Page 87 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

This pack had become my lifeline. His words hit me so hard I couldn’t even answer him. If I spoke, I was afraid I’d fall apart.

It felt like I was always balancing on the edge of a breakdown.

When I turned around again, my mother was walking out the front door with her phone pressed to her ear.

My stomach dropped. When you grew up with someone like her you learned to read body language. Hers was dangerous right now and with the way she’d been on and off the phone all day, I knew something was happening.

“It’s going to be a long night,” I muttered.

Lydia passed beside me. “Grab Gavin and come to our place. We’ll keep you safe.”

Another person willing to risk themselves for us. I couldn’t let her. We’d eventually be forced back and it would be worse than ever.

Right now I was keeping Gavin safe. That had to be enough.

I had just delivered another table when the front door slammed open.

“Your shift is done, bitch.” My mother’s face was twisted with fury. “Get your ass to the car. We’re leaving.”

The diner went silent as her sharp words rang out. Every customer turned to stare but no one dared to move and intervene.

“I’m so sorry, Lydia,” I whispered.

Before she could react, my mother seized my wrist. Her nails dug into my skin as she dragged me outside.

I wanted to pull away. To scream and fight. But if she was this angry, I couldn’t risk her going home.

I’d rather lose my job than have her lay a hand on my brother.

She finally released me beside the car. My wrist already throbbed. Angry, crescent-shaped marks bloomed where her nails had broken the skin.

“I said get in!” she shrieked. I’d barely sat when she tore out of the parking lot. She drove like a madwoman all the way home, tires screeching as we pulled into the driveway.

The moment we stepped inside, Gavin bolted toward his room.

“Sit down!” she screamed at him, freezing him in his tracks. “You’re going to watch this.”

“Gavin, go!” I shouted.

He turned away, listening to the desperation in my tone. Thank god. The moment he turned, my mother’s fist slammed into my temple, catching me off guard. She wasn’t usually this bold.

Pain exploded through my skull as I crashed to the floor. Warm blood poured into my eye. It stung already and started to swell shut.

“Stop!” Gavin threw himself between us and horror hit me as she shoved him to the floor. I hated how helpless he looked as he crumpled there. We both deserved so much better than this.

“Go,” I pleaded. She turned back to me and he stood and ran to his room.

I prayed he was calling them. We needed help. Something was different tonight. She was unhinged and if we didn’t get help, I wasn’t sure I’d live through this.

My mother grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the kitchen.

Toward the basement door. Dread hit me at the thought of that place. As a child she’d locked me down there for hours. Days sometimes.

She was taking me there because no one would hear me scream.

I fought back and tried to stop her but something had taken over her. She was strong and half-feral as she dragged me to the stairs and shoved me down. I curled into myself, hands wrapping around my head before I slammed into the cement floor.

All I could pray for now was that she’d tire herself out.