Twisted Mercy (Belgrave Academy #1)

Chapter 1

IVY

The blaring alarm clock breaks through my dreams. I slap at my phone, attempting to silence the noise.

It feels like I’d barely closed my eyes mere minutes ago.

In reality, it had been four hours since I got home from my late shift at the café.

I knew picking up extra hours would be rough, but every muscle in my body is aching for a break that I won’t get.

Because I have to get to the recreation center before I’m late and it throws off my entire day.

As soon as I’m out the door, the empty parking spot comes into view, I lose the little appetite I have as my sense of urgency kicks into even higher gear.

“Shit.” I don’t even need to guess where my grandma’s car is.

Dad has it even though Uncle Shawn told him specifically he wasn’t supposed to drive it.

It was only supposed to be on loan for me to use until my car was out of the shop.

But that’ll be an argument for later when Dad shows up.

Right now, I just need to get to the pool.

Rushing back inside, I go straight to the kitchen. Thankfully, my mom is still home and filling her tumbler with coffee, which is her last step before leaving for work.

“Can you give me a ride to the rec center, please?” I plead, trying to keep my annoyance to a minimum.

“At this hour, Ivy?” Mom glances at the clock on her phone.

“Yes. I need to get some laps in early because I won’t have time later. And Grandma’s car is gone.”

“Okay.” She knows without me saying the rest. Mom grabs her coffee then moves next to the sofa and tells my brother, “Zachary, I’m leaving for work.”

“Yeah. Bye.” Since he’s become a teenager, his attitude has been short and his attention span even shorter, except when it comes to his video games—which he’s totally fixated on at the moment.

I’m sure I wasn’t a gem at fourteen, but I don’t remember being this much of a pain.

Thankfully, he no longer has his gaming system in our bedroom.

It was bad enough sharing space with him, but being woken up at all hours of the night was too much.

During one of those aggravating all-nighters a few months ago, I’d had enough and was about to throw everything out the window until he decided to move his equipment into the living room.

“Mom, we have to go now or we’re going to be late.” I hold the door open, waving for her to walk out sooner than later.

My annoying little brother decides to pull his attention from his game. “Simmer down, Ivy. The rec doesn’t even open the doors until like five o’clock.”

“Yes, I’m aware. And since it’s already four thirty in the morning, it will be open soon. Shouldn’t you be sleeping by now instead of playing video games until dawn?”

“Did you get any sleep?” Mom asks, looking at Zachary who never removes his eyes from the television.

“A few hours. I’ll take a power nap after this level.”

Mom shakes her head but doesn’t inquire any further. “Don’t forget to tell your dad that I need him to call me when he gets home.”

“Sure,” Zachary replies before yelling at the screen, “Not that way.”

“Zachary, tell your father to call me. His phone goes straight to voicemail, so I doubt he’s getting any of my messages. Don’t forget.”

We’re never going to get out of here. “Mom, please. Let’s go. He’s a lost cause.” As is my father. Even if Zachary gave him the message, Dad won’t do it. He’ll be too preoccupied with whatever scheme he has going at the moment.

“Zachary,” Mom begins before my idiotic brother cuts her off with a quick, “Got it. Tell Dad to call Mom.” He then jumps to his feet and yells, “Why would you do that?”

“If Dad doesn’t come home before lunch, call me. Okay?” she continues.

“Yeah. I said I got it, Mom.”

“Bye. Love you,” Mom calls out as she finally follows me out the door.

I’m already in the passenger seat, my seat belt buckled as she gets in.

I really need to get my car out of the shop soon.

Like yesterday. Because I can’t do this every morning.

I just need to save up a little more for it.

Again. But I’m thinking of taking up Uncle Shawn on his offer to cover the cost for now as long as he’ll let me pay him back.

She starts up the car then shifts to face me as she fastens her seat belt. “Why don’t you drop me off at the hotel? Then you can keep the car and swing back by later to pick me up.”

“No. I won’t have time. As soon as I’m done at the rec I have to head over to school for the cheer camp we’re having all week, then I have my shift at the café tonight. There’s no way I’ll make it back to the hotel to pick you up and be able to get to work on time.”

“How are you getting to cheer?”

“Everett. He has football. He offered me a ride before Uncle Shawn said I could use Grandma’s car.” And since there’s a change of plans, I’ll call and let him know I’ll take him up on his generous offer. Thank the heavens for best friends with a working ride.

