Chapter 46
chapter
forty-six
“You don’t scare me the way you used to. That’s what scares you.” – Haven
HAVEN
Stepping out of the limo in front of the hospital, the Rocky Mountains backdrop is too idyllic, too clean for what’s happening.
Each breath burns going into my lungs. The sun beats down, reflecting off the building’s windows, turning the front of the medical center into something blinding and hostile instead of safe.
I’ve always hated hospitals. Just passing one makes me think of my mother lying in one of those beds, slowly withering away. But this one is worse. There is nothing comforting about this place.
Not with Cy locked inside. And not with her standing out front, talking to reporters, and dabbing her eyes in her performance of a grief-stricken mother. She is far from it. My stepmother is a viper…poisonous and deadly, but not loving.
Anita stands at the base of the steps, posture and hair perfect. Not a single strand is out of place despite the heat. Large sunglasses shield her face as if she’s a movie star. Anita believes she is untouchable.
Then…something inside me snaps.
I march toward her, and the band follows my lead.
“Haven?” Declan calls from somewhere behind me, but it’s too late.
My boots slam hard against the ground. Every step is fueled by years of pent-up anger clawing up my throat. I’ve always hated her. I tried to accept her, I really did, but she made it impossible to love her. Hell, she made it impossible to like her.
Anita sees me coming, and I half expect her to tuck tail and run, but she doesn’t flinch. If anything, her mouth curves slightly, like she’s been waiting for this.
Of course she has.
There are people everywhere, hospital staff, security, and fans who have caught wind of an exclusive story. They all linger behind barricades. Phones out and cameras raised, catching the moment before it even starts.
Good.
Let them fucking watch. I have nothing left to lose.
“You,” I growl, stopping a few feet in front of her. My hands curl into fists at my sides. “What the hell did you do?”
She reminds me of a bird of prey as she tilts her head slightly like she’s examining something beneath her.
“Haven,” she says coolly. “I wondered how long it would take for you to show up and make a scene,” she says. holding out her hand to look at her nails. “It seems to be your thing.”
I step closer.
“A scene? You had your son locked in a psychiatric ward for no reason, and I’m the one making a scene?”
She tips her sunglasses down just enough for me to see the flicker of anger pass behind her eyes. It’s gone just as fast, replaced by arrogance.
“He needs help,” she replies, smoothly.
The bitch has definitely practiced that line in front of the mirror one too many times.
“Something he clearly isn’t getting from the people around him.”
My stomach twists.
“Don’t even try to pretend this is about his well-being. This is about control.”
Anita huffs at me the way a horse does an annoying fly.
“No. Cyrus is ill. He has a disease, and he needs help. I did the only thing I could.”
Each word is said with dramatic flair as if she’s auditioning for a movie. I glance around at those filming.
“I know you think I’m stupid. But you can’t just get someone locked up.
So, tell me, who did you pay off to make this happen?
” I fire back. “Was it a judge or maybe the doctor? Heck, you probably went full gusto and did both? Does my father know you’re out here committing criminal offenses to have his talent involuntarily admitted? ”
Her lips press together briefly, then she smiles. There it is. The cold, vicious edge that I’ve only ever seen when we’re alone finally comes to the surface.
“Acting like the concerned girlfriend doesn’t really suit you,” she says.
“Funny…” I bite out with a mocking chuckle. “Motherhood never suited you, but here we are.”
Those nearby gasp and shift, their phones focused on the confrontation, and I look at them.
“Did you get that? She paid people to have Cyrus locked up because she’s a vindictive bitch, not a concerned mother,” I say loud enough for every single one of them to catch it.
Anita practically hisses as she takes a step closer, eyes full of rage.
“Careful, Haven,” Anita purrs. “You’re starting to sound emotional. Maybe it’s you who needs to be hospitalized, spreading such vicious lies.”
