Burn Those Who Burned Me novel Chapter 210

Chapter 210

Chapter 6: What the hell happened these past four years?!

Everyone stared at Christian in shock.

“You actually saw them? When?”

Jamie asked as he sat at the table.

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“Right before dinner. I went upstairs to tell her to come down and eat…that’s when I saw them. She’s got bruises all over her back…some old…some look pretty fresh.”

Harold’s face twisted with shock and guilt. These past four years, he all but pretended Josie didn’t

exist. He also failed to honor her list. He told himself he would make it up to her when she got

home, but that wasn’t turning out how he expected. Josie was cold and distant. She wouldn’t even

call him dad anymore. In a harden voice, he spoke to Christian.

“Find out what the hell happened these past four years. Even if we didn’t visit…she’s a Taylor. They

should have known not to touch her!”

“Even if we disowned her?”

Christian asked as his father walked by. Harold paused…too afraid to answer…too afraid that was the case. That he’d inadvertently put a target on his daughter’s back the moment he publicly denounced

her. But he had no choice! She was labeled a murder…the board wouldn’t stand for it!

‘Just find out what happened!”

He barked at Chrisitan before walking away. Upstairs, Laura was talking through Josie’s door.

“Josie…I’m sure these past four years have not be the best for you. I’m so sorry. But you’re home now. Please try and put it behind you as we all move forward. These past four years haven’t been easy for us either.”

Laura immediately felt guilty for saying that last part. She wasn’t trying to guilt trip Josie; she just wanted her to go back to the way she was.

Josie sat on end of her bed staring at the door.

at on end

try to co

‘Even when you try to comfort me…It’s about you.‘

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Josie shook her head in disgust as she turned her phone on. After four years it flooded with missed calls and texts. Some of them were from her grandmother. Josie began to cry as she read some of the messages from her nana.

[05/19/21–Josie…where are you? Nana’s worried. I haven’t heard from you since you left yesterday. Anyway call me when you can. It’s your Nana.]

[05/25/21–Josie!!! Please tell me it’s not true!!! That girl Vanessa told me you went to prison for vehicular homicide!! You don’t even drive!!! What did those people make you do!!!]

[06/24/21–Oh my Josie…I miss you so much. I know what those people did. I wish I knew where you were. They won’t tell me. They haven’t even held up their end of the bargain!!! They sacrificed my baby for nothing!!! I’m sorry! Sorry I couldn’t protect you! Sorry I became your curse!]

[03/03/24–I hope that this message one day finds you. Oh my Josie…I just want to tell you how much I love you. Raising you and Marlon was some of the greatest parts of my life. I’ll probably be leaving soon. I hope I get to see your parents. I hope that they forgive me for failing you. I hope that you will someday too. Please remember that I’m always with you, and look to your cousin

when he comes home, Love Nana ]

The tears poured out of Josie’s eyes uncontrollably. That last message was sent on 03/03/24…that

bitch Vanessa came to the prison on 03/05/24. Just two days later. Josie’s heart felt like led. So that

confirmed what she already knew. They let her die. They used her grandmother so she could take the fall, and they still let her die!!!

‘It’s okay nana. Because not only do I forgive you…I’m going to avenge you.‘

Josie pulled up Marlon’s number. Before her release, she wrote him telling him everything that happened. She also wrote for him not to visit her. She wasn’t sure if the Taylors had eyes there or not. Marlon immediately wrote her back; he also put money on her books for her final month. He’d

just returned home the month before her release and found out everything all at once. That his nana had passed away and his cousin was in prison for homicide. It all felt like a ton of bricks collapsing

on his head. He had no idea leaving would tear his family apart like this.

And regardless of how many times she told him not too, he blamed himself for Josie. He was her big cousin…he was supposed to protect her.

On the first ring, Marlon answered.

“You’re home!!! Why didn’t you call me from the prison so I could pick you up!!!”

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Josie smiled warmly, it felt so good to hear Marlon’s voice.

“I didn’t want to chance you running into Christian. He came to the prison to pick me up.”

Steamed fumed in Marlon’s eyes at the sound of Christian’s name. He hated him. What kind of big brother would do something like this to his sister.

“Where are you now? Are you there? I’m coming to get you.”

Josie instantly smiled. She began to pack a quick bag.

“Okay. Park down the street so they can’t see you. I’ll be ready in 15 minutes.”

“I’ll be there!”

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After Josie hung up with Marlon, she quickly packed a bag. The time was now 5pm, and Marlon had just showed up.

When Josie got downstairs, everyone was in the grand room. Laura was the first to notice her

walking by.

“Josie? Where are you going?”

Panic flashed in her eyes once she noticed a traveling bag in her hands.

“I’m going to the hospital to retrieve my grandmother and give her a proper memorial.”

Instant guilt flashed into Laura’s eyes. She’d known about the passing of Josie’s adoptive grandmother as well.

“O–Oh….I see. Well…why don’t you have one of us drive you so we can be there with-”

“No need Mrs. Taylor. With all due respect; I don’t need the constant reminder that I threw my life away all for nothing with me as I bury my grandmother.”

Laura’s face was completely ashen. She wasn’t aware Josie learned they reneged on their deal to save

Darlene,

“J–Josie…what do you mean by tha-”

“Mrs. Taylor…I just spent four years in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. The least you could do is not

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lie to my face…right?”

Before she could answer, Christian jumped up.

“Exactly what do you mean by all of this Josie! You knew you were doing the four years for Vane-”

“No….I did the four years for my grandmother! Let’s be clear! Under no circumstances would I have ever

thrown my life away for someone who was callous enough to not only drive drunk…but to MURDER

someone.”

Vanessa’s eyes redden, why would she yell that out!!!

“Josie…you need to relax, it was an acci-”

“I don’t give a shit what it was!”

Josie cut Jamie off, she was tired of his passiveness. Cutting her eyes back over to Christian, he suddenly shuddered. Early she had no emotion in her eyes…now…pure hatred.

“Look…I haven’t bothered you all…called…wrote…begged…asked for ANYTHING during the fours years I spent in prison for a crime your precious Vanessa did! The least you could do is let me bury my fucking grandmother without an audience!”

Christian’s eyes widen in horror, in that moment…it became clear…the girl he knew as Josie was no more. Before he could say anything, Harold intervened.

“Let her go.”

Josie cut her eyes over to him and without a word; walked out the door.