Mom gives me a concerned expression as she shifts the car into reverse. Once we’re finally backing out, I feel a little more at ease. Like I’m actually making progress and will be where I need to get sometime today.

Her hands tighten and release the steering wheel a few times, and I know she’s about to start the lecture.

She always does that before she says something she knows I won’t like.

And she’s right. I don’t like it because she tells me, “You know you don’t have to do it all, right, Ivy?

Swim team, track, cheer, working, and keeping up with your studies going into your senior year. It’s too much.”

It doesn’t feel like enough. “I can handle it.”

“No doubt. But that doesn’t mean you should. You really need to enjoy your last year of school before you’re out in the real world.”

Real world hits me the wrong way. Yeah, I don’t have a mortgage or so-called adult responsibilities, but I don’t exactly feel like I’m a kid either.

Especially with my father who would rather gamble away our livelihood than support his family.

“You mean like helping with rent, utilities, or groceries? Guess I’m already in the real world. ”

I know it’s cruel. But my frustration at this moment is spilling over. I had the money to fix my car, but instead of paying the mechanic, I gave it to my mom to help cover rent since my parents were short this month. All because Dad decided to bet it and lost again.

“I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

“No, Mom. It’s fine.” Mainly because I know she won’t have it. She’s too busy trying to pay for everything else and keep her head above water. And I don’t mind helping her. It’s just the reason why I had to give her the money that pisses me off.

“Okay.” She lets out a deep sigh. “But think about what I said. You don’t have to do it all.

Maybe just pick one extracurricular and go with it.

That way you can devote your full attention to it and not be spread so thin.

Like swim—you love it and you’re amazing at it.

Setting records your junior year at state—imagine what ceilings you will shatter your senior year! ”

I’m hoping there will be some new records and winning titles, but most of all, I’m working towards a full scholarship to a school far away from home.

It’s not that there aren’t good options in and around New Orleans, I just want to be as far away as possible.

“I said I can handle all of it. I need to make sure I have plenty of backup options.”

“Oh, you sure will have every option you need. Your dad and I will ensure you can do whatever you want.” She will work her hardest for that. I know it’s her intention. But Dad will lose on some bet that doesn’t end well, and she’ll find an excuse for him.

“Like what? Working double shifts as a hotel maid while the man I’m married to won’t bother to find a steady job but never fails to find every casino and get-rich scheme within a drivable distance?

But hey, at least he hasn’t gotten us evicted from this place yet.

” I remember having to pack up without warning while Zachary cried because he didn’t want to leave the only home he’d known.

And it wasn’t a great one. But it was ours.

“I’ll pass. I’d rather be alone the rest of my life than be with someone like him. I’ll figure it out on my own.”

“Your father struggles with his demons, and they usually win more often than not.”

It’s him. He’s the problem. But I’ve deflected way too much of my anger towards her.

Specifically, I resent her when she overlooks his behavior and excuses it like it’s fine and normal.

“Yes, his demons. Not mine, not yours. Only his. He doesn’t care about anyone except himself.

Yet, you’ll bust your butt working extra shifts to cover his debts.

And then defend his actions and make excuses for him. ”

“I can’t leave your father. And I hope you never have to understand how hard it is to love someone who struggles this way.”

More like someone who doesn’t deserve all the passes Mom gives him.

She isn’t the deadbeat parent. But she’s the one who stands by him.

Even after he hit her, she claimed it was because he’d been drinking.

But the next time it happened, he hadn’t had as much to drink, so the explanation was that he was stressed out about finances. She’s always justifying his behavior.

I look at her and say what I know beyond a doubt I won’t allow to happen. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll never be you.”

When I see the flinch, I actually feel bad for saying it. But my anger is too strong to even consider apologizing. Because it’s still the truth.

We ride in silence for a few minutes until she says, “If you change your mind about going on the campus tour this weekend, let me know. I can probably get the time off.”

“No, don’t bother. I’m going away for college. I’ll be better off without you or Dad nearby.”

“Ivy, I—” Mom starts to speak, and I’m ready to cut her words off but don’t get the chance before her arm swings out, shielding my chest. When I look over in her direction, I see a flash of headlights before the jarring impact slams me around.

It all happens so fast. The last thing I hear is my mom scream. Then everything goes dark.