Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
He wiped away another tear, caressing the side of my face. “Cariño, I’m trying to help you.”
And with that he opened the door.
I scooped her up, carrying her out of the limo. Meeting Rick, who was waiting for us with her crutches on the other side. Her eyes were still tightly shut as I walked us up the empty driveway of the vacant, run down, shitty house. It looked like no one had lived there in years. There were no other houses for miles away. As soon as I got close to the front door, out of nowhere she started fighting me. Punching, clawing, screaming to let her go. I did. Trying to gently place her on the ground before she caused herself more pain.
“Lexi, stop, you’re going to hurt yourself,” I voiced, struggling against her.
Standing on her good leg, she opened her tormented eyes, grabbing the crutches immediately out of my grasp. “All you do is hurt me! Why would you bring me here! You have no right to do this to me! Who the fuck do you think you are?” she screamed, her body shaking.
“Cariño, let me explain. I’m not—” She cold clocked me, making my head sway from the unexpected blow to the face. I grabbed my jaw, moving it around as she shook out her hand from the throbbing.
I couldn’t remember the last time someone hit me.
“I hate you. Do you hear me? I fucking hate you,” she gritted out. Pounding on my chest, shoving me as hard as she could, pissing her off more because I didn't waver.
“You are evil! I fucking hate you, Martinez! What sick fuck would do this to someone! You're not trying to help me, you're hurting me. Just like you always have!”
I caught her wrists in the air. Looking her deep in the eyes, showing her this wasn’t malicious, it was me genuinely trying to execute what haunted her to this day. Blow after blow, the woman I knew was gone. A stranger stood before me. She abruptly turned, roughly jerking her wrists out of my hands. Looking at the house in front of her. Her chest heaving, panting profusely. I could see each and every memory that tortured her course through her mind, wreaking chaos all around her.
She didn’t falter, throwing the crutches on the pavement. Crudely limping toward the side of the driveway, ignoring the throbbing pain in her leg. Each step more determined than the last. Stumbling, almost falling to her knees. It took everything in me not to run to her, not to pull her into my arms and take her away. But she needed to face her fears, her darkness, her past. She leaned forward grabbing as many stones that lined the driveway and stood back up, teetering, the rocks overpowering her.
“Cariño—”
She fiercely started hurling the stones at the house. One right after another, losing her balance with each forceful throw that erupted from her frail frame. Endless sobs escaping her mouth, her body shaking with fury. The windows shattered causing shards of glass to splatter everywhere. Deep, hard dents mangled the front door, and the siding came loose, falling off the sides of the house. Leaning forward again, she grabbed more stones, throwing, aiming, and chucking handfuls in all directions toward the dump. Frantically trying to bring down the house that caused her so much pain.
“You were never there for me!” Another stone ricocheted. “You left me with a monster! A fucking predator!” Another. “You were supposed to be my mother! You didn’t do shit for me!” Three more stones. “I have no one in this world! I’m by myself! I’ve always been by myself!” Stone after stone after stone recoiled off the fallen house as she bawled her eyes out. “I fucking hate you! You sorry excuse for a fucking mother!”
I’d never seen anyone breakdown like that before. Yet, I stood there watching her in silence, not even my touch would ease her pain now. Her mind was running wild, she couldn’t get it to stop, the memories and images playing out in front of her, with no end in sight. Remembering the last time she was let down. Hurt and rejected.
“I hope he’s burning in fucking Hell! I hope someone murdered him, making him feel nothing but the pain! The pain he put me through for years!” She threw every last rock she could at the house. Frustrated her handy work wouldn’t tear it down.
Losing her footing, she fell to the ground. Screaming out in pain. Instantly placing her hands over her ears, trying to tune out the voices that surrounded her everywhere. Desperately trying to shut out the past. I lunged into action unable to hold back any longer, falling to my knees right beside her. Pulling her convulsing body into my arms. She didn’t fight me. The strong, fearless woman was gone. Replaced by a scared, lost little girl who still remained inside of her. I rocked her back and forth, trying to soothe her, whispering reassuring things in her ear.