Chapter 76 I DIDN'T MEAN IT

Chapter 76 I DIDN'T MEAN IT
CHAPTER 76

GRACE'S POV
I DIDN'T MEAN IT

I don't know what possessed me to look for the sheriff today. Maybe it was desperation or hope to find my father. Or I was being stupid again. Maybe I just wanted to hear the truth, even though it'll sting.

The moment I opened the door, I regretted it because it wasn't a warm reception.

His eyes looked over me with the same disgust as ever. It was cold, sharp and calculated.

“Make this quick,” he snapped. “I don't want to entertain you too long.”

I exhaled deeply before I began. “Sir, do you know anything about my father?” I said, forcing the tremor out of my voice.

He just smirked and that chilled me.

“You want answers right?” he leaned close. “I'll give you answers, I'll even give you another address. You'll see what you're looking for.”

There was a pause and I knew that wasn't good. “After that Miss Bennett, I don't wanna see you ever again.”

Before I could open my mouth to say anything. He beat me to it again. “Get out of my office.”

You only get one shot with him, I told myself as I stood up.

By the time I got home my head throbbed a lot, I didn't know if it was from my claw clip. My chest felt tight and Lily was still with her mother. She said she'll manage, but I'm going to see her again, first thing tomorrow morning.

The house was dark and still, when I walked in. My heart skipped a beat but I don't know why.

I dropped my keys on the table, something wasn't right in the room. Someone stepped out of the shadows, it was Ryan as always.

He stepped out of the shadows with his bloodshot eyes. He looked wild and greatly unhinged.

“Grace,” he called out, his voice shaky. “You're, you're fucking him, the officer. Right?”

My throat dried up. I can't deal with this anymore. “Ryan, you need to leave.”

He gave a humourless laugh, the sound echoed throughout the house.

“You want me to leave,” his lip curled. “You killed my father.”

The room spun and he lunged at me, but I dodged him. My claw clip fell from my hair shattering into jagged pieces.

“Ryan, please leave……”

He laughed again and there wasn't any humour in it. “I should've killed you long ago,” he hissed, moving toward me again.

“I thought you loved me. I thought you were mine. You were supposed to be mine.” he barked at me.

He lunged at me again, his hands clamped around my throat so tight my vision blurred.
My feet struggled against the floor, kicking and fighting for air that didn't come.

I tried to scream for help, nothing happened, I was just choking and burning at the same time.

Ryan's face was inches away from mine, twisted in rage and possession.

“If I can't have you, Grace,” he growled, tightening his grip. “No one will.”

Darkness filled me, I could feel myself slipping away, my body was losing its strength and he pushed me to the floor.

Then my hand brushed against something on the floor. It was a jagged end of my claw clip, and I didn't think I just swung it twice.

There was a wet sound and his eyes went wide. Blood spilled fast, warm and red, too fast down my wrist, he stumbled back clutching his throat.

He tried to speak but a gurgle came out. I watched him in shock as he fell to the ground.
I looked down to see my missing claw clip was lunged at his artery.

I crawled away clutching my bruised throat. I was barely able to breath air, and decipher the situation. Ryan didn't move anymore, everything became quiet.

“No, no, no,” I muttered. “Oh my God, oh my God, Ryan. I'm so sorry.”

But it was too late. He was gone, he was killed by my hands.

My breathing was shallow, tears poured down my cheeks. My stomach twisted into nausea. Everything hit me all at the same thing.

I didn't want this, I didn't want to kill him, but Ryan. He attacked me first in my house, what will people say about me again. The girl with the secrets and reputation.

Lily wasn't even with me, and I didn't want Jeremy finding out about this. He'll say I'm a monster, he'll definitely leave me and he'll hate me.

I forced myself up on my numb and shaky legs. I have to clean this up now.

I grabbed a towel, rag, bleach and anything my hands could around me.

I scrubbed and scrubbed tears blurring my vision, my lungs were still trying to get used to air after being strangled.

I dragged Ryan's body, gosh it was so heavy across the floor, and I had to clean that up too.

I stuffed him into a black bag in the garage, and tied it shut. I tried not to vomit when his arm went the wrong way. Even in death he still tried to grope me.

My entire body was soaked in sweat, blood and fear. When I opened the door to drag the bag outside. I heard a hushed footstep.

“Hello? Anyone there?” I whispered into the dark.

It was nothing, the situation was getting the best of me.

I hauled the bag into the trunk, with great difficulty I almost dropped it. Every shadow felt like someone was definitely watching me.
Every little sound felt like someone was calling out my name.

I drove to the only place that would hide my secret again. The lake where Jeremy's mother drowned, it was as if fate was mocking me.

The air was cold and humid there, moonlight reflected on the water surface.

I picked a spot near the rocks, it was secluded and the soil was soft there. I dragged the bag out and it landed with a sickening thud.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered, even though I didn't mean it.

The digging was very hard. The shovel kept slipping from my shaky hands, my breath kept breaking.

My arms hurt and my clothes were dirty, and soaked with sweat and blood.

The hole was big enough, so I dragged the bag over and opened it. A gun fell out as I pushed him in, I threw it away and proceeded to remove my dirty, bloody and sweaty clothes.

I covered the hole in my underwear, parting down the soil until it looked untouched. My hands were coated with mud, my nails broke and my throat burned with purple bruise marks.

I got into the lake and washed myself up. I got into my car and drove away. Everything felt unreal to me, I can't believe this happened to me again.

I stepped into my sitting room, dropped my keys and nearly collapsed with exhaustion.

My phone buzzed on the table. My blood ran cold, I opened it numb fingers.

“We need to talk.” Jeremy.