The Bad Girl

Chapter 10 ~ What Now?

A/N: Hey guys

So as I've been mentioning, updating has been a slow process.

I'm just lacking time to write really and it's frustrating cause I want to keep the momentum of this book going.

So anyway, I hope you are enjoying this book.

Bye xx

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Chapter 10 ~ What Now?

Riley P.O.V

We pull into the driveway of my parents' house and Jake cuts the engine.

"You ok?" He asks, turning to me in his seat.

I take a deep breath. In. And out.

"I'm ok. Let's do this shit."

We get out of the jeep and I lead the way down the footpath to the front door. I can hear raised voices from inside and I repeatedly curse in my head. I shoot Jake an apologetic look, before knocking rapidly on the green door.

"Riley, sweetie." My mum greets as she opens the door.

I lean in to hug her softly before we pull away and she looks to Jake.

"Jacob Ashford," He introduces himself and shakes my mother's hand.

Mum looks between our faces before smiling.

"I'm Jane, Riley's mother." She says to Jake, stepping back and letting us into the house.

The hallway we walk into is dimly lit. The walls are lined with various family photos of me and my siblings, or staged family portraits made to convince people we are a happy, functioning family. I want to scream and smash every single photo every time I walk down this hallway.

We follow Mum into the living room where Dad and Reece stand defensively on either side of the couch. They are both breathing heavy, the tension in the room so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"John?" Mum speaks cautiously, "Riley is here."

His head whips around and our eyes meet.

Fuck.

"Where have you been?" He begins in a loud tone. "You didn't come over for dinner the other day, where were you? Off fucking some lowlife no doubt. Who's this boy?" He gestures to Jake, who is frozen stiff behind me.

"Jacob Ashford. He's a friend." I say, not letting my voice shake.

"Yeah, right." He replies with a suggestive scoff.

"Leave your daughter alone, John." Mum says bravely.

"Piss off, Jane." He spits.

"Father!" Reece cuts in, his eyes burning with anger.

But it's a different kind of anger to our dad's. You can hear the calmness behind Reece's firm voice that doesn't exist in Dad's.

"What's going on?" I say quieter to Reece while our dad goes to get another beer from the kitchen.

"He's been drinking all day and still is," Reece comes over to me by the doorway, "He started throwing stuff around the house and shouting."

"Shouting about what?"

"Everything. You, your sister, me, Mum, his job, his house."

"Shit." I run fingers through my hair anxiously.

"Rye," Jake says calmly, "Why don't we just call the police?"

"It's complicated, Jake. But we should stay here. You being here will keep him from going completely crazy. He may be a massive dick, but he's not entirely stupid. He knows you could dob him in."