Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(6)

Charlie’s piercing green eyes lock on my face, and he’s not hiding anything from me in this moment. Torment is the prevalent emotion shimmering behind his eyes. I can’t tell how he feels about his dad, but the way he feels about his mom is transparent. It’s killing him that she’s hurting, and he wants to erase her pain.

Moments like these give me pause for thought. Perhaps all is not lost when it comes to Charlie, but I won’t ever forgive him. Not as long as I live. There is nothing he can say or do that will ever make his actions okay. I suspect he’s fucked in the head from all the sick shit he’s seen and been forced to do at Parkhurst, but it’s like my brother alluded to a while ago.

When does that responsibility transfer to the person performing the deed? You can’t continue to hide behind the evil and do nothing. There comes a time when you need to step up and be counted. Like Drew is trying to do, I realize. But Charlie seems like he’s tunneling deeper down the rabbit hole.

“Come on, Elizabeth.” I hold her at arm’s length, forcing her to look at me. Her red-rimmed tear-soaked eyes look half dead, and my heart hurts. Elizabeth and Charles Barron were the real deal. They truly loved one another. And I’m looking into the eyes of a woman who has lost half her heart and soul. A stabbing pain slices across my chest, and I’m struggling to breathe, as I imagine what it would be like to lose Kai.

It strengthens my resolve, and I pull her to her feet, gently placing her into her son’s arms. Charlie holds her stiffly, with her back to his front, and I wonder if he’s feeling any remorse, because he did this to her.

Every time he looks at her, for the rest of his life, he’s going to be reminded of it. I wonder if he even considered that. I swipe under her eyes and tuck her hair behind her ears. “I imagine it feels like your world is ending, and I hate what you’re going through, but your daughter needs you.” Elizabeth turns around, looking into the back seat. Lil looks out at us, with tears streaming down her face. “Be strong for her,” I whisper. “And we’ll help you get through it.”

Sniffling, she nods before opening the back door and climbing in beside her daughter.

“Thanks, Abby.”

I shut the door and turn around, pinning hateful eyes on Charlie. “Don’t thank me for cleaning up your mess,” I hiss under my breath. I doubt Elizabeth can hear, because the windows are up and she’s so consumed with grief she’s barely cognizant of her surroundings, but you can never be too careful. “Because I did it for your mother. Not for you.”

“I didn’t know,” he cries, as Drew comes up alongside us. “I swear, I didn’t know he was going to kill him like that,” he says in a low tone.

“Don’t be so fucking na?ve,” Drew snaps in a cold voice. “What the hell did you think he’d do once you told him he was double-crossing him?”

Charlie hangs his head, and his lack of retaliation speaks volumes. He may not have been privy to my father’s specific plans, but he knows exactly the kind of man he is.

And he knew.

Deep down, he knew my father would kill his father.

And he still went ahead with his plans.





CHAPTER THREE


“Is she okay?” Charlie asks, looking up at me from his place on the floor. He’s sitting, with his knees raised, on the plush beige carpet in front of his parents’ bedroom.

“Of course, she’s not okay!” I say, quietly closing the door to the master suite behind me. “She’s just lost the love of her life, and she doesn’t know the half of it.” A weariness sweeps over me, and I sigh. “They are both sleeping now. But we might need to call the doctor tomorrow and get some valium or sleeping pills for your mom. This is not something she’ll get over easily.”

He jumps up, nodding. “Are you hungry?”

“No. My stomach is still a bit queasy from the sleeping gas.” I walk away from him, uncaring if he’s following or not.

“Why didn’t they take you?” he asks, keeping step beside me. I ignore him on purpose, picking up my pace as I stride toward my bedroom. He grabs my elbow, forcing me to stop. “I know you weren’t in on the plan. You couldn’t have known, so your little trip to the bathroom was a lucky break, but it also means you weren’t unconscious when they were in the room.” He pushes me up against the wall, caging me in with his powerful arms. “So, I’ll ask again. Why didn’t they take you?”

“Because I told them not to,” I truthfully admit, lifting my chin and letting him see the honesty in my eyes.

“Why?” His gaze conveys nothing as he stares at me.

“Because I’m done fighting,” I lie. “He has stolen everything from me, and I give up.” Charlie eyes me warily, and he’s right to be on his guard. “I love Kai enough to let him go. Staying with me will only get him killed, and that would destroy me, so I’m admitting defeat.” I slip under his arm, glaring at him. “Congratulations, Charlie. Selling your soul worked. You have me now. I hope it was worth betraying your father and getting him killed.”

I storm to my room, slamming and locking the door behind me. I expect Charlie to follow. To state it’s our wedding night and he’s owed a conjugal visit, but he stays away, and I’m grateful. Even if a part of me would’ve welcomed the argument because I’m dying to lash out at someone.