Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(118)

“Get out of here before I call security!” Scott yells at      Trent.

Trent’s eyes go flat and he half smiles as he walks past.      Scott tightens his hold as I try to go after him again. Trent won’t forgive me      for trying to run away with Mom. He’ll want revenge and if he can’t extract his      revenge on me then he’ll use Mom as payment.

Scott releases me and blocks the doorway. “What the f*ck is      going on?”

My hand snaps out and points into the hallway. “He hits her.      He hits me. He’s a f*cking drug dealer who uses my mom and if it weren’t for you      and your stupid rules and your stupid blackmail she wouldn’t be here because I      would have been there to protect her.”

A nurse appears in the doorway and I turn from both of      them.

“Is there a problem here?” she asks quietly, quickly, and in      a tone that indicates she knows everyone in this room is f*cked up.

“Everything is fine,” Scott says.

He talks some more, but his voice and the nurse’s become      muffled as I stare at the pathetic creature on the bed. A few hours ago, my      entire world was right. Ryan held me in his arms and I convinced myself that      everything was going to be okay. This is what happens when you believe in hope.      Karma comes around to destroy it.

I sit on the bed and touch Mom’s cold fingers. This is what      death feels like. “Did she die?”

The chatter behind me stops.

“She stopped breathing,” says the nurse. “But the paramedics      gave her naloxone and it counteracted the effects of the heroin.”

Heroin. My heart stops and my lungs ache. Heroin.

My fingers follow the line of her IV, but I purposely skip      the track marks that dot her arms. “How long has she been using?”

The blood pressure cuff swooshes as it releases. The nurse      clears her throat. “We don’t know.”

“When can she go home?”

“She’s asleep now. The doctor will check her when she wakes      and as long as she’s still fine, they’ll let her go.” She whispers something to      Scott. Scott whispers back.

“Elisabeth,” he says, “I’m going to go fill out some      paperwork.”

Meaning he’ll pay her bills. For now. How could I have not      noticed the marks on her arm before? “Okay.”

The room becomes very still except for the steady beat of      Mom’s heart monitor. From the moment my aunt Shirley called Scott, I’ve felt      like I’ve been spinning in the Gravitron from the fair. If I could, I’d crawl      right into oblivion and disappear. I’m tired and all I want is to get off this      damn ride.

“Which one of you punched Trent?” Shirley asks behind      me.

“Both of us. Nice job taking care of your sister.” I knot my      fingers with Mom’s. Does she know I’m here? Probably not. Mom doesn’t even      notice I’m with her when she’s somewhat coherent. “Where have you been?”

“Smoke break.” Shirley hacks her smoker’s cough and Mom      flinches in her sleep. “Who do you think found your mom and dragged her ass into      the alley before I called nine-one-one? If the police went into your mom’s      apartment we’d be in a bigger shit pile than we are now.”

Mom stirs and I wish she’d wake up and tell me she’s sorry.      “Thanks for calling Scott.”

“He’s got money. Make sure he uses it to pay the bills.”      Shirley’s light footsteps come closer to the bed and she rests a hand on my      shoulder. I keep my eyes on Mom, terrified if I glance away she’ll      disappear.

“Two days ago your mom told me a funny story. It was the      type that could start with once upon a time,” says Shirley. “She said you were      coming soon to take her away. Sad part was she also told the whole bar and      someone there told Trent. He got a little pissed.”

A little pissed? Fresh bruises cover the right side of Mom’s      face. Knowing her, she took the heroin to forget the beating, to relieve the      pain.

“You know I don’t believe in fairy tales.” I should never      have left Mom. Never. I should have found a way to leave weeks ago. This is my      fault.

“That’s a shame,” she says. “Because I would have paid to      see that one.”

I jerk my head to look at her.