Veronica was fuming, it took everything inside of her to not run back out there and beat the shit out of all three of them or at least try. She couldn’t stand them when they were all together. She could handle Jack alone, because she was used to his violence and she kind of liked the fact that Jack considered her his. She could handle Caden alone, because all they ever did was fight and her brother was the only who understood her. But, together the three of them drove her completely insane.
She knew that Vinny wouldn’t come to see if she was okay, or apologize for the bruise that he’d most likely given her, because Jack would tell him there was no time and he’d listen. So instead of staying pissed off, she peeled off her clothes. Leaving her in nothing but her lacy black bra and matching underwear. She grabbed her bottle of prescription Codeine from under the bed and popped a few of them knowing they’d make her comfortably numb. She grabbed her stolen IPod off her night stand and placed the ear buds in her ears, before sinking down onto the bottom bunk of her bed.
She pulled the covers over her, turning on her IPod and switching it to one of her favorite bands. Letting the song drown out all her worries and frustration as she closed her eyes and started to drift to sleep.
It was her father’s screaming that pulled her from her deep sleep. She pulled her ear buds out of her ear and slipped on one of Vinny’s old shirts that looked like a dress on her as she peeked out of her room. Of course on the one day that she was trying to forget about her life, her father would show up after being gone for three days. He was screaming at Mary about something and she looked like she’d already been slapped around a bit.
“Hey asshole, leave her the fuck alone.” Ronnie yelled causing her father to turn his cold, angry gaze on her, which was exactly what she wanted, she glanced Mary as her father made his way to her, giving her younger sister a get the hell out of their kind of look.
Ronnie stepped out a little further from her room ready for her father to beat the shit out of her, because she’d gotten in the way. He stood in front of her and her heart pounded hard in her chest she was terrified as she looked into the blue eyes that matched her. He was the only thing on the face of the planet that actually scared her, but she’d never let him know that.
He slapped her across the face so hard it mad her neck snap to the side and her face burned instantly. Tears rimmed her eyes but she never let them fall she couldn’t let him know how weak she was. She forced herself to look back at him.
“Don’t you ever talk to me like that again, you little bitch.” He spat, centimeters from her face and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. She rolled her eyes and he’d caught it, because he’d punch her in her stomach causing her to gasp from breath and double over. When she finally caught her breath, she coughed violently letting out a small groan in pain. He grabbed a fist full of her hair forcing her to look at him again. “Learn some manors Veronica Jade or I’ll teach you.” He spat harshly causing her to cringe at the use of her full name. “Your just like your worthless mother.” He whispered darkly before realizing her and walking past her towards his room.
She felt sick to her stomach when her father compared her to her mother that was the one thing she couldn’t handle. She hated her mother worse than her father. Just the simple fact that she resembled her, killed Ronnie every day, so for her father to actually compare her, killed her.
She stood there for a long time, despite the fact that she could feel the blood from her nose and her face still burned insanely bad. When she heard the door open she finally forced herself to move despite how much pain she was in. She moved to the kitchen sink, grabbing a wash rag and wiping the blood from her face as she lend over the sink, wanting nothing more than to cry but she couldn’t allow herself to do that.
She was surprised to see it was Kristin who walked through the door with both Pixton and Olive and she seemed sober for once. Kristin gave Veronica a weak smile, when she saw her already knowing what had happened.
“I’m sorry Ronnie.” She said, but Ronnie just shrugged as she headed into the bathroom, stripping down and stepping into the shower, even in the privacy of the bathroom she refused to cry, because it made her feel weak. By the time she got out of the shower the sun was setting and it was time to head over to her cousins sop and get ready for the races.
She wiped away the fogged up mirror, taking a look at herself for the first time in a long time, debating on whether or not to just shatter the mirror, because she hated seeing her mother and father when she looked at herself. Her father had given her a black eye and a fat lip, and a nasty bruise on her ribs where he’d punched her, matching the one along her spine from her brother, yet she still looked beautiful and she hated that, she didn’t deserve to look beautiful.
She headed to her room, slipping on her outfit for the races. her shirt barely covering the bruise her father had given her. It didn’t bother her when guys cat called her as she walked down the streets. When the sun finally disappeared and the street lights came on she finally reached her cousin, Giovanni’s shop.
His shop was one of the nicest and he was extremely popular among the street racers, because he knew his cars, better than anyone in a four hundred mile radius. Plus his crew was insanely good, his shop was the best around. Music blared from inside, his garage was long closed, but it was open to street racers a hang out before the races.
Girls were walking around half dressed or wearing close to nothing, but all heads turned when Baby walked in, because she had a reputation. Every guy wanted her and every girl wanted to be her. One of her cousins guys walked up to her, one she knew really well, she’d even hooked up with him a few times.
“Damn Babydoll, I think you get hotter every time I see you.” Keon smirked wrapping an arm around her waist and causally placing his lips to her neck. She rolled her eyes but she didn’t bother pushing him away, he pulled away taking a step back and looking her over. “Your dad give you that shiner?” he said referring to her black eye and she shrugged in reply.
“Where’s Gio?” she asked and Keon, laced his fingers with hers leading her over to where Gio sat with a girl on his lap and a few friends sat around him.
He gestured for the girl to get off as he stood up, heading over to her and wrapping his arms around her giving her a big hug. She sighed, he was the only one aside from Vinny, she let actually hug her. He pulled away looking her over, before sighing.
“Ronnie I told you, if your Uncle Rick, keeps this up, I’m going to kill him.” He said in a hush tone so only she could hear. “That offers still up if you want to move in.” he held her eyes.
“Gio, you know if it wasn’t for the kids I would in a heartbeat.” She smirked “Now where’s my car?” he smirked wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Keon following behind them. “Everyone’s been trying to buy it off me all night.” He said leading her to an older car, that was all souped out and she could tell right away Giovanni had been working on it all day, she fell in love the second she saw it.
“Holy fucking shit Gio, where did you lift this thing from.” She said walking over to it and looking over it. “It’s beautiful.” She gushed, like a little kid.
“Oh yeah know how I like to lift from the rich and famous.” He smirked, he shrugged like it was no big deal. “I knew it was yours the second I saw it.” He smirked.
Veronica bent over sticking her head through the window, feeling someone smack her ass and almost instantly she turned around, ready to punch whoever it was in the face, but he caught her arm before she had a chance and she rolled her eyes realizing it was Gio’s best friend Chase. He smirked causing Ronnie to plaster a fake smile on his lips and flip him off.
“Shit Babe, put the claws away.” He said releasing he clenched fist. “By the way your cousins a fucking liar, I lifted this beauty.” He winked.
Ronnie rolled her eyes. “What do you want me to fuck you?” she hissed rising a brow and if Chase didn’t know her so well he wouldn’t know she was teasing.
“It’s be nice.” He teased back, causing Ronnie to lighten up and laugh a bit.
“Alright, we better head over to the races.” Giovanni said “You’re driving there” he said looking to Baby, tossing her the keys as all four of them piled in headed towards the races.