Page 40 of Come to Head

My step-father—no, his name was Stephen. He turned to the side, allowing me an unobstructed view of what was behind him.

Of the newest prisoner to join our foray.

“Dad?” my voice broke.

I can’t be strong. This isn’t happening. This can’t be real.

He can’t—

How is—

But that means—

I grieved for my dad for more than half my life. He can’t be alive. I didn’t evenlookfor him. I didn’t even try to find him. I just trusted mymother.A fool I was, a fucking idiot.

My ears pounded painfully as regret sliced through my brain attempting to break me apart.

I couldn’t let it.

Fuck. Fuck! FUCK!

“Isobella?” James, mydad, broke through the chaotic noise of my mind unraveling. He attempted to escape his restraints, but the two men holding him overpowered his attempts. My dad’s voice was a memory that pulsated to the front of my mind.

A hundred times he said my name in that exact way after I had hurt myself. When he came home from work and found me crying. I never told him how mom was when he was gone. I didn’t wantto worry him.

And then he died.

That hadn’t been true?

My mother had lied to me? About my daddying?What kind of sick, fucked up—

My mind unraveled as every excuse I told myself about my mother fell apart. She didn’t love me, she didn’t do anything for my sake. She wasevil,selfish, a raging fucking cunt.

She had taken me from my dad. From the man that had raised me. Had loved me. Had taught me to be strong.

My vision blurred as tears fell on their own accord.

I didn’t want to cry here, I didn’t want to show weakness.

I wanted to be strong.

But seeing my dad in this situation after years apart was my undoing.

“Finally, together at last. Are those tears of joy? I can’t believe your sweet mother isn’t here for the reunion.” Stephen snapped his fingers and rattling echoed around the room. “When she drunkenly told me what she had done? I grew curious. How could I use this secret? Because that’s what it was–a dangerous and powerful secret. I think I did the best I could with it. But imagine my surprise when I sent James to lure Yara back to me and instead? Hefallsfor her. Hefucksher. He—”

“Stop it!” Yara, who had been uncharacteristically silent, broke, interrupting herfather’sspeech.

Through it all, I stared at my own father, at James. At my long-lost dad. As the confusion marked his face. A mix of a furrowed brow and his lips pressed into a harsh line.

He had aged, but he was still unmistakable. His mannerisms. His voice. His eyes.

They were a mirror to my own.

Stephen’s words eventually processed.

My dad andYara?

I broke my stare down and diverted my attention towards Yara. The wall behind her was opened up. Before, it was panels, but now, it was a glass pane that I could see through.

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