AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Linc then pointed at Nova’s mother.
“What?” Nova’s mother snapped.
“If you take even one dollar of this cash and spend it elsewhere, you’ll never see your son again.”
Nova’s mother whimpered.
She looked at Nova. “Listen to him. Did you hear what he said? He probably kidnapped Nick! Just to get to you, Nova!”
“Shut up, Mom,” Nova snapped.
Her mother gasped louder.
“Gail, pay the electric bill,” Linc ordered. “And you know what? Here…” Linc put more money on the table. “There. Deposit the cash and then hit the liquor store. My treat.” Linc curled his lip. “I’m going to find Nick. I promised your daughter that. And I’ll never break a promise to Nova.”
Nova’s mother nodded. Slightly relieved.
But of course she is, Nova thought. She just got fresh cash for more booze.
Her mother looked at the cash and her eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning.
“I’m going to go call the electric company right now,” Nova’s mother said. “Let them know I have the cash and it’ll be taken care of.”
“Why not just go to the bank now, Gail?” Linc asked.
“Because she’s drunk,” Nova said. “She has to sober up first to drive.”
Nova’s mother didn’t respond. She simply looked away. For Nova, she did the one thing that just felt right in that moment.
She took off running for her old bedroom.
Regret punched her in the stomach as her reaction to her old bedroom was the same as the last time. Her bedroom dirty and dusty and smelly and full of stuff. This time though she had Linc right behind her. He shut the door and Nova turned around.
“Holy shit,” Linc said. “I remember this room very well.” He smirked. “And I remember that bed too. Remember the first time I—”
“Shut up,” Nova snapped.
Her voice crackled. Linc reached for her and pulled her close for a hug. A few stray tears escaped Nova’s eyes. Linc stood tall, powerful and strong, holding her. Touching her hair. Making her feel safe in a place that never ever made her feel safe.
“She’ll never change,” Nova whispered.
“You already knew that, darling.”
“You scared her, Linc.”
“I don’t care either. She needed to be put in her place.”
Nova lifted her gaze. “I keep telling myself I just want to find my brother and be done with this. That’s not going to happen, Linc.”
“We’re going to find Nick. And if he’s that messed up, I’ll beat the hell out of him. Smarten him up.”
“My mother won’t allow it.”
Linc touched Nova’s face. “Then let it go, Nova. Fuck. You’ve been carrying this for years. Your mother. Your brother. This fucking house. Just let it all go.”
“To do what? Collapse?”
“Sometimes it happens. You’ve done nothing wrong. You can’t give your happiness to someone who turns it into their personal tragedy and then wants more.”
