Read False Regret: Pikorua - Book 1 for Free Online Page B

glass of
milk. He set a bowl of clumpy sugar in front of me. I still enjoyed my coffee white
and sweet, and somehow he knew that. I averted my eyes, worried Gordon would
see something on my face.  Both men flanked me in silence as we stared at our
breakfast plates.
    Half
way through the meal, Gordon spoke again. “Donny-boy got you some clothes. You
can clean yourself up after you eat. You stink. Personally, I like it a little
dirty,” he said and cackled. 
    I
made no response and continued with my meal. Cade also remained quiet.  When
finished, Gordon pushed me into a tiny bathroom and threw a plastic grocery bag
at me. “You’ve got ten minutes so wash up and get out of there.” 
    I
perused the space and discovered the lavatory window was so small not even a young
child could crawl through it. I sighed, disheartened, knowing I had to re-visit
my original plan of escape. The hot shower created steam on the mirror as I
shed my jogging clothes and got into the stall.  I assessed my bruises while
washing my body, wincing as the water burned like acid on my cuts. Once
finished, I dressed in the jeans, T-shirt, and heavy sweatshirt that Cade had
provided. I looked at my reflection. Those big brown eyes stared out amidst a
host of contusions and swollen features. My hair was a tangled web framing a
face I couldn’t bear to look at anymore.
    I
thought back to high school when I’d first met Cade. Awkward seemed a fitting
word to describe myself, and though I had outgrown that self-image, I didn’t
understand what young Cade saw in me. I was always a little too thin, housing
big brown eyes in a narrow face. My hair, was a dark blonde, not the sun-kissed
flaxen I admired in other girls. I never saw one special thing in myself. Being
with Cade was what ultimately made me special.  I was the envy of all the
girls, back then, but Cade always made me feel like I was the most beautiful
girl in the world—the only girl for him. He boosted my self-esteem to great
heights which drew me to him even deeper. Losing him shattered me in every way
possible.  Tears I didn’t know I had left, dripped down into the rust-stained
porcelain sink.
    “Are
you done, girlie?”  Gordon’s cruel voice hammered through the wooden door as
his fist beat on it. “I gave you five extra minutes so now I am coming in.” He
flung the door open, and I realized it wasn’t locked. Shivers rocked me,
knowing he could have come in with no warning.
    “I’m
finished,” I said and faced him while drying my tears.
    “I
see you are. Too bad.” The malice was ever present in his voice. He grabbed my
arm and shoved me back into the main living area. His manhandling was unnecessary
and for his own enjoyment, I wasn’t resisting. He was a psycho, and I hoped he
would spend the rest of his miserable life in prison.
    Cade
was finishing the breakfast dishes; his black T-shirt hugging him--the way I
used to. I remembered the first day I met him. It was first period AP
Literature class in Mrs. Munson’s room.  I’d been reading Crime and Punishment and looked up when I heard someone enter the room. Rumors about a new boy had
been flying about for days, and he had ended up in my first hour session. The
kid sauntered in like he owned the school, and I admired his confidence. The
initial thing I noticed was a glimpse of a tattoo peeking from beneath his
sleeve. Tattoos weren’t common in our small farming community, especially on
teenagers.  He wore hoop earrings, several sets, in both ears, also unheard of
for a straight male kid, leaving me to question his sexual orientation.  His wallet
was attached to a chain that hooked to a belt loop. Even though he was the most
handsome boy I’d ever seen in person, he looked like a gangster which equated
to white city trash. The fact that he’d just walked into my AP class was
puzzling. Losers didn’t take advanced placement classes. He had to either be lost
or smart, crushing all my preconceptions and