Brutal Discoveries Read Online Free Page B

arrived, I felt my eyes bulge in my head.  That had to be a record.  After advising her to choose something else to include in the special for the rest of the afternoon, I ended the call and couldn’t resist doing a little happy dance.  It didn’t matter to me how many successes we had, or how many goals we reached, whether they were big or small, every achievement was one to be celebrated, because it was a testament to me following my dreams, and it was an even bigger testament to my parents for encouraging me to follow those dreams.  I was still smiling broadly as I heard my front door open, and I looked that way to see Ella walking through with her arms full.
    I raised my brows and smirked.  She had a bottle of vodka tucked under one arm and a bottle of wine held securely in her fingers.  Her other hand held a plastic bag, that from one glance I could tell were chocolates, chips, and a tub of Ben & Jerry’s.  I knew it would be our favorite – triple chocolate brownie delight – and suddenly I was hungry for ice cream.
    “Wow, you went all out,” I muttered as I helped her unload.  I was right about the ice cream.  “What’s up?”
    “I’m going to need at least two drinks before we get into that conversation… possibly three,” she added after pondering for a beat.
    “I’ll pour,” I offered as I turned and reached above me to take two glasses from my cabinet.  Once we had our cups full – mine with wine, Ella’s with vodka on ice with a splash of orange juice – we made our way outside.  We sat down, and after two sips of my wine and a square of chocolate, Ella still hadn’t broken the silence that had ensued since we left the kitchen. 
    “Damon Salt has been reading me entries from his journal,” I shared.  “Last  time was about his shitty childhood, growing up with drug addict parents and being treated badly by them right up until the day he came home from school and found them both dead from overdoses,” I continued, ignoring Ella’s shocked expression I could see from the corner of my eye as she sat beside me.  “Today was worse.  He told me all about the first time he committed robbery… and raped the woman.”
    “ What the fuck? ” Ella shrieked. 
    “I’ve decided I prefer to think of it as him reading a fiction novel he’s writing.”
    “Are you high?” she shouted.  “He’s a damn rapist, a thief, and a murderer.   God only knows what other secrets he’s got hidden inside that evil heart of his.”
    “And he’s paying for those crimes,” I snapped.  “He’s spent the past twenty-something years in prison, and he’ll continue to be there until the day he dies.  It isn’t for us to judge, Els,” I said gently. 
    “I’m just trying to look out for you,” she huffed.
    “I don’t need your support, Ella, but it sure would be nice to have your understanding.”
    Her shoulders slumped and she turned so she fully facing me.  “I may not get it, but you’ve always got my support, Scar,” she conceded, touching my arm lightly.  I smiled at her softly, then we finished off our drinks, and I got us both refills.  We chatted as we drank, and only after she had consumed half of her second vodka, did Ella tell me what was on her mind.
    “So, I worked this morning at the bakery,” she stated, and I nodded, because I was the boss, and I knew this.  “Hashtag Dreamy came in, followed shortly after by Hashtag Hottie.  It was early, not even eight a.m., and they both ordered the special.”
    “Okay.” I drew out the word when she didn’t go on.  Part of me was slightly bummed I had missed seeing Hashtag Hottie, but hopefully he would come in again while I was working so I could see the glorious view all of him provided.
    “I made a complete fool of myself, Scarlett,” she whined.  “I rushed to serve Dreamy and tripped over my own two feet, righting myself just before I fell into the counter, nearly knocking myself unconscious and gaining