
Understanding washes over me like gasoline to my inner inferno of anger at my stepbrothers. Emboldened by his words and the fact I’m safe in this vehicle, I press onto the accelerator.
“It was an accident,” he says, his voice low and commanding. “You accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake. You’re so sorry.”
My heart ratchets in my chest as three matching Audis parked in a row on the street come into view. As I near them, I swerve at the last minute, slamming into the back of the third one. I’m slung forward, the seatbelt bruising my chest as the crunch of metal resounds. All three of the Audis start wailing their alarms. I turn to look at Winston, my mouth gaping in shock.
I can’t believe I just did that.
Holy shit.
“Back it up now,” Winston instructs, guiding me on what to do. “Good girl.”
I’m trembling until his palm covers my thigh, and he squeezes. Knowing he has my back does wonders to calm me. We climb out of the SUV to check out my handiwork.
All three cars are damaged. The car I hit is the worst, crumpled to the point it likely has to be totaled. The one in the middle is sandwiched between the other two. The Escalade has a broken headlight and scraped paint off the bumper, but no other visible damage.
“What the fuck?” Scout roars as he rushes from the house, his psychotic brothers on his tail.
Manda and Dad come running out next as do a few neighbors to check out the big fuss. I turn on the waterworks, bursting into tears because it’s worked wonders in the past to get me out of trouble with my dad.
“I’m s-so sorry,” I choke out, clinging to Winston’s hand. “I accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.”
“You fucked our cars,” Sully whines, gesturing to the middle vehicle. “Mine won’t even be drivable.”
Sparrow paces near the front car, ripping at his hair like he might cry. Scout glares at the third car that’s smashed the worst and cracks his neck.
“Enough, boys,” Dad barks. “Those things can be replaced. Ash cannot. Are you okay, sweetheart? Are you hurt?”
Winston gives my hand a squeeze as Dad approaches me. I let go of him to hug my dad, soaking his shirt with my tears. He pats my back and assures me everything is going to be okay and that I’m safe now. A sob escapes me, but this time it’s for real.
Will it be okay?
Am I safe?
“This is an expensive mistake, Ash,” Manda clips out. “Why were you even driving? You don’t have a car.”
I pull from Dad’s embrace, taking Winston’s hand again. He’s cold and prickly when he wants to be, but right now, he’s playing the part of supportive boyfriend. I’ll definitely reward him later for this, but certainly not from my own whore’s apartment. No thank you.
“Winston bought me a car,” I say, smiling up at him. “He didn’t think all my Uber travels were safe.”
He winces at the word Uber. I nearly crack up laughing.
“At least my car seems fine,” I continue. “I’d have felt awful if I totaled my new car.”
“All that matters is you’re safe,” Winston assures me, laying it on thick. “Right?”
Manda nods as though it pains her to. Dad’s is more convincing. For a split second, I see the dad I love and remember. The one who took care of me after Mom died, doing his damnedest to be both parents for me. My heart aches for what we used to have before Manda sank her claws into him.