After retrieving my things, I checked out the front window to see if anyone was around. Thus far the coast was clear.
I jogged outside to my car, and quickly pulled it into the garage so that I could load the trunk. When I was finished, I did one last walk through the house.
I took it in through the eyes of the person I’d grown to be, and not the ghost of the girl still crying for her broken family.
I’d once thought of this town, and this house, as a sort of haven. They contained years of sentimental value, but these walls and this community had been my cocoon for too long. I would never grow here or change enough to find myself. So, I’d keep the good memories close to my heart and leave the painful ones behind.
I exited through the garage, thinking it some small miracle that Mrs. Richardson wasn’t stalking me from one of her windows. I drove away with one last glance in my rearview before turning off my street for the last time.
The drive to Annika’s was uneventful.
I didn’t catch a glimpse of Rhett, or anyone else that could potentially be following me. Still, I knew better than to let my guard down or relax. I didn’t trust anyone or anything around me, not even the birds in the trees.
Parking behind Nika’s beamer, I stared at her chic two story-house. Having heard my car, her front door swung open, and she smiled brightly, waving for me to come in before disappearing from my line of sight.
I checked my reflection, and then grabbed my purse, eyeing my surroundings as I got out of the car. It felt as if someone were watching me, but Nika’s street was quiet and empty, save for the sound of a lawn mower coming from a nearby yard. I did my best to shake the feeling off, chalking it up to paranoia.
I returned my focus to Nika’s house and hitched my bag over my shoulder feeling as if I were about to walk the plank.
CHAPTER SIX
NOVA
I went inside, pausing just within the doorway. A sweet aroma clung to the air, one that could only be from one thing—pumpkin pie. A much better smell than the bleach I’d inhaled while cleaning the blood off my kitchen floor.
“Nika?”
“In here!” Her voice carried from my right.
I shut the door and locked it before heading towards the kitchen. The smell of pie magnified with each step. Seeing it resting on the counter had my stomach releasing an angry growl.
An audible reminder that the only thing I’d consumed today was alcohol.
“You want some?” Nika asked amusedly. “It should be cool.”
“Maybe later.” I waved her off, and a heavy silence settled between us. I looked at her with a critical eye, frown painted on my face as two very different versions of her and the men I cared about played out in my head.
“Sooo, what’s up?” she questioned, placing her hands on her hips. “…Nova?”
Blinking, I shook my head and laughed. “Sorry, I was thinking.”
“Is that safe?”
“Ha, very funny.” I walked over to her small table and tossed my purse down, deciding right then I wasn’t going to pussy foot around. This was one confrontation that, in my opinion, was long overdue. I turned to face her, crossing my arms.
“I was wondering why you never told me you slept with Rhett.”
“What?” she choked on a loud, breathy laugh. “Where did that come from? Is that what that look was for?” With a flip of her long blonde hair, she giggled. “I knew you coming over here out of the blue wasn’t for a simple chat. You only do that with Em. You can rest assured that there isn’t anything between Rhett and me. Our relationship is a bit complicated, that’s all.”
“Okay. I’ll buy that,” I replied.
Funny how I could have said the exact same things. She didn’t give me any more details or fully answer what I’d asked, though. I studied her face, unable to get a read on how she was feeling until she shifted in obvious discomfort.
“That’s not all, is it?” she asked.
I ran a hand through my hair and shook my head. “That wasn’t my only reason for coming here, no. I’m more interested in why you’d know anything about this.”
I gently tugged my necklace from my rear pocket, holding it between us the same way I had with Rhett.
Annika stared at it, her smile gradually fading. “I thought your dad took that to fix it?”
“He did, but how would you know that?”
Her lips parted but no words came out. She continued to eye my pendant as if it were going to fly across the room and attack, her skin visibly paling. Her throat bobbed; angry brown eyes flashing suddenly to mine.
“Did he tell you something?”
My brows met in confusion. “Did who tell me something?”
“Rhett,” she spat his name out like it left a nasty taste in her mouth.
“No…Emery did. But why does it matter who told me? That doesn’t explain how you knew my dad had this.”
“You told me,” she objected.
“No, I told you the clasp had broken.”
Her lips lifted behind the force of a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, and I naturally assumed he’d be the one to fix it for you. He’s—he was--a jeweler Nova.”
“Then why did you just ask me if Rhett told me something? Is there anything you want to tell me?”
She laughed. “What doesn’t that boy need to tell you. He’s not safe Nova.”
I lowered my arm and returned the necklace to the safety of my pocket. “That’s a rather abrupt change of attitude considering I only went to his party not too long ago because you begged me to.”
“What is with you right now? Did you come over here to argue? I don’t have time for this. I told you there was somewhere I needed to be today.” She huffed an exaggerated breath, and then had the audacity to roll her eyes at me.
Did she think I was stupid? That it wasn’t obvious she kept deflecting?
I swallowed my anger but refused to soothe it. Feeling it settled deep in my gut, cracking my chest that much more, mixing with the sleuth of emotions threatening to consume me.
