Dante
I woke up to loud knocking at my door, probably the receptionist or one of the counsellors telling me I was late for a session. It was the day after I’d gone to see Killer. I’d wanted to spend that night with my brother Ash, but Jade had insisted that I return to rehab straight away, the bastard not taking no for an answer. Not like I wasn’t going to return, since I wanted to talk to Clara, but he was being a right bitch about it, all uptight because he’d caught me ogling the whiskey at the club.
The knocking continued. I sat up in bed and yawned, not appreciating being woken up. It wasn’t like I had to go to the sessions... Okay, that wasn’t entirely true, but still, the sessions bored me to tears. I was sick of hearing the other patients blabber on about their problems. I had enough of my own, I didn’t need to listen to theirs too.
A male voice called out, “Dante Rata, please open the door or we’ll be forced to unlock it.”
“Hold up, you woke me,” I said, wondering what the shit their problem was. I’d slept in before without issue.
“Just open the door.”
“Jesus, give a guy a break,” I said, sliding out of bed.
I grabbed my jeans and pulled them on without underwear, then went for the door. It opened before I could get a hand to it. The same guard who’d eyed Kara up like a cock warmer stepped inside, along with the blond arsehole of a counsellor.
“For fuck’s sake,” I snapped. “You have no right to come into my room.”
“It’s not your room anymore, you’re leaving,” the counsellor replied.
“Why the fuck for? My manager paid you lot a shitload of money for the month.”
“Which he’ll be refunded in full.”
“Are you kicking me out cos of Clara?”
“No, you broke the rules, leaving the premises yesterday without permission. Not only that, you’ve been linked to a person who’s been charged with breaking into one of our counsellor’s homes, as well as attacking our receptionist’s friend.”
My eyes widened. “What the fuck? Did you get Killer arrested?”
“Not me, our receptionist laid the charges.”
“But he didn’t do it!”
“The police believe he did.” He smiled at me, obviously enjoying my upset.
I closed the distance between us, wanting to smash the smarmy prick’s face in. The pissant quickly stepped behind the security guard, shying away like the coward I knew he was.
“Pack your bags, you’re leaving now,” the chicken shit said, still hiding behind the guard.
I sneered at him. “Fuck your rehab, it’s shit anyway.” Furious, I turned to my bed and snatched up the Bob Marley shirt that I’d worn the day before, yanking it on, then grabbed my bag, which I hadn’t unpacked yet. Once ready, the counsellor and the security guard escorted me to the reception, where Clara’s friend was glaring at me.
She handed over my phone. “Good riddance.”
I flicked her the finger and keyed in Jade’s number, snapping out, “Pick me up, I’ll explain later.” I hung up, giving the receptionist another glare. “You don’t know what you’ve done pinning this shit on Killer.”
“What do you mean by that?” she said, a touch of worry flitting across her face.
“I’d move if I were you.”
The security guard stepped forward. “Don’t threaten her! And don’t think I’m not going to report what you just said.”
“Report it, but I won’t be the one she’ll need to be worried about. She reported a gang member, you don’t do that without consequences.” I looked back at her, seeing her expression pale. She had every right to be scared, because one way or another, my club was going to come after her for what she’d done to Killer.
Not saying another word, I headed for the door, already keying in my dad’s number, knowing he’d want to be brought up to speed about Killer.
***
I tapped my foot against the floor, pissed off that Clara hadn’t stopped her mate from laying the complaint. I’d fucking told her I’d sort it, but what did she do? Let an innocent man get thrown to the lions... or more like the pigs. I looked across at the pig behind the desk. The copper was glancing at me every so often, probably thinking I was going to cause shit since I was so hyped. Nothing a few—or a hundred—shots of whiskey wouldn’t cure. I lifted my chin up at him, giving the nosey bastard a smile, knowing it would make him look away. And it did, the copper averting his gaze, back to minding his own fucking business.
I leaned the back of my head against the wall, still irritated with having to wait for so long. The Skins’ lawyer was still in with Killer, taking ages talking to the cops, which meant that Killer probably didn’t have an alibi, the poor bastard up shit creek without a paddle.
A hand landed on my thigh. “Calm down with the tapping, the police might think you’re high.”
I smacked Jade’s hand off me. “Drugs ain’t what I want, and you know it.” I licked my lips. “Whiskey, vodka, I’d even take those girly drinks you like.”
