Breaking Her Bad by Michelle Mankin
Claire
“You seem distracted,” my mom said, coming to sit beside me on Addy’s couch. She set a stack of crinkled papers on the coffee table and settled into the cushions, cradling her acoustic guitar in her lap. “You’ve been staring at your phone since Kyle left Footit’s.”
“Yeah.” I blinked her into better focus. She’d taken a shower too, but her hair wasn’t wet like mine.
“You’re worried about him.” Her brow furrowed. “Is something wrong?”
“Not that I know of. Not specifically. He just didn’t seem right. I told him I loved him.” I bit down on my lip. “He didn’t say it back.”
“Ah.” Studying me intently, Mom tilted her head. “We give love without demanding it in return, but we certainly hope to get it back.”
“Who said that?” I paused, my brush halfway through a long strand of my hair. “Dad?”
“No. Me.”
She leaned forward, setting her guitar on the coffee table beside the lined notebook paper with her handwriting on it.
“Let me do that.” She took the brush from my hands. “You’re making a mess of it.”
“Thank you.”
“Turn, honey.” She moved behind me and started separating strands.
When she began to sing, I closed my eyes. Her voice was wistfully beautiful, the words even more so, her gentle ministrations soothing.
Passion lay dying
Given up trying
Alone in the dark
Missing a spark
Dreaming and wanting
Anticipating
Dare to survive
To keep hope alive
It’s not a riddle
No mystery in time
I know the answer
You were made to be mine
Love is on fire
Burning desire
A flame burning bright
To light up the night
You are my meaning
No longer just dreaming
I’m wide awake
I’m yours to take
It’s not a riddle
No mystery in time
I know the answer
You were made to be mine
“Did you write that for Dad?” I asked when she finished singing.
“No, for Addy.” Mom set the brush down. “I didn’t love anybody at the time.”
“Addy told me that it was only Dad for you.”
“I had affection for a few, but I never gave my heart to anyone but your dad.”
“And for Addy, was it only Collin?” I asked.
“It was. And it was Collin for Addy too, even after he was with Miranda, but by then it was too late.”
“Why?”
Mom sighed. “Addy had sex with Miranda’s brother to get back at Collin for having sex with Miranda.”
I turned to look at her. “Why did he have sex with someone else if he loved Addy?”
“Things got confusing for everyone during that time.” Her brow crease appeared. “Addy saw Collin’s star rising. She loved him, but she didn’t want to hold him back. They argued about it.”
“And then he had sex with someone else?”
“Yes.”
“Kyle would never do that to me,” I said emphatically.
“I’m glad you’re so certain of him.”
I was. It was Kyle that wasn’t certain of himself. He didn’t see the good that I saw so clearly. That we all saw. He needed to see it and believe it.
But how can I get him there?
Setting that deep thought aside, I refocused on my mom. “Do you think Collin ever loved Miranda?”
“I don’t know, honey.” Mom’s expression turned thoughtful. “Miranda certainly loved him. She gave up everything to be with him, even lost her inheritance. Her family turned their backs on her, including her brother, though Martin practically pushed her at Collin. I think it’s possible that he contrived the whole scenario just to get Addy in his bed. Martin is manipulative, and he was always obsessed with her.”
“Miranda’s brother is Martin?” I gulped. “As in Martin Skellin?”
“Yes, Martin Skellin. Ella’s father. I hate that man, and Addy does too. I—”
“If Miranda was Martin’s sister,” I said slowly, putting the pieces together, “that means that Kyle is Martin’s nephew.”
“Yes, I guess it does.” Her eyes narrowed. “Is that why Kyle was in Lakeside? To see his cousin?”
“Kyle doesn’t know his mother was Martin’s sister. He works for Martin.”
“People don’t work for Martin.” Mom’s eyes were wide now too. “He owns them.”
I was aware. But no one was more aware of that than Kyle.
My phone rang and my heart raced, my brain buzzing with all the implications. But I picked up the phone. Seeing the caller ID, I immediately swiped it open.
“Claire.” Missy gasped, sounding out of breath. “It’s me.”
Something was wrong. I’d never heard fear in Missy’s voice, but I heard it now.
“Martin has Kyle,” she said, and when she started to cry, it suddenly felt like the walls were closing in on me.
“What do you mean?”
“Martin showed up at the apartment. He somehow knew about you and Kyle. He was mad that Kyle disobeyed his order to stay away from you.”
“Oh no.” Ice water flooded my veins.
“Kyle lied and told Martin that he already got what he wanted from you. That it was over.” She started to sob. “But Martin didn’t believe him. His bodyguard and two other guys I’ve never seen before started beating him up. Kyle fought them off at first, but three against one, he didn’t stand a chance.”
My eyes filled as I imagined Kyle not backing down, and his assailants being merciless. “Was he . . . could you tell . . .” I couldn’t say the words.
“He was bloody but breathing when they scraped him off the concrete and put him in a van.”
“What’s going on?” Addy asked. Emerging from the bedroom, she quickly moved across the living room to join my mother and me on the couch.
“Something with Martin.” My mom took my free hand and reached for her sister. “Did you know Kyle works for Martin Skellin?”
Addy’s gaze hardened. “No.”
“Kyle didn’t know his mother was Martin’s sister.” My mom shook her head, and she and Addy exchanged disbelieving glances. “Why didn’t she tell him?”
“I guess because she felt like she didn’t have a family anymore since they all turned their backs on her.”
Vaguely, I noted their conversation. “Missy,” I said into the phone, fear gripping my heart. “What’s going on? Are you still there?”
“Yes, Claire. I’m here. Sorry. Tommy and his dad just arrived. I called Tommy before you.”
“Why?” I asked, hurt combining with fear creating a whirlwind of anxiety inside me.
“Because we’re going to get Kyle.”
“Going to get him where?” I didn’t understand.
“Martin’s compound.”
“We’re going there too. We’ll meet you there,” I said and ended the call.
Before I could even ask, Addy hopped up. “I’ll take you.”
My mom stood too. “You’re not leaving me out. I’m coming with you.”