The Darkest Corner of the Heart by Lisina Coney

Author:Lisina Coney [Coney, Lisina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

Maddie

I changed into my loungewear as soon as I got home, right after texting James.

Me: Just got home. I’ll probably take the longest nap known to humankind now, lol

A moment later, an unknown number texted me. I immediately knew it was him.

James: You mean like this?

Then he attached a picture of Shadow and Mist all cuddled up on his couch.

Me: Sooooooo cute

James: Can’t argue with that. Take it easy today, Maddie

As soon as I read his last text, I threw myself in bed, covered my shivering body with blankets, and dialed my brother’s number. I don’t want to do this, but if I’m not brave right now, I know I’ll never be.

The phone rings once, twice.

“Princess?”

A weight I’ve been carrying for far too long leaves my shoulders the second I hear my brother’s voice.

“Sammy,” I breathe out, relieved to hear his voice. It feels like a lifetime since the last time we spoke, and now I need him more than ever.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, all his fatherly instincts kicking in right on cue like they always do.

That breaks me.

My brother doesn’t deserve any of this. He’s been through enough in his life, starting with a mother who was too young when she had him and a father who left before he was even born.

He loves me, and I love him, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I grew up with him, but I still hate this.

I hate that I’m his problem.

When will I let him live his life and not make him worry about his little sister, who can’t seem to look after herself?

Tears run down my cheeks, chasing an endless finish line, and I break down.

“Maddie. Talk to me.” He never calls me by my name, and it only makes me cry harder, knowing that I’m making him upset. “Did you get hurt again?”

Not in the way he’s imagining.

He won’t see this coming, and it will break him too.

Why can’t we live in peace? Is it because of me?

Of course it’s you.

“Pete,” I hiccup. A deafening silence greets me from the other line, and I can only imagine what’s going through his head. “I saw him last night. H-He came…for m-me. To see me. He found me.”

“Fucking hell,” I hear him mutter under his breath, and then he’s moving. “Wait a second, okay? Don’t hang up.”

I hear a door closing, muffled voices, and then my brother speaks again. “You’re on speaker now. Grace and I are here. Tell us what happened, princess.” His voice sounds softer, probably because his wife has calmed him down.

I sniffle. “Where’s Lila?”

“She’s at a friend’s birthday party,” Grace answers. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

We’re not done here, Maddie. You’re my daughter, and I won’t let you get away this time.

My father’s cruel words grip at my chest and force me to speak.

I tell them about how he waited for me outside of Monica’s Pub, about how he’d been following me around for a while. I tell them he wasn’t aggressive, but that he was adamant in keeping in touch when I told him I didn’t want to.

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