“Which is why you should never have left rehab yesterday. If you’d just done what you were supposed to, you wouldn’t have been kicked out. Your club’s lawyer will look after Killer, while you need to learn to look after yourself.”
I gave him a sidelong glance. “That counsellor had it in for me. He would’ve used any excuse to kick me out.”
“Regardless, now I have to find you a new rehab.”
“Not interested.”
He frowned at me. “It’s not a matter of whether you’re interested or not, it’s part of your contract.”
“So, you’d tear the paperwork up all cos of rehab?”
“You know that’s not why. You’re an alcoholic, Dante. You need to get better.”
“I don’t need any help from useless counsellors, I’ll do it on my own.”
“And how has that worked out for you in the past?” he asked, snidely.
I sneered at him. “Fuck you, bitch.”
His lips quivered. “I’m only doing this because I care for you, like your brother cares, your family cares.”
I looked away from him, the bitch not adverse to using emotional blackmail against me. “Then hire someone to look after me at home. Get ’em to follow me around, making sure I don’t fall off the wagon. You’d pro’bly save a shitload doin’ it that way.”
“Actually...” he drew out. “That’s not a bad idea, plus you could still work that way.”
“Good, it’s sorted, hire whatever chick you want to baby me.”
“A male will be a better fit.”
I gave him a sly grin. “I’m not into male arse.”
He scowled at me, knowing I was taking a jab at him. “And that’s why I’m not going to hire a woman. You’ll have her on her back within seconds.”
“Nah, she’ll have me on my back, riding my cock like you want to.”
“Dante! Show some respect, I’m your boss.”
I shrugged. “You could be the Queen of England and I’d treat you the same.” I threw him another smile. “Actually, you are kind of a queen.”
He grunted. “I really don’t know why I put up with you.”
“Cos you looove me.”
He didn’t reply, what I’d said true.
The door that led to the interrogation rooms opened. But instead of Killer, some ugly sonofabitch with a pock-marked face stepped through the doorway. Annoyed at having to wait for so long, I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back into my chair, spreading my legs to get more comfortable.
Jade muttered something, pulling my attention back to him. He was glaring at something across the room from us. I followed his gaze, catching a couple of birds eye-fucking me. Nothing new. If anything, Jade should be happy that the chicks liked me, especially since it would be money in the bank once I cut some music for him.
“Quit glaring at your customers,” I said.
He turned his head to me. “What?”
“Those chicks. The more birds who fancy me, the more records you’ll sell. Money in the bank, dude.”
He scowled at me. “There won’t be any records if you don’t stay clean. It’s going to be full-on hard work.”
“As if. Singing and writing songs’ll be a walk in the park.”
“There’s a lot more involved than singing and writing. Once the album’s released, we’ll have tour dates all over the country, interviews, then we’ll be going overseas. You’ll be hopping from hotel to hotel...”
I raised a hand. “Hold up, you’re gettin’ way ahead of yourself. We hafta make the album first.”
“I have all the songs ready, you just need to sing them.”
I sat up straighter, not believing what I was hearing. “You said I’d be involved with writing the songs.”
“You’ve been out of commission for too long due to your drinking. I couldn’t wait anymore, so I had L write them.”
I shook my head. “That wuzn’t the deal, I wanna sing my own work. I don’t mind L’s help, but I don’t want her doin’ everything. It’s me who has to sing it.”
“L’s a brilliant writer and producer, and stop calling him a she. You know L goes by male pronouns.”
“But she looks like a girl.”
“She...” He grunted. “Now you have me saying it. He is intersex, and said that since he still has male parts, he’s a he.”
“She has female parts too, or have you missed those tits of hers?”
Jade’s lips pulled into a disgusted expression. “Don’t be so vulgar.”
I grabbed my crotch. “You love it when I’m vulgar.” I flicked my tongue at him, laughing when he blushed.
“Don’t do that in public,” he hissed.
“Whatever, and back to L. I thought she wanted to get her clit of a willy chopped off.”
“He’s rethinking it, getting a bit of cold feet. But he said that we’re to call him a he until he has the op done, so stop being so disrespectful.”
“I’m not, it’s just hard callin’ L a he when she doesn’t look like one.”
Jade threw his hands up. “You’re impossible, Dante.”
