Page 15 of The Eraser

I knew there was something about him, but I wasn't sure what it was. He's got such a darkness around him. But there's something about Stephen Maguire that makes my heart race. I'm not sure what it is about him, but there's also a sense of safety that I feel around him.

"He's killed so many people," Mallory tells me.

I close my eyes, the safety I felt slowly ebbing away.

"But you said he was nice?" Mallory asks. "That's something, right?"

"Is there something wrong with me if I think that?" I ask, wondering if I've got something missing, or there's something wrong with me.

"No. Look at Mam," Chloe says softly. "Da's a killer. We all know that."

That's true. Denis Gallagher is the head of the Irish Mafia. He's killed countless people. My dad's a killer too.

"The softest of hearts always see the good in everyone. You're your ma's daughter, Jess," Mallory says, and my heart constricts. God, it's so hard to think about Mam. She's gone and I miss her so much. "Just be careful, okay?"

Tears slowly trickle down my face. "I will," I promise her. "I doubt I'll ever see him again."

The girls change the subject. I love that they're trying to keep me on the line and make me think about anything other than what day it is.

It's almost nine in the evening and I haven't seen my dad since the graveside. He was pissed that I was upset. In his mind, I shouldn't have been crying as it was his wife who died. He doesn't care that I've lost my mam. He doesn't care about anyone but himself.

It's awful to say, but I wish it was him who had died and not Mam. My dad is an evil man. I have no doubt that things are going to change, and not for the better.

* * *

I jerk awake at the sound of my bedroom door slamming against the wall. I knife up in bed as I try to adjust to the darkness. I have no idea what's going on, but the smell of alcohol hits me, and I know my dad's here.

"Get the fuck up," I hear the low drunken snarl of my dad. His fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me, dragging me from the bed.

I blink furiously as I try to stop the tears from falling, but I can't. The pain I'm in is overpowering. "Dad?"

"Don't," he snarls. "Don't you fucking dare, you fucking bitch. You think you can play me?"

"I didn't," I breathe, my hands reaching for his as I try to get him to loosen his grip. He doesn't care. He's too strong. He overpowers me and drags me from the room.

"Liar! I know where you were today," he spits. "Today, of all days. How fucking dare ya?"

He drags me down the stairs, and every step my hip lands on sends pain ricocheting throughout my body. I cry out on each of the thirteen steps down the stairs.

"Shut it," he snarls, his fingers tightening in my hair. "Just fucking shut it."

I'm in so much pain that I can't even think straight. I have no idea what the hell happened for him to be this angry. I didn't do anything wrong.

He drags me toward the back door, and I'm crying out with pain, begging him to let me be, to not do this. But he's not listening. He's so consumed by the anger he's got that he's not willing to stop.

He opens the door then drags me through it and outside. My breath leaves my lungs as the cold night's air hits me. "Dad?" I say shakily, trying not to panic.

He glares down at me, the anger in his eyes making me flinch. I don't think I've ever seen him this full of rage before. It's terrifying and I'm scared. I don't know what's happening or why he's doing this.

I hear the car beep, signaling that he's unlocked it. "You'll pay for what you've done, Jessica. I'll make sure of it."

I should have seen it coming. I should have known he wasn't finished with me. But I'm stupid to always believe the best in people. It’s why I don't notice him lifting his foot, nor do I shield my face when he brings it down.

The sound of my nose crunching beneath his shoe is horrendous, but the pain is even worse. I can't cry out because blood fills my mouth, and my vision blurs. The pain is too much for me, and I sink into the darkness.

* * *

I jolt awake as searing hot pain takes over my body. It's not just pain, but heat. God, so much heat. Opening my eyes, brightness hits me, and I blink past the tears as I try to remember what happened and where I am. Everything that happened rushes back to me, and tears fall from my eyes like a tap. The pain keeps getting worse. A scream is lodged in my throat. I hear a low chuckle and instantly know it's my dad.

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