Page 87 of Unhinged Kallie
I stormed away from my dad and stared down at Sara-Lee. “Was my mom ever mean to you?”
“No, she was so nice all the time. I swear I never wanted Kirby to get hurt.”
There was no thought, just a reaction as my fist with the coffee mug slammed across her face. My knuckles cracked painfully, and the cup flew out of my hand, crashing to the floor. It shattered like my heart.
“She wasn’t hurt. He killed her, and you helped him. I hate you.” I raised my arm to hit her again but was picked up from behind and pulled away from Sara-Lee. “Put me down!” I roared. “Put me down.” I was blinded by a rage that consumed every fiber of my being.
My dad put me on my feet, and I screamed, trying to maneuver around him, but he was just as fit, fast, and strong as ever. Grabbing me, he pushed me against the wall and pinned me like a bug on my old board.
“Let me go. I’m going to kill her.”
“Enough, Angel.” His hands tightened on my arms, and unless I wanted to hurt my dad to get free, I needed to calm my ass down. I took a shaky breath in and out, following my dad’s lead as he mimicked my breathing techniques. “I understand your anger, I feel your anger, but I need answers from her before she dies. Burton went underground years ago, and I’ve been trying to get a solid lead on him ever since. We need her to stay alive long enough to help us find him.” He gave me a little shake until I focused on him. “Say you understand?”
My lower lip trembled, and my arms shook from squeezing my fists so tightly, but I nodded.
“She doesn’t get to live. She dies painfully, and I don’t care if she meant to get Mom killed or not. She stole my mom from me. She stole her from you.” Tears streamed down my face.
“Her death will be agonizing when the time comes.”
He let my arms go, and I looked away.
“Were you going to tell me any of this?”
“Of course, when I had more information.”
“You mean when I couldn’t screw something up. Right, Dad?” I asked.
“You do have a habit of jumping before thinking. That is not something I’ve made up.”
I walked to the bottom of the stairs and couldn’t figure out how I felt. Stopping, I couldn’t look at my Dad right now. I was too angry.
“I just wish you had the same faith in me that you do, Troy. Sorry about making another mess for you to clean up.”
Running up the stairs, I slammed the door closed and grabbed my shit to go to school. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but maybe someone like Mrs. Peterson would say something to get themselves killed. That would make today a little more bearable.
Chapter Thirty-Three
KALLIE
Rule number two: Never make a decision when you’re angry.
My dad made these rules and told us to follow them, and I memorized them like a good student, but I never fully understood the why until today.
I kept my shit together through first and second periods. Then, made it through lunch like the good fucking girl I am. I was impressed with myself for controlling the seething anger…until last period.
Grabbing my backpack, all I wanted to do was get out of here, go home, and see if Dad had gotten Sara-Lee to talk. Darryl Burton needed one of Uncle Abel’s spikes shoved up his ass. Then he could be put in with the pigs hung just low enough that they could start by eating off his toes. I wanted to hear him scream and beg for his pathetic life as they slowly ate him alive one mouthful at a time.
So, why the universe chose that moment to test me was beyond my understanding.
“Leave me alone, Lisa,” I heard Talon say.
“If you think you’re taking my position, think again.” Lisa didn’t raise her voice, but she sounded pissed. I poked my head around the corner, and she had Talon backed up against the lockers.
My cousin was an oblivious piece of air fluff, but she meant well and never mistreated anyone.
“No that’s not it, I just wanted to practice really hard and had some ideas for the choreography. I didn’t know you designed the routine.”
“Are you saying that my routine is crap? So you go behind my back, show everyone this new routine, get them all excited, and slowly push me out?”