“Don’t care, and I wanna hear L’s songs before I agree to recording ’em, cos if I don’t like ’em, I will be doin’ my own music.”
“I’m paying.”
“With my reputation if you give me shite music.”
“The only reputation you have is you’ve slept with half of your neighbourhood.”
I glared at him. “You’re this close to gettin’ that record deal shoved up your fuckin’ arse.”
“Will you shove the money that comes with it up there too?” He did a little shimmy, obviously thinking he’d one-upped me. Bitch. Because he had. He grinned, knowing it.
I gritted my teeth, and looked away from him, getting smiles from the women across from us, my gaze happening to fall on them. The bleached blonde pushed up from her seat, looking like she was going to approach me, but a flash of pink in my periphery caught my eye, drawing my attention to the station’s entrance.
Clara stepped inside, wearing a long-sleeved gypsy top with tassels and a flowing skirt, so different to the conservative skirts and blouses she used to wear to class. I sat up straighter, the thought coming out of nowhere. I’d never remembered her from class, but there she was in my mind’s eye, standing in front of my Year Eleven English class, dressed in a pink blouse and a smart suit-like skirt, with her long blond hair tumbling over her shoulders.
But here, now, she looked totally different... and even more appealing, especially with the way she was glaring at the woman heading my way, her jealousy making me smile. The fake blonde stopped a few feet from me and glanced over at Clara, probably checking what had caught my attention. Clara all but shot her down with one hell of an evil look. The blonde held up her hands as though Clara was pointing a gun at her and backed away slowly, obviously assuming Clara was my woman. Clara watched her until she sat back down, the whole scene amusing me no end.
Clara turned her attention to me, giving me a scowl as though I’d invited the woman over. Having none of that, especially after what she’d done to Killer, I pushed to my feet and went to her.
“What did I say ’bout Killer?” I said, stopping in front of her. “That I would take care of the situation.”
“It wasn’t me, it was...” she petered off, withholding her friend’s name.
“I already know that Betty Boop bitch dobbed Killer in, she admitted it. But you let her lay the charges, even though I said I’d clear things up.”
She grimaced. “I didn’t let her, she’s her own woman, and in all truth, I don’t blame her for doing it, because he did look guilty. Georgie’s friend, the one who got attacked, lives in Clevedon, which is near your club.”
“Well, it wasn’t Killer, cos he wouldn’t have left her alive.”
She swallowed, looking like she well and truly believed me. “If he’s innocent, he’ll get off.”
“As if. Killer isn’t lily white like you.” I flicked her nose, getting my hand smacked away.
“Don’t do that,” she snapped.
I sneered at her. “Then how ’bout you don’t assume the same rules apply to Killer as they do for your kind.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “My kind? I’m an ex con, so don’t play the race card.”
“You went to jail for a reason, while the cops don’t need jack shit to lock Killer up. He just has to sneeze and they come down on him. Add the fact he has multiple personalities, and he has a whole squad up his arse when an accusation is pointed his way. The cops are pro’bly thinking his psycho side did this.”
“Does he have an alibi?”
“If he had, do ya think he’d still be in there?” I said, pointing to the door that led to the interrogation cells. “Nah, he’d be at the club, wanking off to one of my dad’s photos.”
Embarrassment reddened Clara’s cheeks, her eyes flicking around to see if anyone had heard what I’d said. “Keep your voice down, remember where you are,” she hissed.
I barked out a laugh. “Love, I’ve been in the cop shop more times than you’ve blown your pretty li’l nose, so I’ll say whatever I damn well like.”
She lifted her chin up. “Not while I’m your counsellor.”
“Haven’t you heard? I’ve been kicked out.”
“I’m going to find a way to get you back in.”
“Not interested, especially with your li’l boyfriend pulling the strings.”
“Simon’s not my boyfriend. And I will do everything in my power to help you.”
“Why bother? You don’t really want me there. You’d much rather I disappear so you can go back to your safe li’l world without me messing it up.”
She frowned. “You’re not messing it up and I do want to help you, but on my terms.”
“What terms?”
“That you do whatever I say.”
I winked at her. “Sure, love, I’m happy to do whatever you say.”
She scowled at me. “Don’t turn this sexual.”
I sniggered, the woman so easy to wind up.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You are so rude.”
“State the obvious, why don’t cha. By the way, how’ja find me?”