I laugh, but there is nothing humorous about this situation. The weight of the attention presses on me. There is a crackle in the air. Our audience is a pack of hyenas just waiting for the kill so they can swoop in for the scraps.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you never formally adopted me and can’t pay someone off to lock me up too,” I snap.
Her eyes meet mine, and her voice rises for the show.
“Spare me…you’ve never liked me, and now you’re trying to besmirch my good name.”
“Besmirch? Really? I know exactly what I’m talking about.
You’re terrified,” I shoot back. “You’re losing him,” I continue, stepping closer, my voice dropping enough for just the two of us to hear.
“He’s not listening to you anymore. He’s not doing what you want.
And the worst part? He sees you for exactly what you are.
It’s why he fired you. You’re only out for yourself.
You are nothing but a conniving, manipulative, gaslighting narcissist.”
Anita’s expression hardens.
“Desperate,” I add, louder. “You’re nothing but a woman who would rather destroy her son than lose control over him.”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd.
She doesn’t blink.
“You think you’re special. That Cyrus chose you over me?”
She laughs, and all I can picture is the sea witch from The Little Mermaid.
“I know he has. You’re despicable. Who tells their son that they’re the cause of his father’s death when really it was all your fault?
You and your affair. I bet you were salivating at the chance to be with my father.
A grieving widower, in need of comfort, and you were just the perfect person to swoop in and console him. ”
The silence that follows is sharp.
“Oh, I see now. So, my son has conveniently left out a few details, hasn’t he?”
My stomach tightens.
“What are you talking about?”
The look in her eyes is almost pitying.
“Your father,” she says, her voice just loud enough to carry. “He wasn’t a widower.”
“What?”
“That’s right, sweetie. He was cheating on your dying mother with me for months. Planned on leaving her, too. Cyrus knew and didn’t tell you.”
The words hit like a punch to the chest, and the air leaves my lungs. For half a second, everything shifts.
No. No, that’s—it can’t be true.
Anita continues, obviously amused with herself.
“Strange. I would’ve thought that was relevant. You know, since you’re so close and all.”
My pulse roars in my ears. She’s lying, she has to be lying. My father would never. Would he?
“Nice try,” I force out, even though my throat feels tight. “You really think I’m going to believe anything that comes out of your mouth?”
Anita’s smile widens, and I can see the cruelty shining in her eyes. If she has ever been a good person, it’s gone now. It has morphed over time, with money and power, into something born of greed.
“I don’t need you to believe me. You can ask your father. Just think about it. All those business trips…”
Her words create a fissure in my heart that I don’t want there. My father changed after my mom died, but maybe he’s never been who I thought he was. I don’t let the fractures show. I won’t give her that.
“Even if it is true, you don’t get to deflect.” I take another step forward. “This is about Cyrus and the fact that you locked him up like he’s some kind of problem you can fix.”
“He has a problem,” she says sharply. “Look at him. Look at what he’s become.”
“And whose fault is that?” I yell back.
Her eyes flash with hatred. “Don’t you dare,” she warns.
“No, let’s talk about it,” I push, my voice rising now, anger burning through everything else.
“Let’s talk about how you’ve controlled every aspect of Cyrus’s life, from who he talks to, to what he does, to what he is even.
Telling him he needs to work harder, be better, or he’ll be nothing.
Making him think that his career and passion are why his father died, and forcing him to live with the guilt.
He was bound to crack under the weight.”
“I protected him.”
“You suffocated him.”
The words land like a ticking time bomb between us, ready to go off. Anita steps in close enough that I can smell her sickening perfume. The scent is expensive roses with something dying and rotten underneath.
“And what have you done?” Her voice drops, turning deadly quiet. “You think you’ve helped him?”
I don’t answer.
“You have always been a poison to my son. I was so happy when you left, and he was finally free of you and your toxic influence.”
I scoff and cross my arms. “My toxic influence? Oh, you are funny.
“You’re as pathetic today as you were the day you scampered off.
What did it take, a month, for you to get fired?
