SANDY POV
Love disgusts .
There’s nothing pure about it. Really, it’s just a convenient word humans invented to make their stupidity sound poetic. If you’re not the one in control, you’re the one bleeding.
Simple.
And walking beside to the rental car are two pri examples of those infested with the disease. Lena and her prison-yard Roo.
Lena’s still naïve enough to see hearts in people who only see opportunity. And Tyler... oh, Tyler is every mistake a woman with standards shouldn’t make. Yet here he is, spouting sweet garbage, and she’s lapping it up like it’s ice cream.
"It was all a mix-up," he says, tone dripping with sincerity he probably practiced in a mirror. "I was just trying to push her boundaries, but she failed the test."
My lips twitch. A test, huh?
Even if I didn’t have his criminal record in my inbox, I wouldn’t buy this pitiful excuse. But tonight, I’m playing the perfect role, the patient, supportive soon-to-be stepmother. So I just nod and hum like a fool.
"I knew it," Lena breathes, her voice tremulous with relief. "You wouldn’t dare do such a thing."
Of course he would, sweetheart. That’s exactly who he is.
When we reach the car, and as Lena opens the door, Tyler slides in first which is actually rude and careless but typical of n like him.
In the mirror, I catch his reflection: an eye-roll, a flicker of smugness. The mont our gazes et, he rearranges his face into sothing innocent. I almost found it funny. His acting skills are as weak as his self-control.
"You know, I actually can’t go back to school yet," he says, layering his voice with self-pity. "The false accusations and all."
"I understand," Lena murmurs, hugging him as if touching him could fix whatever rot festers under his skin.
Pathetic.
He still slls like jail and the monitor around his ankle glinting faintly beneath his jeans. Did nothing to help his issue. Freedom with a leash.
"But you can stay at my dad’s house!" Lena offers brightly. "He’s barely at ho and would barely even—"
Her words cut off. I glance into the mirror to check what’s wrong. Tyler’s face has gone slack and pale. His eyes were unfocused.
"What? Tyler, are you okay?" Lena’s voice quivers.
He doesn’t blink.
"Tyler?" She gives his shoulder a soft push. "You’re scaring ."
Still nothing.
When she shoves him harder, his head knocks against the glass, and suddenly, he’s breathing again faster and disoriented, like soone jolted awake from a nightmare. His hands roam over his arms and chest, checking for... what?
Missing parts?
"What the fuck, dude?" Lena snaps. "You on drugs or sothing?"
He forces a shaky laugh. "Still adjusting to life outside."
Liar.
His eyes are darting around weirdly and they were too alert, too afraid. Whatever he’s seeing isn’t here, but it’s close.
"So should I take you to my dad’s house?" Lena presses, her concern lting into confusion.
He sputters, choking on nothing. "No! I an—no. I’ll be alright elsewhere."
Now that catches my attention. The twitch in his jaw and that familiar traces of panic in his voice. it all points in one direction. Grant.
"I might know soone who knows soone," I say smoothly, letting my tone turn velvety. It’s bait, and he takes it.
"Who is she?" he snaps, far too quickly.
I have to bite back an evil laugh. Oh, if only he knew. If only he realized I was the one holding the strings that kept him alive and free.
"She’s my dad’s girlfriend," Lena chirps, clueless as ever. "My soon-to-be stepmom."
My fake smile strains at the edges and I know That title should feel sweet, but all it does is remind how fragile and sensitive this act is. I’ve spent years perfecting this ga, and I won’t let one junkyard criminal ruin my plans.
"Sorry for the late intro!" Lena giggles. "Sandy, et Tyler. Tyler, et the woman responsible for your early release."
For a second, he just stares blankly then the fucker started laughing in a low and disbelieving sound.
"But she can’t be your dad’s girlfriend." His tone sharpens. "Is this a joke? Your dad isn’t with her."
"Explain yourself, Tyler!" Lena snaps, voice trembling with anger.
I watch him carefully, my nails digging into my palm. He better choose his next words wisely. One wrong sentence, and this entire act burns to ash. I’ve clawed too far, too deep, to lose now.
Soon I’ll be Mrs. Calloway.
I can already see it, the perfect house, the press photos, the power. Once I get Lena to push her father toward , it’ll be over. Grant won’t even realize it until he’s trapped. And Nova will be nothing but a distant mory.
Tyler chose that mont to open his mouth and ruins the picket fence fantasy.
"I an, your dad isn’t with her," he says again, voice dripping with mockery. "She’s thirty, maybe forty. She looks like she could’ve birthed us."
"Twenty-six, you dumbass," I snap before I can stop myself. Heat floods my face. I didn’t spend thousands on skincare to be mistaken for soone’s mother.
Asian skincare products are useless and I’m Switching tomorrow.
"My bad," he mutters, not aning a word.
Lena folds her arms, glaring. "Tyler, you’re being rude."
He smirks, then leans forward, lowering his tone to sothing almost gleeful like he’s telling kids how to get candies without getting caught.
"See, Lena, I’m sorry you have to hear this from , but your dad’s with soone else. I’ve seen them together. Multiple tis. And you wouldn’t believe who it is."
"Who?"
The word leaves my mouth at the exact sa ti as Lena’s But before Tyler can answer, the energy in the car shifts.
It’s small at first, like a drop in pressure, but I feel it crawling up my spine. He’s looking at , no, through , that smug twitch still clinging to the corner of his mouth.
For soone who just got released from the jaws of death he looks too damn arrogant
"You really want to know?" he says, voice low and taunting, like a kid daring a snake to bite. "You wouldn’t believe even if I told you."
"Try ." My tone drops an octave, I was running out of patience while my fingers are digging into my thigh.
Lena’s head whips between us, her voice shaking. "Tyler, what are you talking about? Who did you see with my dad?"
He laughs. Actually laughs. "Oh, sweetheart," he says, turning to her with a mocking grin, "your dad’s not with her." He jerks his chin toward . "He’s with soone else. I’ve seen them. All over each other."
My breath catches before I school my face back into stillness. "You’re lying," I say softly. "And you should be very careful when you lie in front of ."
But he doesn’t stop. Of course he doesn’t. n like him never know when to shut up.
"She’s not his girlfriend, Lena. She’s just so wannabe who likes playing mommy and acting like she runs the show." His laugh darkens. "Your dad’s fucking soone else, babe. And not just anyone. Soone close."
Lena blinks rapidly, confusion morphing into fear. "What are you saying?"
"She doesn’t know?" he asks, smiling, almost pitying. "Oh, that’s rich. You poor girl."
I feel sothing inside snap.
"Watch your mouth," I hiss.
Tyler leans back in the seat, stretching like a cat that’s found a corner to die in. "What? Did I touch a nerve?"
My vision tightens. The world shrinks to his smirk. And then—
A light flashes in the mirror.
Before I could figure out the source of the light, A high fast sound that gives the wrong feelinf builds from behind.
Lena’s saying sothing, but I can’t hear it.
Then—
CRASH.
We all scread then the car lurches sideways. Glass shatters across my face. My head hits sothing cold and wet.
For a mont, the world dissolves into motion: tires spinning, horns blaring, Lena’s voice breaking into a sound that isn’t quite human.
I see flashes off Tyler’s body jerking forward, the seatbelt catching him hard. The dashboard crumpling like paper. My own hands slipping off the wheel.
And then, through all of it, through the smoke and blood and chaos, a voice cuts cleanly through the noise.
It’s right by my ear. calm, precise and full of venom.
"Die, bitch."
Then everything folds in on itself and I fall into blackness.
Reviews
All reviews (0)