They say that life is all about second chances. Josephine Quinn-the only child to one of the biggest businessmen in the country-moves to Portland and turns a new leaf in life after going through a traumatic year at New York, her old home.
On the oth...
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JOSEPHINE
"It all started in the junior year of high school. Fred and I bumped into this new guy at school. We shrugged it off at first but then, later on, we found him being bullied and harassed by one of the seniors and we got into the middle of it all in order to stop it. Your father, being the famous guy he was, managed to calm the seniors down and convinced them to leave the new guy alone. Then, we turn to the new guy and he introduces himself – Alfred Lockhart." My mouth falls open in shock and I look at dad; his expression sends the clear message that these are facts.
"Fast forward to the next semester, the three of us, or rather your father and Alfred, are very well best buds. Mind you, Damien didn't even bother to look at me after Alfred came into the picture. I was always neglected. Still always the side-kick and the kid who was always ignored. But enough about that. Fast forward to senior year and thanks to the influence of your father, Alfred is now one of the 'jocks'. Damien and Alfred both now fall in love with the same girl. Now this is where it all gets interesting.
They start having fights over the girl and who likes her more or rather who she likes best. The girl picks Alfred and Damien is mad beyond imagination. Now, this is the point where he turns to me. He feeds me all kind of crap like 'you were always my best friend'; 'I know I fucked up but you always came up first' and all of that. But I only acted like I was listening to him or that I was convinced by him.
Later on, the girl shifted sides when she discovered just how much money Damien had because of his father. Alfred was so angry, he called the friendship off immediately. Damien, instead of making things right with his friend, started to harass him and out him down in front of the crowd due to things such as Alfred's poverty, him being an orphan and what not. Alfred vowed to get back at him and thus began the Great War between two former best friends.
Both thrived to beat each other in everything they did. Things came to rest when both got busy with their own type of business and it eventually died down completely. But, there was still revenge left for the third guy. I was still vengeful of both of them for always ignoring me. So, I went ahead and filled both their ears with all kinds of bull-shit. The old sparks blew up again and the war was once again at large.
I convinced Alfred to send his gang to get Damien killed but your sister came in the way. No worries. I convinced Damien to get revenge on Alfred and he successfully got him killed. By this time, Damien and I were again tight as hell so I was a partner in his business as well. Now, I thought it was time I got what I deserved to get. Full rein over the company. So, I got Alfred's gang to kidnap you. That way, Damien would have to come and rescue you. I could kill the remaining of the Quinn family and get it over with!" He flairs his arms in the air. My mouth has gone dry and I do not know what to think. All of this, my sister, my mother, my boyfriend's father, all of them got killed because of one stupid fight over some girl.
"Who was this girl?"
"Charlotte Smith."
"Mom?! Mom was the girl you two fought over?" I look at dad in awe and he winces as he nods. The bleeding on his leg has stopped and it is definitely getting infected. I need to get him to the hospital as soon as I can.
"Well, that is enough chit-chat. Time for some killing." He aims his gun at daddy.
"No. Do not shoot. Fred, I will give you whatever you want. Just leave dad alone." I point a shaking hand at him in a motion to stop. He looks back and forth from me to daddy and from daddy to me.
"Fine. I will kill you first then."
"Fine. Do whatever you want just leave him alone." I find my confidence back as he points the gun at me and reloads the gun. I take a deep breath and look at dad.
"Daddy, take care of Timothy. Tell him I love him."
"Josie, don't do this. This is my fault. The whole thing was because of me and you need not get into this." He turns to Fred. "You can kill me and you can have the damn company. But you will leave Josie alone." I shake my head in disapproval.
"It's okay, dad. I can finally see Jaques now." I smile despite the situation. I turn to Fred and spit on his face. He only smiles and almost pulls the trigger before another shot is heard. I look at my chest and I find that I haven't been shot. I look up to find the blood leaving Fred's body. I see behind him to find Sam with a gun in his hand, a little smoke still leaving the tip of it. Fred looks at him before turning back at me. He falls on one knee and sneers at me. When did he get here?!
"You will regret that." Before anybody can react, he aims and pulls the trigger.
"NO, DADDY!!!" A gut-wrenching scream leaves my lips as dad's chest starts to ooze out blood and Fred falls back dead. I lean down on my knees next to dad and put my hand on his chest in an attempt to stop the blood from leaving his body.
"Daddy, daddy, hold on. Sam, get him! We need to take him to the hospital." I push down on the chest but the bleeding doesn't stop. I look at Sam and he has a forlorn look on his face.
"Don't stand there. Help me take him to the car!" I shout but to no avail. The tears are running down even more brutally and I can't stop them.
"Peanut." Dad croaks in a small voice and I look at him.
"I will say hello to Jaques for you."
"No, dad just hold on. We'll get you to the hospital and you WILL be fine." He smiles despite his situation.
"It's okay. This was going to happen sooner or later. I am just glad you didn't get caught in the middle of it all like Jaqueline and Charlotte. I am glad I was able to save you at least." By now, his breaths are becoming more and more shallow and difficult to take.
"Dad stop talking like that. I'll take you to the hospital come on." I stand up and try to help him up but he doesn't budge. I am ranting off to him to get up before he calls my name, making me halt and look at him.
He smiles and holds up his pinkie.
"Always and forever." With that, he closes his eyes and his head and hand falls limp. My mind blanks out as screams and tears leave me and my body starts to shake from the sobs. I clutch his hand and I have no idea how much I cry. I cannot think of anything except for the fact that he is gone, and with him, my only family is gone too.
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OMG, I CRIED SO MUCH WHILE WRITING THIS CHAPTER AND IT'S SO, SO CLOSE TO MY HEART, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE! PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL CHAPTERS I HAVE EVER WRITTEN.
I ALSO CAN'T BELIEVE THE BOOK IS ALMOST OVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THROUGH OUT THE CHAPTERS. I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT!
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