” She holds up her fingers and ticks off all the things that are supposed to be my fault.
“My son has an overdose on your watch and gets arrested. And now…” Her eyes flick over me, slowly, as she tries to make me feel small, but I refuse to let her make me feel that way ever again.
“The entire world has seen exactly how pathetic you are with your sex tape.”
Her words are a smack to the face.
“But please,” she adds sweetly, “tell me again how you’re good for him.”
Everyone is silently watching and waiting for my response. My chest rises and falls. Pain twists sharp in my ribs, in my throat, and in places I can’t name.
But I don’t break, I stand taller and lean in so that there’s no space left between us.
“Scampered off? That is an interesting way of putting it. You forget that I left and got a degree while putting distance between us. You may see it as running, but I see it as reshaping who I am and getting out from under your poisonous grasp.” I cock my head and stare at her as if seeing her for the first time.
“As for being fired and the sex tape…I’m starting to hear jealousy in your voice.
Am I garnering more attention than you are?
Is that the real problem here? Is that why you’ve chosen to lock Cyrus up and stand in front of all these cameras with your crocodile tears?
We both know that you don’t really give a fuck if he is okay as long as you get your fifteen minutes of fame.
I own that sex tape.” I look around. “Yes, it was me, and yes, I enjoyed every second.”
My heart is beating so fast in my chest at announcing that so publicly that I think I might pass out.
“I think what’s really going on here, Anita, is that it’s finally sinking in that you’re irrelevant. You aren’t in control of anything anymore, not the band, my father, or your son, and that terrifies you.”
“Enough,” she snaps.
I don’t stop.
“Cy will walk away, and there won’t be a damn thing you can do about it.”
Her hand moves first, but I see it, and I’m faster.
I block her arm as my palm cracks across her face, sending her expensive sunglasses flying. Anita’s head turns slightly with the impact as she stumbles back, her hand going to her cheek.
The sound echoes. Gasps ripple through the crowd, but I don’t back down.
She looks back at me, shock and fury blazing behind her eyes.
“Here’s the difference between you and me. I may have destroyed my career—” I point at her. “But at least your son won’t look at me like I’m a traitor. Because after this stunt…” I add, louder now, “he’s going to hate you.”
Anita’s eyes show the fear she’s been hiding this entire time, and for once…she has nothing to say.
The guys from the band step up beside me. They’ve been so quiet that I forgot they were here.
Vex glares at Anita, his arms crossed.
“If you try to do anything else to Cyrus or press charges against Haven, then you can consider Venomous disbanded, because I will quit. You can run along and tell Auguste and the board that you’re the reason LG Records’ biggest money makers refuse to perform another concert until Cyrus is out of this place, and you offer him a public apology. Enjoy losing millions.”
Vex punches her right where it hurts…in her bank account.
“That goes for all of us,” Ledger adds.
Anita looks at them and then me, before stomping off and fleeing to her black limo.
As soon as she is gone, I wheel around and face Declan.
“Where was Cy when this happened?”
Declan swallows, confirming my suspicions that he knew.
“Tell me.”
“He went to an NA meeting,” Declan answers.
“You told her where he was, didn’t you?”
The guys all glare at him, and he stares around like a rat caught in a trap.
“You’re supposed to be his friend, and you let her lock him up,” I say, still a bit shocked that Declan aided Anita. Makes me wonder what other shady shit he has done.
“You son of a bitch,” Ash growls and punches Declan so hard that he falls on his ass, and his tablet hits the ground.
“You broke my nose,” Declan says, the sound muffled through his hand.
Vex crouches and stares at Declan.
“I wish that I could fire your ass, but since I can’t…you’re not welcome anywhere near us. Find another fucking hotel, I don’t want to see your face again. Not unless you want to learn how to sprout wings and fly after I throw you from the roof.”
Vex stands and looks at me.
“Let’s go see if we can talk them into letting him out.”
I nod and give Declan one last dirty look. Asshole.