Page 236 of Fame & Rhythm

“Well, I didn’t want you either,” she snaps. “I tried everything to get rid of you. And when you were born…” She shrugs. “I tried again.” My stomach twists. “But the system made me keep you,” she continues, pacing. “Until they realized what was going on. Then they finally took you away.” She lets out a breath, almost relieved. “Best thing that ever happened to me.”

“If you hated me so much… why come back?” I ask.

Her lips curl. “I didn’t forget you,” she says. “I found out who adopted you. And when I saw those photos… I knew it was you.” Her gaze sharpens. “So I waited. I knew you had potential. I knew one day you’d be worth something.” Ice floods my veins. “I waited twenty years,” she continues. “And now? Now, it’s payday.” She turns away, heading back to the desk. She pulls out a small bag, tapping white powder onto the surface before cutting it into a line. I tense as she leans down and inhales it.

Of course.

Of course she does.

I glance down, my heart still racing… and then I see it.

Fucking Bertha.

Crawling across the floor.

Away from me.

A shaky breath escapes my lips as a small flicker of relief finally cuts through the terror.

I frown, trying to make sense of that, but she’s already dipping her finger into the bag, scooping up more white powder.

My body tenses instantly.

No.

She steps toward me and clamps her hand over my mouth, sealing it tight. I jerk, trying to pull away, but her grip is iron.

“You’ll have to breathe through your nose if you want air, won’t you, honey?” she murmurs, lifting her finger right beneath my nostrils.

I shake my head, fighting her, holding my breath for as long as I can.

“Come on, Acacia,” she says softly. “The quicker you take it in, the easier this will be.”

My lungs burn, and my vision blurs at the edges. I can’t hold it, and I drag in a desperate breath… the powder hits. It floods my nose, sharp and invasive, making my eyes clamp shut as I scream silently in my head.

Aston… please…

“Good girl,” she croons. “Now you get to feel what it was like when you were born. Cocaine in your system, just like you were meant to.” She releases me, laughing to herself.

I gasp, sucking in air as my eyes roll, struggling to focus.

The hit is instant.

Too instant.

My body starts to shake, a jittery, uncontrollable tremor that rattles through me. My thoughts scatter, slipping out of reach, everything too loud, too sharp, too much.

Fear.

Pain.

The broken thumb.

The chair.

Her.

It all crashes together in one sickening wave.