Page 19 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
We arrive at the family home I only very recently broke into, and I stare at the beautiful big house. My stomach twists so violently, I clutch at it.
“It’ll be okay,” Tanner says. “Hey, Callie, look at me.”
I look at him, my eyes wide with fear. I don’t know if I’m ready for this. Now we’re here, I don’t know if I can face it. I don’t even know what the hell Tanner and I are, and yet here we are about to drop a bomb on his family, not just one, but two. We’re about to forever change their lives.
“It’s goin’ to be okay, do you hear me?”
I hold his eyes, then nod weakly. “Okay.”
“Let’s go and finish this, once and for all.”
I nod and we get out of the truck. He walks around to my side and takes my hand in his, squeezing, letting me know he’s got my back. I’m grateful for that, considering only weeks ago, he wanted revenge. He wanted me to suffer for what happened to Celia, and now he’s here, on my side, helping me out.
It’s funny how quickly things can change.
How quickly life can throw a curveball.
We reach the front door and my breathing quickens. The moment they see me, they’re going to flip. I know they will. Part of me prays that maybe they’re sympathetic people and they’ll be understanding, but mostly, I think they’ll lose their minds. Why shouldn’t they, too? As far as they’re concerned, Tanner just brought home the girl who killed their daughter.
Not exactly an exceptional first dinner.
Tanner opens the front door, squeezing my hand again before releasing it and stepping inside. We move through the big house, and I fight with every shaky step not to vomit. My mind is spinning, my palms are sweaty, and I don’t know how I’m managing to put one foot in front of the other.
“Tanner, is that you?”
Her voice. Their mother.
It comes from the kitchen, and as she rounds the corner, a huge smile on her face, I watch everything change. Her smile wavers as her eyes lock onto mine, and realization hits her pretty features. Her gasp fills the quiet room and her eyes lock onto Tanner’s full of so much betrayal I want to scream and cover my face so I don’t have to see that look ever again in my life.
“Before you freak out,” Tanner says, “I have good reason to have her here.”
“What possible reason could you have to bring her into my home?” she spits, her voice suddenly filled with acid.
“Mrs Yates,” I begin, but she throws a hand up.
“Get her out of my home, Tanner. Right now.”
“Mom,” he says, stepping forward, “you need to hear what I have to say. You need to know the truth.”
“Truth?” she says, shaking her head, her eyes so sad it breaks me apart. “The truth is she’s a killer, and you brought her into my home. How dare you? How dare you do that to Celia.”
“Mom,” he tries again.
“You need to get her out of my house.”
“Mom,” he takes another step.
“Now, Tanner!” she screams.
“I’ll leave,” I say, my voice shaky, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “I’m sorry to have caused you pain.”
I turn to leave and Tanner’s voice booms through the house just as his dad rounds the corner and sees me, his eyes turning into angry orbs. “She didn’t kill Celia on purpose, Celia killed herself. You need to fuckin’ listen, because this girl went away for somethin’ she didn’t fuckin’ do. I didn’t want to believe it either, but I have proof, god dammit!” he roars.
His mom flinches, his dad’s eyes grow hard, and my feet stay planted on the ground, my body half turned to leave.
“What are you talking about?” Mrs Yates whispers, her voice trembling.
“I didn’t want to have to do this, to bring it all up again, but I made this girl’s life a misery because I wanted revenge for Celia. You don’t know that, but I’ve taken her to hell and back, only to find out that she was fuckin’ tellin’ the truth the whole time. Celia killed herself, Mom, she took her own life.”
“No.” His mom shakes her head, her hands trembling. “No, you’re wrong. Celia was happy. She was happy.”
“She was raped,” Tanner says, his voice calm and yet his body is so tight he looks like he could take down a bear with one hit. “She was attacked by eight men, because of Chase. You want someone to blame, you blame him. Why do you think he disappeared? It wasn’t because of pain; it was because of guilt. I have proof. I have Chase back to tell the damn real story. You need to sit down and let us go over this.”
“No,” his mom sobs, shaking her head. “No, you’re lying.”
