Page 64 of Jerk

“And I’m afraid you won’t.” My voice cracks as I take her hand, lowering to my knees. I’m not one to beg, but if I’m going to ditch working with The Crowns, I need my mother. “Listen, we have to work together.”

“Did you fuck the Rowen boy?”

My head jerks back. “Wh-what?”

She looks down at me, her mouth twisting. “If the only way you know how to get ahead is with your open legs, you’re as weak as I thought.”

“No,” I spit, my cheeks on fire. “I’mnot the one fucking around on my family!”

Slap!

A sting comes to my cheek. My hand comes to my face.

My mother scowls. “You are. If you cared about me, you’d smarten the hell up.” Her voice is too much to handle as I stand tall. Staring at her, I wait for her to say something comforting. To come to her senses. But she just goes back to her magazine.

When I leave the room, I close the door behind me before my back collapses against it. My eyes fill with tears, one settling on my cheek before rolling to the floor.

My childhood spins through my head. We were happy once. Weren’t we?

My phone vibrates in my hand again.

Ryung: Last chance or deal’s off. Ember’s gallery. Tomorrow. Midnight. Dress code in effect

TWENTY-THREE

RYE

“Should’ve known betterthan to trust Hannah.”

Mac’s voice isn’t the one I want to hear right now, my eyes on my phone.

Tonight’s Crimson party is in full swing around us while I watch my sister in my father’s office on my screen.

Getting Krystal to agree to this took a lot, but we got there. She’d meet with my father as long as we had her on video. This way, we can step in if she needs help.

“How’s it looking?” Gray asks, plopping into the sofa beside me.

We’re tucked away in the corner of Ember’s gallery in a roped-off section. After spending time with Hannah’s father, pushing for the lake house wasn’t an option.

“She’s still waiting,” I say, watching Krystal stare right into the camera hidden behind my father’s desk.

She looks nervous, her knee bouncing as she picks at her nails. So I send her a text to reassure her.

Ryung: I'm right here with you

Then I tap back to Hannah’s name, my text unanswered.

My eyes land on the clock.

11:48 p.m.

I should be more concerned about this meeting with my father, but I can’t get my mind offher.

“Why’s your dad meeting with your sister this late again?” Gray asks.

“It’s always like this,” I say, staring at the door. “It’s when his schedule clears and he remembers he’s a parent.”

We’re an afterthought, unless we make the family name look bad. I’ve always thought it was an extra tactic to wear us down so he’ll have the upper hand if we ever come up with something to bargain. But tonight, the facts will speak louder than we can.