She indicated to Jade. “He told me where you were.”
I glanced at Jade, surprised the jealous bitch had offered up info to a chick.
His gaze went between us. “I thought she was calling to take you back to the clinic.”
“I needed to ask Dante if Killer was innocent,” Clara said, “and if he was, I was going to clear Killer’s name.”
I smiled down at her. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, giving me a soft smile in return, her annoyance gone in a second.
Silence fell between us, the both of us just standing there, staring at one another, Jade all but disappearing. But it didn’t feel awkward. Instead, she made me feel safe, which was strange, considering where I was, cop shops always making me feel uneasy.
I took a step closer, a whisper away from pressing myself against her. She didn’t retreat, just kept staring up at me. She looked so small, much smaller than my memory of her standing in front of my English class. But it didn’t detract from how fine she was, the woman definitely my type. Kara was my type too. If anything, Kara and Clara resembled each other quite a lot, my two aras remarkably similar in looks, just with very different styles.
“You remind me of my ex, even have a similar name,” I said, lifting my hand to touch her hair. She didn’t move away, didn’t say anything either. “You’re also possessive like her. You stared down that chick like you own me. Kara does that too, along with other things.” Violence one of them. I lowered my hand. “What makes you that possessive? You said you used to love me. Do you still love me? Or do ya just wanna get with me?”
“I... I can’t be with you.”
“I’m not asking you to, just wanna know why you stared down that chick. And if you love me.”
“I never said I did.”
“You look at me like you do.”
She didn’t reply, her cheeks flaming up like candyfloss on a summer’s day.
“So, you do still love me,” I said, the woman not denying it.
She pulled a face, clearly uncomfortable, her silence reinforcing my thoughts.
I continued, “If you love me, why aren’t you tryna get it on with me?”
“I’m your counsellor.”
“Not anymore, and at least it’s better than bein’ my teacher.”
She scowled at me. “Stop bringing that up.”
“Fine.” My gaze returned to her hair. “By the way, why pink?”
Her scowl dropped, embarrassment once more taking over. “You said pink would look good on me, that or lavender.”
“Your favourite colour.”
Her eyes went wide. “You remember my favourite colour?”
I shook my head. “You wear a lot of purple, I just assumed it wuz.”
Disappointment crossed her face. “Oh.”
I touched her hair again. “I like this colour better than your blonde hair.”
Her face lit up. “You remember that?”
“I already told’ja I did.” I licked my lips. “It looked sexy as fuck when I wuz fucking you on your desk.”
Her face went even brighter. She opened her mouth, but whatever she was going to say was cut off by a familiar voice hollering my name. My dad barrelled through the station’s front entrance, the smile on his face directed at me. I stepped around Clara to greet him, not surprised that he’d turned up to make sure Killer was all right. Despite running from his ex, I got the distinct impression he’d prefer to run back to him.
My dad pulled me into a hug. “Good to see ya, son,” he said, giving my back a friendly, but hard slap.
I let go of him. “Yeah, ’bout time you came back to Auckland.”
“I told’ja I would, plus there’s no way I’d let Killer go to jail.” He rummaged in his leather jacket, pulling out wads of cash. “Got a shitload of money to bail him out.”
“Fuck,” I said, shoving his hands back. “Put that away before the pigs get ideas.”
“It’s not stolen, I worked for it. Rich bitches pay a shitload to get their panties scared offa ’em.” He grinned, looking pleased with himself, although I was sure Killer wouldn’t be so pleased that my dad wanted to bail him out with his whoring money.
I shook my head. “You know the club will post bail if he needs it.”
He shrugged. “Wuzn’t sure they would help him, since most of the club hates his guts.”
“Except for the chicks.” I sniggered. “And Jade, but then again, he’s basically a chick.”
“Who’s Jade?”
I indicated to my manager.
My dad’s gaze moved to Jade, who took a quick step back, fear colouring his face. “Yeah, I bet I know why you like Killer, princess,” my dad grunted. “You wanna help yourself to his enormous cock.”
Jade shook his head, obviously too scared shitless to speak. And I couldn’t blame him, because my old man was one scary motherfucker, and it had nothing to do with the tribal tattoo covering most of his face. He was a powerful-looking man, all muscle, his shoulders as wide as Hercules’s, while his dark eyes were as hard as nails, which were right now zeroed in on Jade, who looked like he’d shat his Calvin Klein’s.
