Page 22 of The Eraser

JESSICA

One year later

"What's the plan?"Mallory asks me, her hands nestled on the swell of her stomach.

She's six months pregnant and she's alone. The father lives in America. For their eighteenth birthdays, Mallory and Chloe traveled to New York to have the trip of a lifetime. Both of them found someone they fell for, and they had the best time ever. Mallory came home, whereas Chloe traveled on to Chicago where her family lives. When she was there, she was taken and tortured. Receiving that news was devastating. Thankfully, it was Maverick who let me know. He came to the house and explained everything that was happening. He also swore he'd keep me updated and he did.

Chloe's safe and happy. She's back with the man she loves and he's planning on moving here to Ireland to be with her. She went through hell in Chicago. Mallory and I cried with her when she told us what happened. I held her hand through it all, hating that she had been subjected to so much pain and suffering. She's healing, and I love that she's surrounded by people who love her, who'll help her when times get tough.

"I don't know," I reply as I reach for my coffee. I turned eighteen last week, and just as I predicted, Dad was pissed when the date rolled around. He's made it clear that if I leave, he's coming to find me. He's told me that I belong to him. I'm his to do with as he pleases, and he'll be damned if I mess up everything he's worked hard for. I've no idea what the hell that means, but I have no doubt that it's not something pleasant.

"You didn't get to enjoy your eighteenth like Chloe and I did," she sighs. I had planned on going with them once I turned eighteen. It would have been a joint birthday trip. But Dad put his foot down and said I wasn't allowed to go. He even called Auntie Nicola to scream at her, calling Callie irresponsible for allowing her daughter to travel around the world alone. Of course, when he found out what happened to Chloe, he was preening like a fucking peacock. I'm surprised Maverick or Denis didn't kill him for the smugness he had.

"Why don't you go out tonight, let loose and have fun? Your dad isn't in town. You can lie and say you're staying at my house. You'll have so much fun," she tells me with a smile. "Please, Jess. You've been through so much and you never get the chance to let loose and have fun, to be a teenager. You're eighteen now, and I know you're scared of what your father will do, but you have to live once in a while."

She's right, I do. I need to be able to do what I want and not be scared by what my dad has planned. Thankfully, he's stopped hurting me like he used to. I'm not sure why, but I'm thankful. Instead, he's chosen something even more sinister to do to me. He makes me watch as he kills the women he fucks. It started a year ago, the night I returned home from the dance studio later than I had anticipated and he was waiting for me to return. The woman was so pretty. I see her every night in my dreams. She pleaded with me with her eyes as he hurt her, as he forced himself onto her and did horrendous things to her body. I cried. Tears tumbled down my face as she cried out in pain at every single thing my dad did to her.

He's sadistic. He finds new ways of torturing me. It's as though he lives to cause me pain and I have no idea why.

"Earth to Jess." Mallory laughs as she waves her hand in front of my eyes. "Are you listening to me?"

I shake my head, giving her a soft smile. "Sorry, miles away," I reply. "But I think you're right. I should go out and have fun."

Her smile is wider than I have ever seen it before. "Yes," she practically yells. "I'm so proud of you. I have the perfect thing for you to wear."

Mallory knows about the scars I hide beneath my clothes. I dread anyone seeing what my dad has done to me. I know that it's hideous. There's no hiding it. The scars are rough, and plentiful. They cover my entire back, ass, and thighs—both sides of my thighs. Some days, I can feel the pain of him putting fire on my body. I can smell the scent of burning skin.

"Okay. I can't wait to see it." My stomach flips. I'm nervous, but I need to do this. If I don't, I'll never live for myself but always in the shadow of my father's anger.

She claps her hands. "I'm so damn proud. It's going to be an amazing night."

I really hope she's right. I'm determined to have fun tonight.

* * *

Mallory was right. I'm having the time of my life. I'm buzzed, and I don't think I've smiled so much in my life. "Love you," I tell her and watch as she sucks in a sharp breath, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"I love you too. I hate how much you've suffered."

I shake my head. "Not tonight," I ask her softly. "We're having fun."

Even though she's pregnant, she came out with me. She's been drinking virgin cocktails while I've had two Cosmopolitans. We're having the best time ever, and I hate that this is the first time we've done this, but I hope it's not the last.

The night wears on and Mallory and I have fun. It's been nice to relax, catch up, and not worry about what will happen once I return home.

"I need to pee," Mallory sighs. "God, this baby is wreaking havoc on my bladder."

I laugh. I'm so excited to become an aunt, and while I know how scared Mallory is, she's going to be an amazing mam. "Go. I'm going to grab some fresh air," I tell her. "It's getting late," I say as I glance at my phone and see that it's almost eleven thirty.

She sighs as she gets to her feet. "I didn't want to say anything," she tells me sheepishly. "You've had the best night and I don't want to stop the fun."

I shake my head. "Not at all. We've had so much fun, and you're pregnant, Mal. You need rest. I'll meet you outside."

She nods and smiles. "Sounds good. We'll get some food on the way home."

Now that sounds like a plan. I wait until she disappears from view and then turn to leave.

The cold air hits me the second I step outside. There's a crowd of people standing outside, many of them smoking, others bouncing on their feet to ward off the cold. I manage to find a spot outside a shop and wait for Mallory.

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