Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
But nothing happens. I lower my arms slowly and blink around.
Somewhere, one of the generators is rumbling. The work site is alive, but there’s nobody nearby.
Think, Caroline. Don’t be stupid. Why would the lights be on? Why would my mother be here?
Because Redmond’s showing off.
He always was a momma’s boy. That asshole’s been sucking up to her since he was little, probably because he never could get any positive reinforcement from our father. I bet he’s showing Mom the worksite and she’s oohing and aaahing over every little thing like he’s the one down here turning the screws.
Okay, this changes things. The lights are on. I’m not responding on the walkie. Finn has to know the plan’s been ruined. He’s not stupid enough to blow them up now, right? He’s got to see my mother and know it’s time to back off.
But I remember Shane, the wine bottle, and Finn’s deep, obsessive hate…
I can’t take any chances.
The construction site seems to warp and shift around me. Every shadow is a ghost ready to strangle me. I’m on edge, spooked and terrified. If I get caught, everything is ruined. I creep along, looking everywhere for Finn, but I don’t see him. I have to find him before he does something stupid.
Like kill my mother.
I shouldn’t even care. She can’t even admit that my father and my brothers have been abusing me for years. Probably because denial is the only way she can deal with it.
But I remember when I was little. I remember her taking care of me, putting ice on my bruises, cleaning the cuts, singing to me at night when I couldn’t sleep. I’d be even worse now if it weren’t for her keeping me going.
She’s as terrified of them as I am. Maybe even worse. She’s still trapped in their hell, while I somehow got away.
I’m moving from pallet to pallet, trying to stay low, when I hear voices echoing from the nearby forest of beams. I pause, getting down and out of sight, trying to find a hint of Finn. Instead, great big person-shaped shadows get thrown across a nearby trailer.
Redmond and my mother are arm-in-arm about ten feet away. Their voices click into focus once I’m actively listening.
“…I’ve been keeping the project on track all this time. Father’s been busy, but I’ve stayed on top of it.”
“Very good job, Redmond.”
“It’s nothing, really. The others couldn’t handle it though. Shane never had the patience. Malachy’s too busy with his own projects and Dermot’s got his head stuck in computers. I’m all that’s left to keep the family moving forward.”
“We’re all very proud of you, of course.”
“Thank you, Mother. I only wish we had another brother. Instead, there’s that worthless little shit Caroline. At least she’s married off now. Which is about all she’s ever been good for.”
Mom tuts at him, and I watch her shadow lightly pat his arm. “Don’t be so hard on your sister, dear.”
“Why not? She’s always been stupid, lazy, and selfish.”
Anger flutters in my chest. I’m breathing hard. My fingers dig into the ground—and I find a hammer lost in the dirt. I grab it tightly, hand gripping so hard it hurts my palm. This bastard, this rotten piece of shit. Even when I’m not around, he still hates me.
“You don’t mean that, Redmond. Your sister is a good person. She tries her best.”
“Why are you defending her?” Redmond’s voice goes cold. Suddenly, my heart rate spikes. Fear grips my throat. I almost cry out. I have to cover my mouth with one hand. I know that tone. I know what usually happens when he starts talking that way. I want to get up and scream, run, Mom, run, he’s coming! But I’m too much of a coward.
“Sweetie, it’s nothing, only she’s my daughter too. You know I love you all.”
“Even that pathetic bitch? You love her more than me, don’t you?”
“Redmond, darling, that isn’t true and you know it. Now come, tell me more about this project. How quickly did they lay the foundation?”
But he doesn’t take her bait. When she tries to move on, he grabs her arm tightly and doesn’t let it go. I watch it happen in the shadows. I watch shadow-Red raise his hand, his fist as big as a car, and slam it into shadow-Mom’s face. She cries out, jerking back, and he hits her again, and again, and again.
“You love her more than me,” Redmond snarls, spitting like a rabid dog. “You love that worthless—fucking—bitch—and you always—fucking—did!”
Mom’s sobbing, gasping and groaning. She drops to her knees. “Redmond, please, stop it… you’re going to kill me…”
“You bitch, you fucking—stupid—bitch!”
“Redmond,” she sobs as his boot thuds into her side.
This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. Oh god, oh god, oh god—
I hold the hammer tight in both hands. I stare at the head and again at the shadows. Mom’s whimpers are daggers in my guts. Redmond’s vicious slurs are like gas in a furnace.