Page 18 of Siccitas

I do my best to work around the incessant tapping of the hammer against wood and iron. I don’t know if pancakes and a couple of scrambled eggs will be enough of a thank you, but I’ve always loved a bit of breakfast any time of the day.

As I mix the batter together in the only bowl I could find, I let out a breath. I’m not entirely sure what the rest of the day will bring, but it’s nice pretending to be normal for once.

The kind of normal where Luke Greene doesn’t exist.

Where Darby is still alive, and her children aren’t the product of her father—myfather—putting his goddamn cock inside of her.

Inside ofme.

God knows how many other of his children he subjected to his sick deviances.

I can only hope that her young children haven’t had to deal with it, and I can only hope that Darby wasn’ttooyoung when he turned his lust toward her.

“Is everything okay in here?”

“Huh?” I ask, startled at the sound of Von’s voice.How did I not hear him coming?

“It sounded like you slammed that plate,” he says, nodding toward my feet. “I was just wondering if you were okay.”

I glance down and roll my eyes when I see the shattered pieces scattered on the floor. Holding on to the countertop, I slowly lower myself down and begin picking them up when Von comes over and gently brushes my hand away.

“I got it.”

Thanks.

“I guess I dropped it,” I finally say briskly. “I’ll bring this in for you when I’m done.”

I can feel Von’s eyes on me as he stands up. I canfeelthe smile on his lips, too. Who knew that someone would be so grateful for more than likely stale pancakes?

“Thanks, Jocelyn,” he begins warmly. “Um, the door is all boarded up again, so after I finish that plate, I’ll be out of your hair.”

I nod without looking at him as I crack a couple of eggs into a bowl.

Not long after I start making his reward, I’m serving it to him in the living room when there’s a knock at the door.

Dalton’s back.

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