Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(131)

“I...don’t...know.” Which means she does know.

I swing the bag full of stuff and knock her liquor bottles      off the bedside table. Glass shatters against the wall. “That’s what Trent’s      going to do to your head one of these days. We’re getting out of here!”

Frustrated, I stalk out of the room and quickly glance      toward the spare bedroom. The door is open for once and I freeze. “You have got      to be f*cking kidding me.”

I rest my head against the door frame—too dizzy with      disappointment to stay upright on my own. On an old coffee table I found near a      Dumpster a couple of years ago are several bags of white powder. Smaller baggies      and balloons lie on the floor. I can barely whisper the words. “You’re selling      heroin.”

Mom shoves me out of the way and shuts the door. “No. Trent      does. I used to let him keep it here overnight at times, but after the night you      busted out his windows the police got nosy with him so he brought it here for      good. It was the least I could do.”

My fingers open and close. “You busted out the windows of Trent’s car. I took      the fall so they wouldn’t send you to prison.”

“Pretend you didn’t see it, Elisabeth. Trent will be mad you      know. He thinks you ratted him out to the police.”

“What the f*ck is wrong with you?” I shout in her face. “Do      you not remember the outcome of our last heroin experience?” Forming a gun with      my fingers, I point it to my forehead. “He was going to kill me, Mom. I was      eight years old! He pushed the gun against my head and cocked the damned      trigger.”

Mom shakes her head too quickly and won’t stop. “No, he      wouldn’t have. Your father said he was just trying to scare me and your dad.      Your father said you were safe the whole time. He swore it.”

How can she lie to herself so easily? How can she continue      to turn away from the truth again and again? Then Mom rubs her arm. I stumble      back and hit the wall. God, I’m no different. All the signs of a heroin user      were there, for weeks if not longer, and I ignored every single one.

But I’m not ignoring the truth, not anymore. I go into the      living room and start throwing crap off the kitchen counter to find her keys.      I’ll drag her out by her hair if I have to. The knob on the front door turns and      my heart squeezes and drops. I’ve taken too long and Trent is going to kill      me.





Chapter 69

Ryan

BETH BLINKS RAPIDLY when I      walk in. Standing in a tiny kitchen, she holds a garbage bag. I’ve never been so      relieved to see anyone in my life. Nor have I ever craved to shake someone so      badly.

“Going somewhere?” I focus on remaining calm. Beth doesn’t      react well to threats or anger or anyone standing in the way of her doing      anything.

Beth turns her back to me and throws papers and trash onto the      floor. “Get out.”

“Fine with me. Let’s go. We’ve come into Louisville twice for      dinner and we have yet to have that date.”

Beth leaves the kitchen and rummages through a card table. Her      hands shake and her face is too pale against her black hair. “I’m not playing,      Ryan. Mom and I are leaving today. That’s been the plan the entire time,      remember?”

“It was.” My eyes dart around the confined room trying to      pinpoint the threat that has Beth terrified. Adrenaline pours into my      bloodstream, preparing me for the unseen attack. “But you changed your mind on      Saturday.”

A woman enters the living room. Too thin. Stringy blond hair.      It’s the first time I’ve seen Beth’s mother up close. “Who are you?” she      asks.

I force myself to look into her flat eyes. They’re the same      color as Beth’s, but without the shine. “I’m Beth’s boyfriend, Ryan.”

Her lips struggle into a weak smile. “You have a boyfriend,      Elisabeth?”

Beth tosses an empty plastic two-liter onto the floor.      “Ex-boyfriend. He f*cked me and then he told his mommy and daddy he hated me.      Where are the damned keys, Mom?”

My calm snaps. “I didn’t do that to you. If you’ll give me a      chance I’ll explain about my parents.”

“Mom!” Beth screams and her mother flinches. “Keys. Now!”