Page 33 of Kept in the Dark

Sara nearly smiled at the irony. Funny, she always wanted to forget about what had happened to her and now she was nearly choosing to relive it.

Again, a battle inside her soul began to rage. She desperately wanted revenge, and she desperately wanted to prove she wasn't who everyone believed her to be. But she couldn’t have both. She couldn’t have her innocence and her revenge because once she got her revenge, that innocence would disintegrate. You don’t get retribution without losing yourself, without giving up your morality.

So, it was simply a matter of which one she wanted more.

Innocence or vengeance.

“Sara?” Hailey said.

She turned to look at herself in the mirror once more, studying her hardened jaw and dark eyes. What she wouldn’t give to do her life over again. To not have chosen Thomas or the drugs or the alcohol. To not have been so consumed by selfishness that it quite literally ravaged her life.

But she couldn’t. This is who she was now, for better or for worse. Probably for worse.

She sighed. They wanted an answer, and she wasn’t sure it would be the right one. “Do it. Find out who killed my mother.”

As much as Sara wanted to forget about that night and everything that followed, she couldn’t. She needed to free herself from her past and the only way to do that was by revisiting it.

Maybe it would make things worse. But, honestly, how much worse could it get?

Sara spent thirteen years being silent, allowing someone else’s secrets to remain concealed.

Now the secrets that were buried along with Morgan Gallagher would soon surface.

And Sara would be the one holding the shovel.

The receptionist led her into David’s office. He sat behind a large wooden box that was just as expensive as it looked. The man was anything but subtle.

“Sir, your daughter is here to see you.”

The woman left as David glanced up from his paperwork. His eyes rounded and his smug grin fell from his face when he realized it wasn’t Hailey standing in his doorway.

His perfectly crafted facade faltered, and for once in his life, David was speechless. Sara hadn’t quite expected that, though she hadn’t known what to expect.

“Daddy, I’m home,” Sara sneered. “We haven't seen each other since you had me thrown in prison for a crime I didn’t commit, so I thought I’d stop by and see how you were doing. You know, see if karma caught up with you yet.”

After rewatching the video in the interrogation room, she knew she wanted answers. And if she burned down her father’s legacy while she searched, well, that would be the pinnacle of her life’s work.

“I’m calling the police,” David said as he picked up the phone.

Sara laughed cynically. “I wouldn’t do that. I’ll tell them about how you manipulated the trial. Plus, we just found evidence that gives me an alibi. I’m sure the D.A. will be interested to learn why you lied all those years ago, telling them I was home when my mother was killed.”

Sara slowly paced the room and began looking at the accolades that lined the walls, his eyes trailing her as she did. Unlike her, he couldn’t contain his need for information so he wouldn’t dare kick her out until he was satisfied.

It was laughable how predictable her father was. His attempt to stay in control would ultimately be his downfall.

He set the phone down. “What proof do you even have? If I had to guess, you’re lying about that too.”

Sara smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

David leaned back in his chair, attempting to appear unbothered. “Enough with your games, Sara. What is it you want? Money? Drugs?”

“Oh, you can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m here to burn your legacy to the ground.”

Sara knew there was no use in hiding her motives. It wouldn’t be long before he realized Sara was coming for him. She’d play David’s game if she had to, but she’d rather play her own. And she was starting off by letting him squirm a little.

“Don’t play with fire, Sara. You might get burned,” he sneered.

“Nothing a little Aloe can’t heal,” she said with a wink as she turned back to face him.

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