Chapter 2
Robert’s face went white.
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“Who the hell do you think you are?” Mateo jumped up, ready to throw punches, but Averie gently stopped him.
“Mateo, relax,” Averie said, taking a deep breath. She glided toward Solana, voice sweet as pie. “Solana, we didn’t know you got out today. Why no call?
“It’s freezing, and you’re dressed like that. You’ll get sick. Let’s go upstairs and grab you some warm clothes.”
She reached for Solana’s arm. Solana slapped it away.
“Ouch!” Averie, wobbling on sky–high heels, twisted her ankle. Her perfect face twisted in pain.
“Averie!“Gloria and Mateo rushed to help her.
Guests started whispering, throwing shade at Solana for being ungrateful.
Solana wiped snow off her face and shot Averie a nasty grin. “That fake act? It fooled me once.”
“Solana, you-” Gloria started, but Solana’s glare cut her off.
She shot back,“Shut up! You fed me that crap about Averie being a small–town girl who needed help adjusting.
“You told me to stick with her since we’re the same age. Then rumors spread I was a gold–digger mooching off your family. Not one of you defended me. My side? Worthless.
“You locked me in a room. Kept me from going home. And why? Don’t act like you forgot. Got the guts to say it here? You swore you’d treat me like your kid, even though I wasn’t blood. I believed you. Look how that turned out.”
Gloria’s eyes darted away.
“Solana Webb! Stop lying!” Robert roared, raising his hand to hit her.
Solana grabbed his wrist, shoving him back. “You’ve got no right to touch me! And I’m Solana Spencer! You’re not my dad!”
Robert’s face burned red. “I raised you for eighteen years! You’re an ungrateful brat!”
“Ungrateful? That’s a laugh!” Solana’s voice cracked, tears falling. She snatched Averie’s wrist, pulling her in close. “If I wasn’t grateful, who took the rap for your perfect little Averie and went to prison?”
She glared at Averie. “You called me in a panic after you hit someone, didn’t you?” She turned to Robert and Gloria. “And you two begged me to cover for Averie because of those ‘eighteen years.‘ You’re not parents. You’re a disgrace.”
Averie’s face went white as a sheet, like she’d been caught red–handed. “Solana, I know you’re mad,” she said, playing the victim card. “But a crime’s a crime. You can’t just make shit up! And how can you talk about Mom and Dad like that? Who bought you all those fancy clothes, huh?”
The crowd started whispering again. Solana’s story was so real, some folks were starting to believe her.
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Chapter 2
Robert pulled himself together, steadying his shaky wife with a sneer. “That accident? Cops handled it, case closed. You trying to say the police screwed up? This is a lawful world, Solana. Nobody’s buying your bullshit story.”
Averie jumped in, all fake pity. “Dad, ease up. Solana’s been through hell. Just got out of lockup–she’s probably messed up. Let’s go home and sort this out, okay? Solana,” she said, turning to her, “your folks are gone. Stay with us. We’ll be like
sisters.”
Solana couldn’t stomach the act. She hauled off and slapped Averie hard across the face. Five red claw marks bloomed on her cheek, blood beading up.
“Solana, why’d you hit me?” Averie shrieked, clutching her face, tears pouring. “Oh my God, am I scarred? Mateo!”
Mateo moved to check on her, but Solana was faster. She kicked Averie’s butt, dropping her to the floor with a yelp.
Grabbing a fistful of Averie’s hair, Solana’s eyes blazed. “I took the blame for you, but you never told me you killed the man who raised you for eighteen years… my dad! He came for you, and you ran him down to avoid going back! You’re the one who should be dead, Averie!”
“Solana, you’re crazy!” Mateo yelled, trying to pull her off.
Gloria screamed, rushing to protect her daughter.
But Solana was unstoppable. She yanked Averie’s hair, watching her sob. Tears streamed down Solana’s face. “You should’ve been begging for forgiveness years ago! Apologize to my dad!” She shoved Averie’s head toward the floor.
Averie wailed, terrified.
“You’re out of line!” Robert stormed over and clocked Solana in the face.
She hadn’t eaten all day, and between the hunger, exhaustion, and the hit, her head was spinning. Her grip on Averie slipped as someone pried her hands away.
Robert’s voice rang in her ears. “I thought prison would fix you, but you’re still garbage! Five years wasn’t enough–they should’ve locked you up forever!”
“Forever?” Solana’s rage flared. Clutching her throbbing head, she laughed bitterly. “Five years, and no matter how good! was, every parole request got denied. Every single one!
“I know you pulled strings to keep me in. When my mom was dying, I begged you for help. Averie, you answered that call, didn’t you? And you said, ‘That’s your mom, Solana. She’s got nothing to do with me.“”
She stepped toward them, eyes burning with fury.
Averie was a trembling mess in Mateo’s arms, shaking her head frantically.” That’s a lie! I never got your call. I stayed with your mom until the end. You can’t just sling accusations! Mateo, please, you gotta have my back!”
Mateo’s chest tightened as he pulled her close, the bruise on her cheek gutting him. “I got you, babe. I know Solana’s pulling this crap.” He shot Solana a scathing look, voice dripping with contempt. “Solana, give it a rest. You think this stunt’s gonna make me like you?
“Yeah, my mom wanted me to marry a Webb girl–meaning you, back then. But are you even a Webb? You fooled my mom.
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Chapter 2
but
you think I’m that dumb? That I’d fall for someone as toxic as you?”
Solana didn’t even spare Mateo a glance. He wasn’t worth her time. She was here for the Webbs, not this loser.
Security guards finally barreled in.
Security guards finally barreled in.
The guards rushed her, but Solana whipped something out of her chunky, old–school Chanel bag.
She spun, her icy stare freezing them in place. They’d never seen a girl her age with such a deadly edge.
Her eyes swept the room, voice cold as steel. “Look close, idiots. This is a bomb. Want to live? Get the hell out–now.”