“Nah, he’s here to help me,” I said. “Jade’s my manager and music producer. The one who’s gonna make me famous.”
The sneer instantly left my dad’s face, a smile replacing it. “Well, that changes everything.” He held out a hand for Jade to shake. Jade stared at it as though my dad wanted to rip his hand off.
“Jade, shake my dad’s hand,” I said. “He’s not gonna hurt you in a cop shop, you pussy.”
Visibly swallowing, Jade extended his hand, which was shaking all by itself. He let out a squeak as my dad grabbed hold, pumping his hand vigorously.
“I appreciate what you’re doin’ for my son,” my dad said.
I nudged my dad. “By the way, you’re right, Jade would love Killer to fuck him, he even got a boner over him.”
My dad went still, while Jade inhaled sharply. I laughed, the stare down my dad was giving him way more severe than what Clara had given the chick earlier. Jade squeaked again, my dad’s grip obviously having intensified.
“Let go of his hand, Dad,” I said, smirking.
My dad growled, but still let go. He stepped in close to Jade, who went to step back, but instead froze as my dad lowered his head. “I’ll break you in two if you dare touch Killer, understand?”
Jade nodded vigorously.
My dad’s severe expression disappeared. He patted Jade on the head, the gesture clearly done in a condescending manner, though I didn’t think Jade noticed, the guy too petrified.
I laughed, getting payback for Jade one-upping me. Childish, yeah, but highly amusing. I grinned at my dad, glad he was here, not for making Jade shit himself, but just to see him.
“I thought you said you didn’t wanna be anywhere near Killer?” I said.
“Just needa make sure he gets out, then I’ll leave.”
“He might follow you.”
“Which is why I should head out now. I’ll go scab a ciggie from someone and wait until you call me, tellin’ me he’s out.” He patted his pocket. “You sure you don’t need the bail?”
I nodded. “I’m sure, Dad.”
He smiled. “Guess I’m sweet for a while. Won’t hafta fuck any chicks anytime soon... unless I wanna.” His attention shifted to Clara, my dad clearly checking her out, then recognition hit, his eyes going wide. “You bitch,” he snapped, going for her.
I shoved him back, getting a yell from the cop behind the counter. I glanced over at him, noticing that all the other cops were also watching us. “It’s all right, officers, we ain’t fighting, he’s my dad.”
“Then make sure he calms down,” the first copper said.
“Yeah, yeah!” my dad yelled. “Stick your snout elsewhere, pig, this ain’t got nuthin’ to do with you.”
Anger shot across the cop’s face, while a couple of his colleagues stepped forward, looking like they wanted to teach my dad a lesson.
My dad laughed. “Fuck, you lot are more sensitive than the one’s out south.”
“Leave,” the cop he’d insulted barked. “Unless you want to see the inside of a cell.”
“Why? For callin’ you a pig? Ain’t you lot used to that by now?”
“Dad!” I yelled, fucked off he was trying to provoke them, my old man having no fucking sense.
The cop glared at him, his hard gaze shifting to the women who’d been eyeing me up. I looked over at them, noticing the blonde was filming us with some sort of fancy phone.
“Cheese!” my dad yelled, giving her a wide grin.
The woman grinned back, even giving him a wink, my dad a good-looking sonofabitch, despite his so-called serial killer eyes.
I shook my head and grabbed hold of my dad’s arm, yanking him towards the door, stopping at a startled yell of, “Tane!”
We both spun around, spotting Killer emerging through the doorway that led to the cells.
“Shit,” my dad muttered.
He spun around and shot out of the front door. Killer ran after him. I followed to make sure they didn’t get into a fight, especially since I didn’t know which of Killer’s personalities was in control. Killer caught up with my dad by his truck. My dad was fumbling with his keys, trying to get the door open, his hands visibly shaking. Killer grabbed him, yanking my dad into a hug. Dad went stiff, his expression strained. Killer pulled back and planted a wet one on my dad’s lips. My dad shoved Killer away, getting one of his ex’s hyena cackles.
Glaring at Killer, my dad wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You don’t get to kiss me after what you did, you crazy bastard!”
“You’re here!” Killer said, the insult not even registering.
