Page 20 of Rascal

“Yeah, well, I’m counting the days for the DA to re-arrest you. And this time, I’ll guarantee you stay there! Sending me death threats won’t make me change the truth.”

“Death is too good for you, Shane. I want to see you suffer. Have you understand the fear I suffered, watch you lose everything important to you.”

“Hallie, you’re insane!” Shane yelled.

“You made me that way! You and that goddamn bitch you’re covering for. Who is she, Shane? Was she worth it?” I shouted.

“There was no one, Hallie, just you. You won’t gaslight me into admitting anything else!” Shane roared.

“I’ll get revenge, Shane. Once the truth comes out, and the world knows what you are, I’ll keep going. I’ll destroy everything, and I mean everything, to make you pay. This isn’t over,” I snapped.

I was almost choking on my anger and pain.

Shane stood there, still acting innocent and betrayed. But King, Harry and I almost had the full truth. The Attorney General had sent someone to my hometown to check the evidence boxes there. That missing footage had to be there. One of the witnesses had made a statement saying that he’d given the police a copy from his shop, but it wasn’t logged.

“Hallie, you’re grasping at straws,” Shane growled.

“Enough,” ordered a man with Shane.

“No, you are. Enjoy your last few days of freedom.” I turned and walked away.

“Hallie, we haven’t finished!” Mom cried.

I paused and glanced back. “I don’t know you, nor do I care about you, and don’t want you in my life. You’re all trash, just like him; you belong together.” And with that parting shot, I headed into the hotel.

Rascal

“That was the biggest fuck-up you could have made,” Chance remarked, shaking his head.

“You looked guilty,” Bear replied.

“But I’m not! She stabbed me,” I yelled.

“The more you keep saying it, it’s almost as if you’re trying to convince yourself!” Banshee added.

I offered them a dirty look and stared at the Miltons.

“How were you capable of doing that to Hallie?” Mrs Milton demanded, wiping tears from her eyes.

“I trusted you, son,” Mr Milton said.

“Hallie’s lying, as she always does. I told the truth.”

“You cost us our daughter,” Hallie’s mom cried.

“Oh no, you don’t get to put that on me! You raised that psychotic little bitch. Hallie was spoiled, overindulged, and used to getting her own way.” Even as the words left my mouth, I knew I was wrong. That hadn’t been Hallie at all. Hallie had been kind and generous, which was why her betrayal shocked me so badly. Nobody could have seen it coming. I certainly hadn’t, and I’d paid for it.

“I need to ride,” I said.

“Are you running away?” Mrs Milton demanded.

“No, I’m escaping from the absolute toxic fuck-up your family is. You’re all whacked in the head and vile,” I declared and left. Eyes bored into my back, but I roared out. With Hallie at the hotel, I didn’t require protection.

As I hit the open road, I was shocked at how much Hallie had changed. Prison had done a number on her. Old Hallie would never have spoken to her parents with such levels of hate. She’d adored her entire family. Hallie had been soft and gentle; now she was hate and vinegar. I guess her true colours were finally showing.

I shook my head. They seemed like two separate women.

I rode for a while before parking up and gazing at Spearfish. Sitting in front of my bike, I stared aimlessly as I rummaged through my memories. I was starting to doubt myself even when I shouldn’t.