I knew Annika. I knew Emery. And as much as didn’t want to believe or accept it, I was beginning to see this wasn’t about Rhett. Like I’d thought earlier, he didn’t fit in any of the scenarios inside my head. Not to mention, neither of them would have kept Nika sleeping with him a secret. They’d have told me right away so that I didn’t.
I wasn’t sure what role he played in any of this yet. After all, he was the one who had my necklace hidden in his bedroom, but that and this were two different situations. One took major precedence over the other.
I cleared my throat and put on my game face. “How long are you going to drag out this lie, Nika?”
She turned her head, swallowing audibly, looking guiltier by the second. Was it a coincidence that she just ‘assumed’ my father had the pendant? I think the fuck not.
I was positive something happened between the two of them, her and Dad, but I wanted her to admit it out loud. The only way she would have known he had my necklace was if she saw him with it, which would mean she was around him two days before he died. Or, he randomly divulged that information over a phone call, which meant he had her number. I wasn’t okay with either scenario. I stared her down, waiting for her to speak up. She shifted again, diverting her gaze to the vinyl floor.
“Nika…”
I didn’t need to say anything else. When she looked at me again, her expression was one of regret and pain. I couldn’t find an ounce of sympathy for her. Too many things began to click together.
Memories I’d done my best to bury started to assault me, creating a throbbing sensation in the back of my skull. My brain went into overdrive as it recalled how she subtly flirted with him. I always laughed it off, thinking of it as a petty crush.
All the late-night arguments ending with my mother crying. They were always about him and some other woman. That was the norm, but the last ones were the worst. Especially the one before the night they never came home. The calm before the
storm. It’d been about someone half his age. I could almost hear mom screaming that at him. I’d learned to never ask, and she didn’t give anything away. She’d always tried to pretend like they were fine for my sake as well as her own.
“I’ve wanted to tell you for so long now, but I didn’t know how or what you’d think of me.” She spoke softly, practically whispering.
I sighed, surprising myself with how calm I sounded when I replied, “Was it you? The one he was texting that night?”
“Maybe,” she murmured.
That was a yes, then.
I crossed my arms to hide my clenched fist, digging my nails into my palms. There weren’t words that could fix this. Never in a million years would I have linked one of my closest friends to my father. I could only imagine the kind of conversations they’d been having in private. The things they would have done with each other.
It sickened me. It made me wish she had slept with Rhett. That would’ve been something I eventually accepted. But this? I’d never have been okay with it—would never be okay with it.
“Don’t be mad at Emery, okay?”
“Why would I be mad at her? She wasn’t the one who fucked my dad.”
“Nova,” her voice cracked, and she took a step towards me, “I am so--.”
“Can I have a minute,” I glanced away, unable to look at her face. Her tears disgusted me, and I couldn’t handle hearing some weak ass apology.
“I’ll be upstairs,” she replied. Not a second later I heard her scampering out of the kitchen, and then up the steps like a frightened mouse.
Silence filled the space she’d just occupied, and I welcomed it. I stared at the spot she had just been standing, the paranoia I’d had now solid and valid. I could hardly think straight anymore, everything was spiraling out of control. My life was falling apart piece by piece. The bottom of my rabbit hole seemed as if it were seconds away from smacking me in the face.
‘Angry’ was a pitiful adjective for the volcano erupting in my chest.
Heated fury rose, crawling through my veins and taking over my body. Wetness coated my lashes, but I couldn’t cry. Not yet. And certainly not here. I went to the other side of the kitchen, retrieving the bottle of wine I knew would be in her fridge. I hated the taste of it, but it’d suffice right now.
After grabbing two goblets from the cabinet, I retrieved the nearly full pill bottle I’d taken off Mom’s nightstand. I twisted the cap off and dumped all but three onto the counter. Grabbing a spoon from the drawer, I crushed them down to specs of dust, and then carefully swiped them into one of the goblets, adding the red over it. After a few stirs, you couldn’t tell they were there.
I poured myself a glass as well, taking both upstairs to Nika’s room. The shower was running, but she was sitting on the edge of her bed, tears running down her face, shoulders shaking.
What the hell was she crying about? She’d carried this secret for this long, and now she wanted to be emotional about it?
“Hey,” I greeted softly.
Her head flew up, brown eyes already puffy. “I thought you’d leave.”
“I needed a minute to think Nika. Thought this would help.”
“You hate wine,” she sniffled, using her arm to wipe a dribble of snot from her nose.
Gross.
“I’m not too picky as of late. Here.” I held her glass out to her, but she didn’t take it. glancing from my hand to my face. “It’s just wine Annika.” I forced a laugh and brought her cup to my lips, pretending to take a healthy swig, doing the same with mine.
“Sorry,” she chuckled, accepting the goblet. “I know you’re upset right now, and I wouldn’t blame you for trying to hurt me. For what it’s worth, I did love him.”
I almost dropped my glass. This girl never knew when to shut up. Why would that change anything? I loved him. My mother loved him. I’m sure quite a few women did. They probably hated him too. I knew I did. To save face, I took another small sip of my wine, watching Nika down hers in one giant, endless gulp.
“Of all the men Nika, why him?”
