Page 150 of Relentless Sinner

He is my villain, my monster, my tormenter. But despite all those things, he’s still my father. And one day very soon, he won’t be here anymore.

When I get him in the car, I walk back to the porch to say goodbye to Gabriella.

I stare at her and drink in the love and sympathy in her eyes.

I’d hoped that whenever we came here together, it could be a happier experience. Maybe another time.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” she asks, glancing at my father in the car, who dips his head at her.

She gives him a sweet smile and looks back at me.

“No. It’s best if I go with him. I think he sees these moments as an attempt to bond with me. A little too late, right?” I grin sheepishly.

“Better to be late.”

“Yeah, Krasota. Better to be late.” I lean forward and kiss her. “I’ll see you later.”

“Be careful.”

With one last smile, I leave her, then Father and I set off on the hour-long journey.

He’s quiet the whole time, looking through the window and staring at the scenery as we drive by.

I take the time to reflect. Two weeks have gone by since Eric’s truth dropped on us like a bomb. I still haven’t gotten over it. I don’t suppose I ever will. I’ve put a lot of things on pause, like the restructuring of the leadership. I need time to process, think, and learn to trust again.

Eric’s treachery hit me hard and was no different from having a limb hacked off. Or my heart ripped out of my chest and crushed.

I might have been able to wrap my head around the parts my father played because it didn’t surprise me. Yes, it was disappointing and disheartening to hear what he did because Eric was his best friend, and his family were like our own. But it’s in my father’s nature to be evil and selfish.

Eric, on the other hand, was the person I looked up to as a symbol of goodness in our dark world. I suppose when you lose people you love the way he did, it changes you and you lose all sense of morals to avenge them.

I just wish he didn’t kill Jacob. The more I thought about it, the more I understood Eric’s reasons for killing him. Jacobwas the last thing left in my father’s world he loved most. Eric wanted my father to feel the pain of losing his wife and child the same as he did.

However, like him, I had to avenge my brother when I killed Eric. My wrath was also filled with the pain of being disappointed in him.

It’s over now. Now I must move on.

I have a chance to make life different and I have a future with Gabriella.

That’s what I want.

That’s all I want.

It’s a hell of a lot better than the future I first saw. That one wasn’t filled with the happiness I share with my wife. It makes me wonder what things will look like for us in years to come. I imagine that life will be even better than it is now.

The moment I pull onto the grounds of the cemetery, the gloom of being here settles over me, tamping down the momentary excitement I felt for the future.

This is the first time we’ll be here knowing that Jacob didn’t die from a car accident.

The entire area is a forest of snow, like the enchanted woodlands in folklore. Except this is our family plot. A place of death, a place of memory, a place of those who used to be.

Father looks at me, and I can tell he’s thinking the same thing. A tremor rushes through his arms and his eyes become paler.

“Let’s go see them,” I say with a curt smile, summoning strength. “It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

I help Father out of the car and into his wheelchair, then I spread a blanket over him and push the chair along the path.

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