Dark Devotions by Nichole Greene

Author:Nichole Greene [Greene, Nichole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

14

OLIVIA

The brake line on the rental was cut.

Nolan’s last sentence is like a siren screaming on repeat in my head. Thoughts are swirling inside my brain so much faster than I thought possible. The loudest and most obvious, though, is that I killed my parents.

The minute I saw Tripp and fell for his stupid, fake charm was the minute their death warrants were signed. I don’t feel the cold air stinging my exposed skin or feel the icy and snowy ground under my bare feet. I don’t feel anything except the slow disintegration of the last remaining untouched part of my soul.

My heart feels like it’s beating a thousand miles per hour, but how can that be when it shattered at my feet minutes ago? I can’t hear anything over the roaring sound of the blood in my ears. My eyes sting with tears, but they’re not tears of sorrow, they are tears of rage.

My coat is draped over my shoulders, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Lake drop to his knees and put my feet into my boots. When he stands, he steps beside me but doesn’t say anything. His silent support gets me through the next few minutes of looking back at everything.

I think about all the times my parents were around Tripp and how he always charmed them. He charms everyone. The way he and my dad would spend hours every visit golfing. The ski vacation every Christmas. Was he planning this all along? How can you be so warm and open if you know your end game is destruction and chaos? I can’t wrap my mind around it.

It can’t be financially motivated either. My parents were wealthy, obviously but nothing like Tripp’s family. My couple million should have been peanuts to Tripp, literally about as important as couch change.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but Lake finally speaks as he takes my hand. “I don’t know what you’re feeling right now, but it is valid. I’m here. Nolan is here. Sawyer is here. Grant is—”

He stops when I cover his mouth with my hand. “Not him right now.” I haven’t even let myself start to process the hurt of walking in the room to hear him saying ‘pussy is pussy’ about me. To be honest, it’s the last thing on my mind at this present moment.

Another wave of anguish crashes over me as I double over. It feels like someone has reached into my chest and ripped my heart out. I think about the last time I saw Mom and Dad and how tight they held me. I can still feel their arms around me. A keening sob rips through me.

I look up at Lake, his face blurry from the tears I can’t stop. “Why are you guys even bothering with me? I'm just a beaten and broken mess. Any good part of me that was left, Tripp poisoned. You should just let me go.”

I don’t wait for a response before I start walking down to the pond.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.