Page 78 of Bound By Obsession

“Give me the identity of my other child, and I’ll leave Avery alone. Scout’s honor.” He uses a finger dripping with blood to draw a cross over his heart. The man was clearly never a scout. I fold my arms and sit back in my chair.

“What, so you can take your aggression out on someone else because your affair went tits up?”

“All I ever wanted was Cathy,” Fredrick repeats in a lower voice, the rattling sound grating my ears. “She ruined my life by letting me fall in love with her. She promised me the world, but it was all a lie. Pregnant or not, she was never going to leave her superior life behind. She lied to me.” That eye twitch is back, Fredrick’s teeth grinding together. “I deserve something.” I let my head roll on my shoulders, no longer filled with trepidation. He’s revealed his cards, now it’s time for me to play mine.

“You had something. You had Avery and guess what,” I tense up, bulging my arms further against the cotton of my shirt, “you fucked it up.” Fredrick nods, wiping his hand over his jaw and leaving a blood stain there.

“I’ve had ten years staring at the same four stone walls to reflect on my actions. I don’t need you to explain what I already know, but it will be different this time. I’ve reformed.”

“You’re deluded,” I bark a laugh. The goons all around stiffen and inch forward. I should probably worry more about getting out of here safely, but I haven’t cared about my own mortality for a while now. I’m on a downward spiral, destined to take everyone I care about down with me. Perhaps I can still have a purpose after all. “Take me instead.” Fredrick’s gaze, which had been investigating his hand, slowly rises to me, his curiosity piqued.

“You?” He licks his lips. I nod.

“Like you said, we’ve got a lot in common. Cathy chose me to be Avery’s replacement. It’s all I’ve ever been. Why change the record now?” Fredrick smiles, then laughs and his goons take the cue to join in. Their mockery beats against me, echoing through the chasm in my chest that screams I’ve never been good enough. Not even now in the eyes of a psychopath. “Fine. Forget it. I’m not giving you shit,” I push back from the table, the need to get out of there overwhelming.

Fredrick’s face snaps into a serious expression and the laughter dies instantly. “I don’t mean to insult you, Wyatt, but taking you wouldn’t affect Nixon. I doubt he’d even notice.” I inhale deeply, hating how well Fredrick knows our family dynamic. Or lack of. “I know you don’t believe me, but I really have reformed. I lost my mind when Cathy left me and spent the next ten years taking every drug I could get my hands on. It’s not an excuse and Avery paid that price. I regret it, and I have a chance to do it again. To be better.”

“Whilst hurting Nixon in the process,” I add. Fredrick chuckles to himself, tilting his head side to side.

“It’s an added bonus.”

I jut out my chin, nostrils flaring. “I thought you kept tabs on us. Surely you’ve figured out who she is by now.” I catch my mistake too late, revealing that I do in fact know who Avery’s twin is. Fredrick rises himself to stand, marking the white tablecloth with red handprints in the process.

“I don’t have the resources you do. I spent what little I had, resorting in paying these men in promises and threats. Once I have what I want, they’re going to publicly rip Nixon limb from limb. But if I make them wait much longer, they’re growing to storm your little frat house and take Avery for themselves. The choice really is yours.”

I stall, thrown into this stand-off of wills. Fredrick is a patient man, he’s waited over ten years for this. Long enough to twisthis story into a narrative where he isn’t the bad guy. He truly believes Cathy did this to him, that he played no part in Avery’s suffering. Striding around to my side of the table, Fredrick places his bloodied hand onto my shoulder, not a hint of pain in his smirking expression.

“I’m growing old, Wyatt. I just want the chance at retribution, so I can do it right. I just want what’s owed to me.”

“Money or revenge?” I ask, wanting nothing more than to shove him out of my space. The blood seeping into my jacket will be a bitch to dry clean.

