Attest (Centrifuge Duet Book 2)(42)
His reference to my screams, that brought Mik and my twin Benji running into my bedroom to bring an end to our horrific last night together, brings the buried memories to the forefront of my mind. That night was the last time I’d seen him until this afternoon. His guilty plea spared me the ordeal of testifying against him, when his case finally made it to court, nearly two years after his final attack on me.
Try as I might, I can’t stop my mind from returning to that horrible night—a night I try to never think about—and I shiver, my heart pounding as the awful memories overtake me. I don’t want to be anywhere near Brendan again. I’m much stronger than I was back then, but even the new me is going to find it hard to survive his twisted version of love.
I need to escape as soon as possible.
Brendan sits down next me. I scurry to the other side of the king-sized bed but he pulls me toward him by my ankle. Gently picking me up and placing me in his lap, he kisses me with tenderness.
Murmuring between kisses about how much he’s missed me.
Telling me that he still loves me.
Saying that he forgives me for sending him to hell.
It’s an empty checklist of emotion offered by a man incapable of truly feeling any. I drag my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them. Brendan kisses me once more, and again I keep my lips pressed together in futile resistance of the gentle onslaught of his tongue.
His touch brings memories best forgotten to the surface. I push them away, but they persist—a cruel reminder of the first time he kissed me, long before everything turned crazy.
THREE
LAINEY
FIVE YEARS EARLIER
“I’m heading out now. Everything's tidied away. Can you watch Lachie for me?” I yell at my pseudo stepmother, Wendy, as I dry my hands. I say pseudo simply because she’s been like a mother to me since my own mother died when I was ten, but she’s never been able to get my father to marry her. My mother, Alanah, was my father’s one true love. He’s happy to have a relationship of sorts with Wendy, but he isn't able to give her all of his heart because my mother took a fair chunk of it with her when she passed away. As I grow older, I’m stuck between sympathy for Wendy and pride at the depth of my parent’s love.
“Of course, I can, Madelaine.” Wendy scoffs at my question. “Go and have fun with the rest of the kids.” Whatever else she was going to say is halted when she squeals in laughter, her delicate features lighting up as my dad walks past and slaps her ass. I roll my eyes at his antics.
Waving at Dad, I walk outside before he offers to escort me wherever I'm going. My small group of girlfriends hang near the kitchen of the hall where the local community has gathered to ring in the upcoming new year, waiting for me to finish tidying up.
I don’t need Dad’s overprotectiveness embarrassing me once again.
I live in a country town in Central Queensland, and tonight, the entire district is ringing in the New Year at the town hall for the annual New Year’s Eve party. My family moved here six and a half years ago, after my mother died of cancer. We needed a fresh start after failing miserably in our efforts to function as a family without my mom. We’d spent half a year in a family home that had her stamped all over, trying and failing to move past the tragedy. Our move from Brisbane to a new house and a much-smaller town had helped us heal as much as we could.
“I’ll meet you out front for the fireworks. I need to freshen up,” I tell my friends over my shoulder as I make a hasty exit. Dad’s looking my way again, a frown furrowing his brow as I walk off by myself.
I'm heading for the public restrooms when my twin brother Benji surprises me by throwing his arm over my shoulder.
“Why’re you wandering around in the bloody dark by yourself?” he questions. “You should be with one of us. It's not right for you to be out here alone.”
“For crying out loud, I'm going to the freaking bathroom.” I exclaim. Honestly, my brothers are becoming as bad as Dad. “I’m quite capable of doing that all by myself.”
Pushing his arm from my shoulders, I quicken my pace so I can put some space between us before I lose my temper. Benji breaks into a jog to catch up with me, then he digs his fingers into my ribs from behind. I squirm out of his hold, all the while trying not to laugh because I'm ridiculously ticklish. My brother seizes the opportunity to attack again, and this time it’s too much. I break into shrieks of laughter when his fingers find the sweet-spot that is guaranteed to send me into hysterics. Once he’s had his fill of torturing me, Benji turns me to face him. He’s equally red-faced with laughter.
“All right, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone. You know I'm right, though.” He winks at me, seeking a truce. Rolling my eyes in response to his bossiness gives me a small bit of satisfaction, diluting my irritation with him to a manageable level.
“What do you want, Benji?”
“I wanted to see if you're coming to Kyle’s tonight. It's gonna be wicked.”
“I'll think about it.”
Placated that I might make an appearance at his best friend's party, Benji jogs off backward.
“Make sure you do, Maddi. It'll be good for you to get your nerdy nose out of a book for once.”
After he turns away from me, I poke my tongue at his back. He's right. I should hang out with everyone for once. School’s out, and I need a break from studying. I just need to wrangle permission from Dad first.