Page 31

“We’re supposed to belooking after her.”Lacey sighed.
“I can’t stand anymoretakeout food, and we can’t expect other women at the club to cookfor us.”
Charlotte glanced across the table tosee Gash laughing.“You were totally unlucky in picking one of thefew women at the club that can’t cook.”
“I wasn’t originally partof The Skulls,” Lacey said, glaring at him.
Smiling, Charlotte dipped her bread intothe sauce and listened to the couple debate with each other abouthow they were going to keep on eating for the remainder of theirlives.It was funny to watch.Whizz and Lacey were very much inlove, and Charlotte saw the bond between them.Sally was gigglingas well, and the atmosphere around the table was one of friendshipand love.
“This is really good,”Sally said.
“I’m pleased.It wouldtaste great with pasta as well.”
Lacey sighed.“It’s good withbread.”
“Did you burn the pasta onpurpose?”Charlotte asked, trying to repress laughter.
“Totally.I love my bread,my carbs.”
“She’s totally lying,” Whizzsaid.“She can only handle some coffee in the morning, and pouringcereal into a bowl.”
“You do realize that youwill pay for this,” Lacey said, looking at Whizz.“I can find otherways of making sure you’re not a happy man.”Lacey raised abrow.
“Ew, gross, you took it to thegutter,” Sally said.“I have young, delicate ears.”She covered herears and had a disgusted look on her face.
“Do you see what I have toput up with?”Gash asked.
Smiling, Charlotte enjoyed thefeeling of having a family.It had been so long since she’d feltthis happy, and being around Gash and his club helped.In thatmoment, she no longer felt sad or in need of taking out revenge onthe bastard who had ruined her life.At least Gash knew the truth.
The reality of their situationcrashed through, and Charlotte lost her appetite.Leaving the breadin the bowl, she listened to theconversation around the table withoutsaying anything.At the end when she made to take the dishes, Whizzstopped her.“You cooked, we’ll clean up.”
“You go and freshen up,”Lacey said.“I left some clothes out for you.They should fit, orthey might be a little bigger.”
Nodding, Charlotte made her way toward thebedroom.Lacey had already told her where she’d be sleeping thatnight.Opening the door, she made her way toward the bed, and satdown.Sinking her fingers into her hair, she closed her eyes,taking deep breaths.
You can dothis.
You can dothis.
Squeezing her eyes closed, sheconcentrated on her breathing, and was instantly taken back to amemory.
“You said it would geteasier.”Charlotte sobbed the words out as best she could.It hadbeen two weeks since she had last tried to take her own life, andthe pain hadn’t gone away.Doctor Williams had promised her thatshe would start to feel better.
“Charlotte, I promised it wouldget easier, but I said it wouldn’t happen right away.It’s going totake time.”
She gripped her head,screaming as loud as she could.“I’ve got to go.I’ve got to helphim.He doesn’t know, and he’s in prison.”
Doctor Williams touched herknees, and she couldn’t help it.She lashed out, hitting him hard.Charlotte attacked him, needing to get out.She only landed a fewblows before he took over, pinning her to the chair.The door tohis office opened, and she saw the nurses waiting to inject herwith something to make her relax.She didn’t want to relax.Charlotte wanted them to miss, to kill her, or let her take theneedle and finally end her life.
“Stay back,” Williamssaid, shouting at his employees.
“Sir—”
“This is what she wants, isn’tit, Charlotte?You want us to react so we give you an opening thatmeans you can take your own life?”
He held her tightly sothat she couldn’t move.Williams was damn strong for a doctor, andshe had underestimated him.Tears spilled from her eyes.
“Let me go!”