“To be a real dad. Free from the bullshit Cathy put me through. Give me the name.” I don’t buy it, so I keep my jaw clamped shut. He only steps closer, the rank stench of his breath washing over my face. “Make this easy on all of us. I’m going to find out eventually.” Fredrick’s eye starts to twitch again, his crazed and deranged sides merging. He straightens my tie, taking every opportunity to get directly into my personal space. “Please save Avery from any more suffering. Give me the name.”

The laughter that wants to brew doesn’t come out. He’s pleading with me to save Avery when he’s the one who’s always causing her to be in danger.

Instead, I just stand there, ignoring the cold sweat dripping down my back. I could call Fredrick’s bluff and potentially put Avery at the mercy of the men sitting behind me. A dozen of them easily, more than my brothers and I could take on. These aren’t small-minded jocks. These are practiced gun men, most likely rapists too. Or I force Meg to face a horror she can’t outrun. Either way, I have to risk one of their lives and neither will forgive me for it.

It’s up to me. It’s my decision, and I choose Avery.

Isink into the couch, my body melting into the cushions as the faint sound of music hums in the distance. The sports rally is still in full swing but I volunteered to bring Axel home early. He wasn’t the only one starting to zone out, the boys tearing across the court seeming to suck the energy from the crowd’s cheering. Despite the call of joining Axel in bed, I thought I’d steal myself some time to wind down.

Twirling the spoon in my hand, I lick off the last bit of ice cream and lean my head back, eyes half-closed. The air smells like vanilla, the scent emanating from the candle I lit to accompany my unhealthy late night snack. A rare moment of peace I’ve created for myself.

Tonight’s sports event is something I’ve never experienced before. The hustle and bustle, the noise, the sheer amount ofpeople. And for once, I didn’t shy away or look for the nearest escape. I thrived in it, cheering on my men. Pride doesn’t even come close to how I felt watching them dominate the court, with Axel huddled into my side for warmth and comfort.

However, now it’s time for calm. I’m fully peopled out. A small sense of fulfillment tugs at my chest as I scroll through my phone, aimlessly flicking through some of the photos I took. Most are blurred, action shots, the flood lights smearing across mine and Axel’s selfie smiles. I’ve been getting better at remembering to capture odd moments.

Heading further back into my camera roll, I find the random images I’ve collected over the weeks. Garrett enjoying an overly large hot dog more than anyone should, Dax reading quietly in the bath. There’s a picture of Huxley that I took from the upstairs window while he was working out in the yard, and another of Axel enjoying a face mask with cucumber over his eyes. I giggle at that one.

I stop on a photo of Wyatt. It’s not one I took, but that I stole from Garrett’s phone. The image fills my screen of Wyatt from a few years ago, mid-laugh, his green eyes wild and alive. He seems so happy. I can’t help but stare at it longer than I should, tracing the outline of his face with my gaze. Despite the dam we’ve broken through, he still doesn’t smile for me like that. No, all I get are dark looks that promise death by cock and asphyxiation apparently.

I shake the thought away, setting my phone down as I stretch, feeling that wonderful ache in my muscles. The ache of dancing on the sidelines and throwing my arms in the air every time Huxley flashed his abs at me. We weren’t haunted by the whispers on campus or the pressure of keeping it all together. We could just be ourselves, laughing and playful.

Settling in to watch the candle flicker, I find a smile working its way onto my face. Just me and the quiet hum of the worldoutside. The moment feels fragile, like glass that could shatter with the smallest touch. And then, of course, it does.

My phone buzzes on the cushion beside me, the screen lighting up with a text from an unknown number. Not what I expected. I left Meg six voicemails yesterday, wanting to check in. I get the distinct impression she’s avoiding me, but I want to arrange a meet-up soon. My heart aches without her. Lifting the device, I swipe to unlock it casually, the words barely registering.

Avery. I thought you should know your debt has been paid and I’m relenting. You’re a lucky girl. Wyatt sure cares for you. All the best, Dad.

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