Read Online Painful Consequences by Breanna Hayse - Free Book Online
Authors: Breanna Hayse
Ads: Link
off this morning. I discovered that I could not will the birds to come to my windowsill and there were no handsome princes coming to rescue me from my golden cage.”
“You spend too much time watching Disney movies about neglected princesses,” he chuckled. “I am pleased that you decided to obey your brother and follow your restriction. Good girl, I’m proud of you.”
“I’m not a child, Reed,” Brittany snarled, not letting him see that his praise pleased her. “And it is very disturbing that you know about Disney princesses and what they do when they are locked away in their towers by wicked brothers. As for being obedient, I just didn’t want to hear any more boring lectures.”
“Hmm, I understand. I assure you that the time for lectures is soon ending, so have no fear. Did you eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Well, I am. We’ll stop at the deli on the way.”
* * *
Reed watched Brittany throughout the meeting that evening. She attempted to engage a little, but then shut herself off when Kraus reprimanded her for being an immature, naive snob. Her eyes flashed angrily, and she finally told him to go to hell.
“Little girl, let me tell you one thing. I’ve been to hell. In fact, I’m living in hell right now. If I had someone tell me to grow up and get my head out of my ass when I was your age, then I wouldn’t be here today listening to you shine about how hard you have it. I would have made something useful out of my life instead of destroying everything in my path. Brett, you need to take this kid home and give her a good walloping! Maybe if she can’t sit on her fat ass for a while, she’ll think twice before opening her damn mouth!” Kraus yelled.
“Enough, dude. You’re pissing off the cops,” another man said, eyeing both Brett and Reed as Brittany fought back humiliated tears. Kraus had hit her weak spots, and it hurt deeply.
“Too bad. They know I’m telling the truth, don’t you, boys? Neither of you are doing this kid any favors by coddling her. It seems she’s already had a lifetime of that, and look at where it got her.”
“Brett, sit. Kraus, you may be right, but there are proper ways of speaking your opinion without being insulting. Brittany isn’t the only one here who’s struggling with problems, so don’t go picking on her as she’s starting to open up,” Reed reprimanded.
“I’m not picking on her. I’m trying to get her to see that if she doesn’t take some responsibility for herself, then she’s going to be as fucked up as I am. Damn it, Reed!” Kraus’ face was red with anger, “If I had gotten my shit together when I was her age, I might still have my daughter!”
“You had a daughter? You never said anything,” one man said quietly.
Kraus glared at him hatefully. “No, I did not because she’s dead. I got into a wreck driving her home from a school dance because I was loaded. She would have been 25 this month. Happy?”
The room was still. While it was not unusual for things to be exposed during closed meetings, this news was a hard pill to swallow. Brittany bit her lip and stood. She silently walked over to the weeping man and slowly wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll try harder. I don’t want to hurt my family like this. Or my friends.” Brittany said softly. “You’re right. You’re all right,” she said to the room, avoiding looking in Reed’s direction. “I screwed up my life today because of my drug use and hurt my brother and our friend. I need to stop this ugly cycle. And I need a lot of help.”
“You’re too special to be anything other than spectacular, little girl. I’m a mean old bastard, but I don’t want to attend your funeral,” Kraus said to her with red eyes.
She kissed his rough cheek. “Nor I yours. I’ll need all of you to get me through this, and I promise that I'll do as best as I can.”
Reed glanced at Brett as the men gathered around
“You spend too much time watching Disney movies about neglected princesses,” he chuckled. “I am pleased that you decided to obey your brother and follow your restriction. Good girl, I’m proud of you.”
“I’m not a child, Reed,” Brittany snarled, not letting him see that his praise pleased her. “And it is very disturbing that you know about Disney princesses and what they do when they are locked away in their towers by wicked brothers. As for being obedient, I just didn’t want to hear any more boring lectures.”
“Hmm, I understand. I assure you that the time for lectures is soon ending, so have no fear. Did you eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Well, I am. We’ll stop at the deli on the way.”
* * *
Reed watched Brittany throughout the meeting that evening. She attempted to engage a little, but then shut herself off when Kraus reprimanded her for being an immature, naive snob. Her eyes flashed angrily, and she finally told him to go to hell.
“Little girl, let me tell you one thing. I’ve been to hell. In fact, I’m living in hell right now. If I had someone tell me to grow up and get my head out of my ass when I was your age, then I wouldn’t be here today listening to you shine about how hard you have it. I would have made something useful out of my life instead of destroying everything in my path. Brett, you need to take this kid home and give her a good walloping! Maybe if she can’t sit on her fat ass for a while, she’ll think twice before opening her damn mouth!” Kraus yelled.
“Enough, dude. You’re pissing off the cops,” another man said, eyeing both Brett and Reed as Brittany fought back humiliated tears. Kraus had hit her weak spots, and it hurt deeply.
“Too bad. They know I’m telling the truth, don’t you, boys? Neither of you are doing this kid any favors by coddling her. It seems she’s already had a lifetime of that, and look at where it got her.”
“Brett, sit. Kraus, you may be right, but there are proper ways of speaking your opinion without being insulting. Brittany isn’t the only one here who’s struggling with problems, so don’t go picking on her as she’s starting to open up,” Reed reprimanded.
“I’m not picking on her. I’m trying to get her to see that if she doesn’t take some responsibility for herself, then she’s going to be as fucked up as I am. Damn it, Reed!” Kraus’ face was red with anger, “If I had gotten my shit together when I was her age, I might still have my daughter!”
“You had a daughter? You never said anything,” one man said quietly.
Kraus glared at him hatefully. “No, I did not because she’s dead. I got into a wreck driving her home from a school dance because I was loaded. She would have been 25 this month. Happy?”
The room was still. While it was not unusual for things to be exposed during closed meetings, this news was a hard pill to swallow. Brittany bit her lip and stood. She silently walked over to the weeping man and slowly wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll try harder. I don’t want to hurt my family like this. Or my friends.” Brittany said softly. “You’re right. You’re all right,” she said to the room, avoiding looking in Reed’s direction. “I screwed up my life today because of my drug use and hurt my brother and our friend. I need to stop this ugly cycle. And I need a lot of help.”
“You’re too special to be anything other than spectacular, little girl. I’m a mean old bastard, but I don’t want to attend your funeral,” Kraus said to her with red eyes.
She kissed his rough cheek. “Nor I yours. I’ll need all of you to get me through this, and I promise that I'll do as best as I can.”
Reed glanced at Brett as the men gathered around
Similar Books
