Page 55 of Morsel

“Ideally, both,” Hank says. Then he pulls out a gun. “But one is going to have to be good enough.”

He points the weapon at me. Then he turns to Dolly.

“I’ll start with you,” he says.

As he fires, Craig shoves Hank hard. The gun fires into the ceiling instead of into the love of my life, and the security team from downstairs instantly rushes in. They grab Hank and Craig both, and they haul them out.

“I’m sorry,” Craig calls to his sister as they’re leaving. “I’m so sorry.”

31

Dolly

There are many moments in life where our choices can change things for us.

When Edgar Shadowvale decided to launch his fake adoption business, he was in it for the money. He was into a lot of things for money.

“Are you okay?” I ask Oscar. We’re in bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Am I okay that my father trafficked children? Not really.”

“Maybe he thought he was doing a good thing.”

“He didn’t.”

“Maybe he’s done worse.”

“He has.” Oscar sighs. “But this is the most fucked-up.” He sits up and looks at me. “I’m going to tell the world what he did, Dolly.”

“What?”

“I’m telling everyone,” he says. “I’m going to burn it all down. I have more money than I know what to do with. I don’t care about any of it at all. I don’t care about these companies. I never wanted to run them.”

“So you want to stick it to your dad, huh?”

“I do.”

“I’m with you,” I say. “I think it’s the best fucking idea, Oscar.”

“People who do shitty things need to be exposed for it,” he says. “Your brother and Hank’s lives have been irreparably damaged from what my father did.”

“You still don’t have all of the answers,” I say. “You don’t know what your stepmom or her sister did, or how they were involved.”

“None of that matters,” he says. “And I don’t care. All I care about is destroying my father’s legacy. My brothers will help.”

I nod, and I snuggle up against Oscar.

“You’re doing the right thing,” I say.

And I truly believe that.

The two of us connected in the most unlikely of circumstances, but now that I’m here, I don’t think there’s any going back. I need him more than I need anything else. I crave him.

“I need you,” Oscar says. “Although I’m not happy with how we got together.”

“What? You don’t think stealing your abductor and making her fall in love with you was a good idea?” I laugh. “What would be a better story?”

“I don’t know what would be a better story, but I can promise you one thing: you’re the only morsel for me.”

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