Page 47 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

She’d been drinking all day. Jessica didn’t really remember when she’d started. Just…she’d been so angry. That’s what it was, she’d been so angry. With her mother, with her bitch sister, with Brenton.

And that stupid bitch Judge Collins. That woman had looked at her and just said Jessica was worth shit as a mother. That was exactly what that woman had been implying.

Jessica knew where she lived. She’d go see that judge personally after she dealt with Miss Perfect Hala Hanan.

She knew that Wynnie’s teacher was the one who’d reported her, too.

She’d probably snuck into Jessica’s apartment and taken those photos.

All because Hala Hanan hated her. She was jealous. And had been for years.

Of course she was.

Hala just had her stupid apartment and a job wiping snot all day.

“You need to leave my apartment,” Hala said, in her prissy voice. Like everyone had to bow down to her.

“Give me my kid.” Wynnie was fucking hiding behind that woman, like Jessica was a monster or something. “Stop looking at me like that, Wynnie. Right now.”

Wynnie just started crying louder. She’d been crying since Jessica’s mother’s place. Why wouldn’t her kid just do what she was supposed to do? “Come on, Wynnie, I said let’s go!”

And that bitch was standing there, holding Jessica’s little boy. BJ was just clinging to her like Hala was his fucking mother and not her.

None of them appreciated what Jessica had done for them at all. None of them.

Her head was hurting. She’d probably drunk too much last night. This morning. Whenever. And…the world was just so fucking bright right now. Loud. Jessica didn’t know how much more of this she could take.

Maybe…she really was getting a migraine.

She hadn’t truly had one in years. Not since she’d been fifteen or sixteen and had collapsed on the kitchen floor.

And Janie…Janie had been like ten then. She’d called 911 to save Jessica.

It had been nice to have everyone giving her all the attention back then.

Now, no one but Billy did.

Billy…Billy should be coming soon. She just…needed to get her fucking kids.

So they could leave Value behind forever.

Jessica lunged. The woman holding Jessica’s son flinched. Like she was afraid of Jessica or something.

She laughed. That was fucking hilarious.

“Give me my son.”

“ No. You aren’t taking these children anywhere.”

Who did she think she was?

Jessica shrieked.

And lunged.

Her fingers wrapped around BJ’s arm and she yanked.

That was her little boy and no one else’s. No one else could have her fucking kids.