Page 80 of Whispers of My Skin

“Of course. Like I told you, we’re the best in the business,” the guy boasts as he pushes me inside, while his buddies drag Joel in too. “Time to hand you over, princess. Make sure lover boy doesn’t give us any more trouble,” he calls out to one of his gang.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Joel collapse unconscious onto the muddy floor, after one of the gang deal him a nasty blow to back of his head with the butt of his gun.

The final blow.

Hope vanishes as realization dawns.

The fire was just a ruse, a distraction, to cover up our abduction.

I’m dragged to the far side of the room then forced to kneel and face the corner. Fear expands in my chest, the band of tension growing tighter with each heartbeat until I can barely breathe.

“The rest of the money, as agreed. Now.” A terse command is issued as a gun is held at my temple again.

A heavy bag lands on floor beside me, which I assume contains the rest of his payment.

“It’s all there. You can leave now. I’ll take it from here.”

That voice…?

The men depart, their mission accomplished, the sacrificial lamb delivered. I’m left alone with the boss, whoever he is, while Joel lies unconscious on the floor, my hands still tied, so I guess you could say things aren’t looking too good right now, especially as I catch sight of a gun out of the corner of my eye. I also catch a glimpse of a tall, blondish man dressed in a suit. It looks like... no, it can’t be.

If only this were a dream, but I’m living this terrible nightmare in real time, right here, right now.

I turn my head to look at my stepfather.

“Oscar.” I wish I was mistaken, but it’s him all right, with a stupid, arrogant, victorious smile plastered all over on his face.

Finally, I see him for what he is.

An evil psychopath.

Joel tried to tell me, to warn me that Oscar wasn’t what he seemed, but I didn’t want to hear it. I accused him of not listening to me, when all along I should’ve been listening to him.

“How long have you been playing these twisted games, Oscar?”

“Oh, years, my dear. Long before your father died.”

“Were… were… you involved in his death?” I ask in a trembling voice. “Did you kill my father?”

“I planned to,” he admits. “But the stupid bastard got into that fight all by himself, so by a stroke of luck he saved me the bother. Apparently, he liked to sneak off to trashy bars to find himself some female company from time to time, since he and Monique were married in name only by that stage.”

“I don’t believe you, you’re a fucking liar,” I yell.

“I really don’t care whether you believe me or not,” he smiles coldly. “But it happens to be the truth.”

“So, after he died, you went after my mom?”

“I didn’t need to. Your stupid, naïve mother had already become deeply involved and totally besotted with me long before Rhett died. Have you never wondered why she was in such a hurry for us to marry after his death?”

“What are you implying?”

“You know how to subtract and add, right? Do the math. Camille was already on her way.”

“You bastard,” I grit out.

He just laughs at me.

“Call me whatever you want, but everything’s finally coming together. And very shortly,” he says, raising his gun to my head, “You and your good for nothing cowboy husband will both be joining your father.”

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