Broken Beginnings

Prologue

THIS NOVEL IS COMPLETED AND IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON :) HOWEVER, I AM TRYING TO UPDATE TWICE A WEEK (I KNOW IT'S RANDOM) BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT EVERY THREE DAYS:) I HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!! 

Prologue

Chloe

“I’ve been arrested, Kiddo.”

I scoffed into the phone as my good-for-nothing father slurred into the receiver. His words were barely audible. “How?”

“I don’t know.”

“Damn it, Dale!” I rubbed my fingertips into my temple, sitting up in bed. “What the hell do you mean you don’t know?”

“Don’ talk to me like that, gurl.” His whiskey words were angry and I rolled my eyes. “Get your butt down to de’ station and get your ol’ man outta ‘ere.”

“I’m in bed.” I said flatly. My stomach felt as though it were holding a boulder. 

“Then get out!” I knew he was covering the receiver with his hands because his words became so much louder – it was as though they were reaching through the wire into my ear. I pulled the phone away and sighed, dropping my head onto my raised knees.

“You know I can’t bail you out again, Dale.” I clenched my teeth against the stream of profanities I knew were scratching at the base of his throat, begging for release. “I don’t have the money.”

“You got the money.” He snarled. “I know you got money.”

“I don’t.” I argued. “I’m done spending my money on bailing you out. Maybe spending a few nights in prison will smarten you up.” That was wishful thinking. Dale would never smarten up. He threw his fist without thought, took what he wanted without permission and peddled illegal substances. He was just too far gone to reconstruct the life he once had.

“If I don’t get outta here,” he sighed into the phone. “If I don’t get out of here my boss is going to find you. I owe him money, Chloe.”

“You owe who money?” I snapped, instantly feeling alert. The hairs on my body poked through pebbled skin, standing straight. Fear surged through my bloodstream.  

He sighed, relenting. “Jimmy.”

“You work for Jimmy?” I cried. “Oh God,” I wiped my brow as a cold sweat broke out over my entire body. “What were you thinking?”

“It’s good money.” He defended, his tone hushed. “Don’t judge me.”

“When were you going to tell me?” I sounded wounded – I felt wounded. He was my father, I should be able to trust in him and he should trust in me. But that had died long ago. Now, I scarcely knew him. 

“I wasn’t.”

“How could you do this?”

“It’ll be fine if you just come get me, Chloe.” He whined. “This will be the last time.”

“You said that the time before, Dale.” I said dryly.

“Are you coming?”

“No.” I shook my head sadly. “I told you I wasn’t.”

“You’re a selfish little,” He roared and I heard a scuffle in the background. “I raised you!”

I knew his phone privileges had been seized as a result of his behavior. I could either make my way down to the police station where I would be forced to give up more of the money I had worked so hard for and saved even harder for, or I could leave him. I could do what I knew I had to do sooner or later. I could pack up my belongings and I could run. I could run now like I should have run as soon as mom died and dad fell into the dark abyss of abandoned streets, drugs and fights.

I didn’t want to leave him. But I had tried without success to bring my father back to me for the last four years. It was hopeless. He was gone and he was determined to bring me down with him. I couldn’t let him pull me down. I couldn’t let him destroy me. I was too young to fall into the hell he allowed to become his life. I was too young to die.