A Woman Scorned

Part 22

"I went to Chicago when you were gone. I saw your parents."

The air rushed out of your lungs. Despite being away from Billy the last couple of weeks, you'd never been happier. Telling him about your past, opening up to him in a way you'd never done before, with him sharing his painful memories as well – it strengthened the connection between you two and made you feel so much closer to him. You'd spent most of your life isolated from others, always hiding a part of you, and now not to have to do that with your partner was exhilarating. Except now, as his words sunk in, all of that contentment vanished in an instant. In its place was chaos and confusion and painful anger.

Maybe it was just a figment of your imagination. Maybe you were just tired and misheard what he said. "You can't be serious. You're kidding, right?"

"I'm not."

You pulled away immediately, your bewildered gaze focused on the floor because you couldn't stand to look at Billy. "What did you do to them?"

"Nothing."

"Stop fucking lying to me!" You screamed, your anger coming out full-force. "You expect me to believe you went all the way there and did nothing to my parents?"

He tried to move closer but you shoved him away.

"I trusted you!" you cried, your voice cracking. "I let you in. I told you things I'd never told anyone else! You swore to me! You swore to me you wouldn't go after them-"

"I never promised that."

"Fuck you!" Sheer rage flooded over you. "You think you're going to get out of this because you didn't say those exact words? Fuck you!" You started pacing the kitchen floor, running your fingers through your hair. "I should have known you'd lie. I should have expected this." You turned your back to him, staring at the blank wall. "This is my fault," you murmured to yourself. "I shouldn't have trusted you. Why was I stupid enough to think I could?" Oh god. All the distance you'd put between you and your parents had been necessary for your own survival. You'd been so careful and rigid with those boundaries, because it was what you needed for your own mental peace. And Billy had ruined all of that. Without a single consideration for you.

Now you had to deal with their deaths.

You had to live everyday knowing you were the cause of it. Even though you hated them – hated them – a part of you still longed for them. Still loved them. As much as you'd tried to kill every bit of love for those horrible people, you never could. It was why the distance was important. Why it mattered. Because when you didn't see them, you didn't feel guilty, and you could live your life without being burdened or manipulated by your feelings for them. And now all of that peace of mind was gone. Billy had taken all the walls you'd built to keep your heart and mind safe and stomped all over them.

You stormed out of the kitchen and back to the living room to grab your purse. You needed to put yourself together and gather enough courage to start dealing with this shit. You'd have to go to Chicago and deal with their bodies – oh god, you didn't want to look at them. If they'd died of old age, you wouldn't even have to because you'd already made preparations for someone to take care of the details. But it wasn't old age, it was Billy - because of you - and that meant you couldn't just hand off that responsibility to someone else. You had to see their bodies because it was your responsibility, your punishment.

You headed for the door but Billy blocked your path, refusing to budge. "Get out of my fucking way," you ordered, swiping the tears from your face.

"I didn't hurt them. They're still alive."

"I don't believe you," you spat out.

He tried to grab your hand but you recoiled from his touch, withdrawing from him. "Look, I did have every intention of hurting them. The plan was that I'd go there, stake out the place, note their daily routines then come back here and have someone take care of it."