A Billion Reasons To Hate You

Chapter Ten: The Wrong Renee.

Renee could feel herself getting more and more pissed.

“I’m late, and my boss is a fuckhead looking for any excuse to fire me. Please, let me through,” she protested.

“Ma’am, this isn’t a joke. Step back, or we’ll have to detain you.”

Renee took a step back and sighed with defeat. She looked around, scanning the chaos that swarmed around her. Flashing blue and red lights, concerned voices gossiping about the possibilities, the press trying their luck with the next biggest scoop, cops as far as the eye could see.

She spotted Silas by the side entrance, hiding from reporters, phone pressed to his ear. He looked pale, shaken, and almost sad. She’d never seen him look like that in the six years of knowing him.

“Silas!” she yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth. “Silas, what the f**k’s going on?”

He turned, saw her, muttered something into the phone before putting it in his pocket, and hurried over. He ducked under the tape, running a hand through his hair.

Renee grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side, where it was quieter. “Man, what the f**k happened? Did Jessica finally lose it and deck that fat bald prick who kept groping her?”

Silas ran his hands up his neck and clutched at his face, eyes wide with despair “I don’t even know where the f**k to start, man. f**k me.” He blurted. “I was outside having a smoke with you know, the nicer, hotter, more tolerable version of you—”

Renee rolled her eyes, pressing her tongue against her top teeth like she was holding back what she really wanted to say.

“Kels?” she questioned.

“Yeah. Kels.” His voice cracked, clearing his throat before he continued, “This black SUV rolled up out of nowhere. Dark windows, couldn’t see a thing inside it, no plates either… Before I noticed a hand coming out the back window—” He stopped, swallowing hard, dragging a hand down his face.

“They shot her, Ren. Right through the f*****g back of her head like she was nothing. It just… f*****g exploded. One second, she was talking about her girlfriend, the next, blood everywhere. I’d just stepped aside to put out my smoke. If I hadn’t, it would’ve hit me too.”

He stared at the ground, shaking his head. “There was so much blood. The cops say it was professional, clean, and fast. Whoever it was, they knew exactly what they were doing. They didn’t miss.”

Renee’s throat tightened. “I don’t even know what to say, Silas. I’m sorry.”

Fuck. That was supposed to be me. If I hadn’t been late—

“Yeah.” He let out a hollow laugh. “Crazy, right? Shame it was Kels, though. She knew how to shut up and do what I said—unlike you.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, take a couple of days off. Cops are shutting the place down to grab evidence. Catch up on sleep or whatever. You look like absolute s**t, Renee.”

His voice dropped, almost casual. “Oh, also, when you’re back, Terrance still needs help… if you’ve rethought his deal. And I suggest you do. You don’t have many options left.”

“Yeah, I think the f**k not, but thanks for the offer, truly. Guess I just don’t know how to shut up and be a good little hole,” she taunted.

Silas rubbed at his hands slowly, like he was scrubbing the anger out of his skin. His eyes stayed locked on her, jaw tight enough to crack. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his cigarettes and lit one before taking a large drag and holding the pack out to her.

Renee hesitated a second, then took one and lit up too. They stared at each other whilst smoking in silence and exhaling in sync.

“It wasn’t a question, Ren,” he urged.

Renee raised one of her eyebrows slightly, daring him to continue talking.

“You will be working for Terrance when you’re back. Take a few days to practice getting on your knees, and job’s a good’un. Only way you’re gonna save mommy. Suck a few d***s, save her life. Easy.” He demanded.

Renee’s lips parted around the cigarette as she took a slow drag, exhaling a curl of smoke with a sarcastic laugh. "Yuh-huh," she sneered, humouring his delusion. "Is that so? You know what else I could do?”

Silas narrowed his eyes. “I’m sure you’re gonna tell me.”

She smirked, smoke trailing from the corners of her mouth. “I think I’m gonna take a few days off. Paid, of course. Call it a long-overdue holiday or something.” She tilted her head. “Do you know why?”

Silas scoffed, a rough bark of disbelief. “Oh look, it’s Billy big bollocks. Tell me—why in the flying f**k would I do that for you?”

Renee stepped forward, adrenaline making her feel invincible. “Because my replacement has a nice shiny new hole in her head, and no other woman worth hiring within sixty miles will touch this place because of your yeehaw reputation. So what the f**k are you gonna do, huh?” Her voice rose, demanding respect “Risk your ship sinking? b***h, I’m the f*****g captain, and this place doesn’t run without me.”

She jolted forward, sudden and sharp. Silas flinched back, eyes widening for a flash before hardening again.

“Yeah,” Renee asserted. “That’s what I thought. You f*****g need me. I’ll take those few days off—paid.”

She took one final drag, then dropped the cigarette in a puddle in front of him, the ember hissing as it went out. Without another word, she turned and walked away.

Silas just stood there, a cigarette dangling from his lips, blood boiling. His jaw flexed, like words were fighting to get out, but he knew she was right.

Renee’s adrenaline hadn’t burned off yet. Her hands were shaking so bad she could barely grip the wheel. She’d stood up to Silas, actually stood up to him, and somehow walked away without him kicking seven shades of s**t out of her. The thought made a small, genuine smile appear on her face for the first time in what felt like forever. She felt alive.

She started the engine and pulled away fast, the neon lights shrinking in her rearview mirror. By the time she got home, the adrenaline had thinned into exhaustion.

As soon as she got inside, she kicked off her shoes, tossed her bag onto the counter, and checked her phone—no texts from Silas, thankfully. He’d make her pay for the way she spoke to him; she knew it would be humiliating and soul-destroying, but right now, she didn’t give a single s**t.

She made herself a cup of coffee, grabbed a biscuit, and finally let herself breathe. Maybe three seconds of peace passed before someone knocked at the door.

Renee froze, biscuit halfway to her mouth. Crumbs falling to the floor as she stared at the door. “f**k,” she muttered, mouth full.

She set her drink down, wiped her hands on her jeans, and walked over. Peering through the peephole, her stomach dropped as Matthew, Evan’s older brother, appeared from the left side.

“I know you’re in there, Renee. I watched you walk in. Open the door, you have some explaining to do, you f*****g bitch.”