Page 88 of Descent

Dreading this conversation but knowing that it needs to be had, I click on that familiar contact. The phone rings for several seconds before he answers.

“What?”

“Hello, father. How are you?”

“As well as can be expected, considering one of my eliminators is currently wanted for the assault of several cruise ship staff members and the kidnapping of a passenger. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” he asks, his voice stony and unforgiving.

Keeping my tone even, the story I’ve practiced over and over again until it’s polished to perfection, I put him at ease.

“Yes, that’s why I’m calling. He needed to fetch her for me.”

“Who?”

“Skyla. She threw a tantrum and tried to get on a cruise ship without me. Said she needed a vacation from my ego,” I scoff.

My father does a matching one that tells me he’s buying it so far.

“Fucking typical woman.”

I grunt my agreement before continuing.

So, I sent Griggs to retrieve her.”

“Why send an eliminator?” he pushes.

“With my bond brother being injured, I figured he was the only one unstable enough to do whatever it took to bring her back to me.”

He makes a noise. I can’t quite tell if it’s in agreement or argument, but he stays quiet for several more seconds before he speaks again.

“I’ll take care of it. Next time, I expect you to handle the aftermath on your own. I’m not your fucking babysitter,” he says, before the call drops off.

No, you’re not my babysitter, you’re my fucking dad.

Pocketing my phone, I shake my head as I make my way upstairs to jump in the shower and start my day.

Chapter Thirty Five

Skyla

Asher was going to drive me, but I had to get to class early to talk with Professor Corwin about catching up on some assignments. With the time Asher and I spent out of school, I’ve struggled to balance the catch-up game, and I’m hoping he will cut me a little slack.

Wesley brought me my cider and my favorite lemon loaf cake. Since he picked me up, we haven’t spoke much, mainly just driving in comfortable silence, that is until we round the block near the university.

“So, am I going to have to commandeer another boat and pull you out of the Atlantic Ocean today or?”

I roll my eyes, shooting him a very unimpressed look that forces him to smile.

“Ha ha, you’re hilarious. You should have let me drown.”

“Afraid I couldn’t have let that happen, it would be a direct risk to my health,” he says as he pulls up to the curb, putting the car in park.

“Why? Because the guys would break all the bones in your body if you let something happen to me?” I tease.

He scoffs. “Absolutely not. None of those guys intimidate me.”

I lift an eyebrow in question. “Then how would me getting hurt be a risk to your health?”

“My heart,” he says dramatically, resting his hand over his chest as he slips out of the car.

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