She cleared her throat and wiped her mouth, shrugging defeatedly. “He was handsome, charming…”
“Married,” I interjected.
“That was between him and your mom. I didn’t take those vows or owe her loyalty like he did. I know that’s hard to hear because he’s your dad, but--.”
“We’re going to need more wine.” I stood abruptly, snatching the empty glass from her hand. “Go ahead and take a shower, I’ll be out here when you’re done.”
I left the room barely able to stop myself from smashing the goblet into her damned face. What a vapid, self-centered bitch. The more she spoke, the angrier I got.
Rage rolled through me like a chaotic water currents, increasing the tempo of my pulse, and canter of my heart. I hadn’t felt anything like this since the day I got the news of what Mom had done.
I took the stairs two at a time, pausing at the bottom to try and calm myself. With my eyes shut, I counted to three, drawing a breath and then slowly expelling it with each number. I had to keep my shit together just a bit longer.
I returned to the kitchen after doing a quick check of the front yard. Everything looked as it should. Maybe Rhett wasn’t going to come after me at all. When I thought about, it wasn’t as if I could do him any harm. I hadn’t discovered anything all that incriminating.
He had various passports under a few aliases, my necklace, and a few stacks of cash. That made him suspicious, but it wasn’t anything to run to a person of authority about. Though I was pretty sure the passports were Illegal. But who was I to waltz into a damn police station? If anyone could be accused of a crime, there was far more evidence against me. In about fifteen minutes there’d be more.
I returned to the kitchen, tossing the glasses into the sink without care. The sound of them shattering was music to my ears. I took my time returning upstairs, ignoring the soft call of my name. There was no reason to rush this. I almost wished I would have brought some things to paint with as I waited. This relaxed paced couldn’t last long, though. Sadly, time was not on my side. Emery would be arriving at our rendezvous point thinking I abandoned her if I didn’t wrap this up quick enough.
She and I needed to have a chat as well.
I paid little attention to the grumbling of my stomach, and the siren call of the pie, heading back upstairs. I walked through Nika’s bedroom to her attached bath, not bothering to knock. Steam filled the room, fogging up the mirror and causing the walls to sweat.
I drew the shower curtain back, revealing her huddled form. She was leaning against the back tiled wall like a drunkard, eyes half lidded. I reached past her and pushed the shower nozzle down so the tub would fill instead.
“What did…you….do?” she mumbled, a soft lisp curling around her words.
Ignoring her, I plugged the bathtub, sitting back on my hunches to watch the water level rise. It didn’t take too long. I let it get to an acceptable point before cutting it off.
I stood up, staring down at the girl I’d known for most of my childhood. This is what it had come to. There wasn’t a time machine to go back and undo what had been done. With little effort, I took hold of her shoulders’ and forced her body down.
“Why?” she managed to get out before I completely submerged her.
What kind of question was that? She knew why. And unlike in the movies, or what was shown on TV, there wasn’t a need for some long drawn out speech. I didn’t feel the desire to have one last heart to heart before handling my business.
She had a prominent role in destroying my family, thrusting me into this never-ending nightmare. She was supposed to be my friend, one of my best friends. What she’d done was unforgiveable. Our friendship ended the day she let my father stick his dirty dick in her
I didn’t care she had ‘daddy’ issues coming out her ears. Mine should have been off limits. Because of her persistent begging for him to leave Mom, they were both gone. It was
only fair she joined the two of them in hell.
Her eyes widened, perhaps her realizing this was the end, but thanks to Mom’s meds that was about all she could manage. She’d pass out eventually, and by the time someone found her I hoped she’d be rotting away. All that condescending beauty wouldn’t do shit for her now.
Her hand came up and closed weakly around the wrist I had planted on her chest, bubbles breaking the water’s surface. She had made this much easier than I’d anticipated. I’d been prepared to set a scene, but she did it for me. No one would be surprised to find pills in her system.
She hid it well, but it was a known fact she participated at the parties she frequented.
Her issues only made this that much more believable. I waited several minutes after her pitiful struggle ended before moving away from the tub. Nika’s eyes remained open, blonde hair floating up around her head.
The anger didn’t immediately abate, not that I really expected it to. This would be something I carried with me for a long time. Her death seemed anti-climactic, too easy and painless for the part she’d played.
I looked at the self-portrait that hung over her bed. She was in a frilly pageant gown, a smile on her pretty face.
Annika Hughes.
Once a friend, and now my third kill.
Just like that I’d added another body to the count. At this rate I’d have two more in a matter of days.
I was learning rather quickly that taking a life was easy. Disturbing how many ways there were to do it. That I could do it. What was done was done, though. I couldn’t dwell here any longer. I cast one last glance into the bathroom before exiting back into the hall.
Downstairs, I grabbed a store bag and sacked the half-broken glass I’d drank out of, deciding at the last minute to take it with me. I locked Nika’s front door upon my departure, turning around just as a black Challenger pulled up across the street, and parked by the curb.
There was only one person in the whole damn town who had this model.
Rhett.
CHAPTER SEVEN
NOVA
Sick Remedies (Pretty Lies, Ugly Truths Duet Book 2) Page 4