Page 157 of Justice II

“I won’t.”

She turned it over in her hands before pressing the button on the side.

The phone had been cloned so I could monitor her calls and messages. She wasn’t going to know how much I could see. After everything I had already missed, I needed to know who she was talking to and what she was telling them.

She looked down at the screen, then back at me.

“Thank you.”

“You still got rules.”

“I know.”

“We’re sticking to your appointments. School, home, whatever the doctor recommends. You ain’t about to come back and start doing what the fuck you want.”

“I said I won’t.”

I looked at her.

She softened her voice immediately.

“I’m sorry. I meant I understand.”

I nodded and started the truck.

For most of the ride, she talked about coming home. She asked about her room and whether I had moved anything. I told her everything was where she had left it.

She believed me easily.

I kept my eyes on the road while she scrolled through the phone beside me.

When we reached the house, she leaned forward to look through the windshield.

“I’m so happy to be back.”

I parked and got out to open her door. She hugged me again before reaching for her bag.

“I love you, Daddy.”

I pressed a kiss against her forehead, then took out my keys and unlocked the front door. Ending her life was going to be the hardest thing I’d ever have to do.

49

Storie

It felt good to be out of that hospital but not necessarily to be back home. Justice was being weird. It was clear as day that he didn’t trust me.

Well, I didn’t trust him either. He’s lying about wanting to see me healed. He’s plotting something and I can feel it in my bones. But that’s okay.

My real father’s release coincides with my release from the hospital. He’ll be coming to me any day now. And then Justice will pay for whatever he’s plotting against me. I just hoped my real father got to me before Justice could do anything.

After we got home, I wandered the house. Something felt off about it. Melody was in here. I could tell by the way the dishes were stacked in the cabinets. She had been in my house. Justice was in love with her and there was nothing I could do about it.

Maybe after my father helps me kill Justice he’ll help me get to Melody too. It’s her fault Justice doesn’t want me in the first place. She sank her hooks into him and made him fall for her with her sob story. I swear these Banks men love to save a bitch.

Justice was in his room, probably plotting my demise. I reached into the refrigerator for a bottle of white wine. After that ordeal at the hospital, I needed a glass. There were so many bona fide crazy people in there. I didn’t fit in with those folks at all.

So what, I killed a horse. Poisoned a dog. Killed my mother. That didn’t mean I needed psychiatric help. I wasn’t depressed or manic. There were no evil voices that echoed in my mind, telling me to harm people.