Page 44 of Enter if you Dare: Part Two

“I don’t,” I say as I put five hundred dollars back into the envelope. “But I think I’m done being hard on myself because of you.”

His eyes widen when I hold out a hundred-dollar bill. “You’re seriously only giving me a hundred?”

“It will buy you a ticket and food.”

“And then what?”

I shrug. “That is no longer my problem.”

“If you hadn’t started fucking those freaks, none of this would have happened,” Rowan rages.

I slowly turn toward him. “You brought Steedy into our lives. This is all on you. I was kidnapped because of you, and those freaks, as you call them, saved me. They gave me the family I always wanted and protect me like you should have. Although they barely know me, they have done more for me than you ever have. Me and Leni.”

I climb out of the car, my eyes burning from crying. Rowan follows, slamming his door as I walk around the front of it and hold out the money.

“You’re abandoning me?”

“No, I am finally letting you go.”

He starts to cry, and I nearly lose my nerve. Then all the bad things he has ever done flash before my eyes.

“I loved you so much that I kept letting you hurt me because I thought loving someone meant never giving up on them,” I tell him quietly.

“I do love you.”

I shake my head. “No. You love having access to me. Love knowing I will clean up after you. You love having a sister who feels guilty saying no.”

“That’s not fair.”

“None of this was fair, but it’s how it turned out. I wish you nothing but the best, Rowan. I hope you have a good life.” I step closer and press the money against his chest.

His hand closes over it as he stares at me, anger and panic fighting across his face. His posture changes. His shoulders straighten, and his mouth hardens.

“You think those men are going to give you some happy little life?” he spits out. “They’re monsters, Valli. One of them barely speaks. One of them takes people apart for fun, and the other one digs fucking graves.” He steps closer. “You’re going to wake up and realize you traded your family for three sick men who lied to you.”

“No.” I hold my ground. “I chose three damaged men who never pretended to be anything else.” Rowan shakes his head, but I continue. “I know exactly who they are because they have never hidden the worst parts of themselves. And on their worst days, they have never hurt me to make themselves feel better.” My chest aches as I think of them.

“They lied.”

“Yes.” A cleaner looks toward us, then quickly looks away. “They lied about where you were, and I am angry about that. I don’t know how long it will take me to forgive them, or whether I can forgive every part of it. But it was you who ruined that for me.” I wipe at the tears sliding down my face. “You’re dead to me from this day forward,” I whisper.

Rowan flinches. The words are cruel. They are also the words he has said to me so many times before today when he didn’t get his own way.

His lips part, but I shake my head before he can speak.

“I hope you prove me wrong one day. But you will have to do it without me.” Then I turn and walk back to the car.

“Valli.”

I keep going.

“Valli, don’t fucking leave me here.”

My hand shakes as I open the door.

“You can’t do this!”

I get inside and lock it.