ALL THE RAGE (writer: T.M. Frazier)(84)
“Did you get the wood chopped?”
My heart sinks. Damn. All week I’ve been walking around in a state of semi-anxiety, knowing I’ve forgotten something. “I’m planning on doing it tonight,” I say quickly. “I was busy with the shopping.”
Damon’s face turns from dispassionate to angered.
“You know, Cass, you’re useless. Can’t even get out of bed in time to do your chores. Do you know how goddamn hard I work to keep this house paid up?”
I swallow cold coffee, unmoved by Damon’s martyr speech. For the first time this morning, I notice his face is puffed out on one side, and there’s a small cut above his right eye.
“What happened to your face?” I ask, taking another bite of toast.
Damon just glares at me with those eyes.
“Get dressed,” he says, making a face after he drains his last inch of coffee. “I have no idea how you make this sludge taste good, but damn.”
“Maybe I’ll be a barista when I grow up,” I say sarcastically. It’s an old joke from happier times. The closest Starbucks is a two hour drive from here, and besides, I really don’t want to get out of Gun Creek just to sling coffee.
Damon stares at me, unimpressed. “Hurry. Up. Or I’ll take you to school in your f*cking pyjamas.”
“The boys would love that,” I reply, pushing my chair back and standing. I jump as a hand curls around my upper arm and yanks me back.
“That’s not funny,” Damon grinds out. “You want everyone thinking you’re the town whore like Jennifer?” Ouch. “No,” I say softly.
His hand squeezes tighter. “You know what happens to girls like Jennifer?”
“Yeah,” I say, meeting his steely gaze. “I’m thinking it’s pretty similar to what happens to girls like Karen.”
He doesn’t say anything for a beat. Then, apparently satisfied, Damon drops his grip and I hurry upstairs.
I drag jeans and a clean long-sleeved shirt on, scraping my long blonde waves up in a messy ponytail. Function takes place over form in winter, at least for me. I don’t have the energy for all that bullshit preening and careful wardrobe selection that other girls do. Girls like Jennifer. Girls like Karen Brainard. They put so much effort in, and look where it gets them. Taken. Dead. Floating in a creek.
In the bathroom, I don’t bother with makeup. Makeup draws attention, and the last thing I want is for anybody to look at me too closely. Some days I feel like I’m made of glass, my clothes and my hair and my downturned eyes the only things that stop the light from getting in, from showing the world what’s happening within me. Who’s touched me. Who’s been inside me.
Nobody can ever know the things I’ve done.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lili is a USA Today bestselling author who has sold over a million books since January 2014. After the success of her self-published Gypsy Brothers series, she was approached by HarperCollins Publishers, who signed her CARTEL series in a six-figure, three-book deal. The Gypsy Brothers series focuses on a morally bankrupt biker gang and the girl who seeks her vengeance upon them. The Cartel series is a prequel trilogy of full-length novels that explores the beginnings of the club.
Aside from writing, her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, searching for good coffee in her home town of Fremantle, watching Tarantino movies and finding new wine to drink.
You can read more at www.lilisaintgermain.com