“No kidding, Sherlock,” my dad spat, still looking furious, although there was more than anger in his glare, especially with the way he was eyeing up Killer’s body. He licked his lips, my old man’s dirty mind stamped across his face.
Killer stepped in closer. “Houghton got me off. You wanna go back to my place?” He ran a hand over my dad’s crotch.
My dad smacked it away. “We’re through, Killer.”
“Then why are you here if we’re through?”
“To make sure you’re all right.”
“Which means you still love me. So stay, we can work things out.”
My dad frowned. “You know we can’t, ’specially after what you did to me.”
“I would never have pulled the trigger. I’d rather shoot myself than shoot you.”
“What ’bout Murderer?” my dad said, mentioning Killer’s other personality. “He cocked the fuckin’ gun.”
“He wouldn’t have pulled the trigger. He wants you just as bad as I do.”
“Yeah, in the wrong fuckin’ way. What he tried to do to me...” My dad glanced my way, his words petering off, making me wonder exactly what Murderer had tried to do.
“What did he do?” I asked.
“Nuthin’ that concerns you, son,” my dad replied.
“It does if he did sumpthin’ like I’m thinking,” I snapped, remembering Killer’s comment about Murderer being a top.
My dad scowled at me. “He didn’t make me do anything. I’m a fuckin’ man, not a boy.” His hard gaze moved to Clara, who’d followed us outside, his words obviously aimed at her. “Why are you here, paedo?”
Clara flinched, but she didn’t step back until Killer’s attention shifted to her. Recognition dawned on his face, which proved he hadn’t gone anywhere near her, because he would’ve recognised her straight away if he’d broken into her house. He also seemed unconcerned with her presence, more interested in my dad. He stepped closer to him, taking hold of his hand.
My dad jerked his hand away. “Answer me, bitch,” he snapped at Clara.
“I was going to tell the police that Killer was innocent.”
He continued to glare at her. “You wouldn’t have needed to if you didn’t make false accusations against him in the first place!”
“She didn’t lay the complaint,” I cut in. “It wuz her mate.”
“Who’s this bitch?” my dad growled.
“It’s not her fault,” Clara jumped back in. “It was all a misunderstanding. Someone broke into our house, leaving a threatening note for me. They also attacked her friend.”
My dad pulled a face. “Why the fuck did she think Killer did it?”
“She knew he threatened me after I got out of prison.”
“That wuz bloody years ago, and I’m sure you have a shitload of people who would love to lynch your scrawny neck.” His hard stare moved to me. “And why the fuck are you defending the paedo? You better not tell me you’re back with her, cos she’ll only cause you more pain.”
I glared at him. “What pain is that, Dad? Cos I heard you lied ’bout those months I lost.”
“For your own good. Shit went down that’s best left in the past, and if you stay with that bitch, it could all come back.” He pointed at Clara. “And you know what those memories are, don’t cha, paedo.”
Clara blanched. “My memories with Dante were good, everything else that happened has got nothing to do with me.”
My dad’s eyebrows winged up. “So good that you went to jail for fiddling with him?”
“There was no fiddling,” she hissed. “It was consensual.”
“A fifteen-year-old can’t give consent, that’s why you went to jail.” His gaze shifted to the people passing by. “Listen up, everyone! This bitch,” he pointed at Clara again, “fucked my son when he wuz only fifteen, while she wuz his teacher.”
Clara’s face dropped, then she was spinning around and running.
“You fuckin’ arsehole!” I yelled at my dad, before taking off after Clara. I ignored my dad’s yell of, “Leave the paedo be!” catching up with Clara in no time, my long legs chewing up the distance faster than she could run. I grabbed her arm to stop her from getting away. She pulled free and backed away from me. Tears were streaming down her face, her expression pained.
I reached out, brushing some of the tears off her face. “Ignore my dad, he’s an arsehole,” I said, feeling like shit she’d gotten hurt.
She smacked my hand away. “Then the world is full of arseholes! Because no one wants me to be with you, even though I fucking love you!”
I didn’t reply, not knowing what to say to that.
She wiped her eyes roughly. “Every time I go near you I get hurt. Every time you come near me I get hurt. It’s never you, Dante, it’s always me,” she said, prodding her chest. “You moved on with your life, but I never did. You ruined me, not because I got sent to jail, not because of the horrid things people say about me, but because I can’t have you. You ruined me.”
She turned and ran.
This time I let her go.