Page 17 of Demise

“Last night,” I continue. “He drugged me and drove me to a warehouse in Vermont that he had renovated to look like a house. He wanted us to live there, to start over.”

“Who?” Steph asks.

“Nicholas Corwin,” Wesley says from the corner of the room.

Steph’s nose wrinkles at that.

“That little dweeb? Are you sure it was really him? He was always afraid of his own shadow. I can’t picture him being an aggressive stalker.”

“Trust me, it was him. He told me how him and mom used to date before she got engaged to my—”

“Yeah, fucking right,” Steph mocks. “He wishes. He used to follow your mom around like a sad puppy. He’d always leave her love notes, roses. It drove her crazy.”

We all share curious looks with one another as Steph continues.

“Did he hurt you?”

“He was trying to touch me, and I fought back. Obviously, he didn’t like that. He kicked me in the stomach and ribs and slapped me. If the guys would have gotten there five minuteslater, I wouldn’t be able to say that’s all he did,” I say as my eyes come to Vincent, remembering the wave of relief and safety that washed over me when he stormed into the room.

“Where is the son of a bitch now?” Steph asks, facing the guys.

“Burnt to a crisp in that creepy as fuck warehouse,” Liam says, a cold tone to his voice.

Her jaw tightens as she nods her head. “Good.”

I nod, something else that I haven’t brought up chewing away at me.

“He said something else. He said that my dad was the one who killed my mom. Or Asher’s dad. He said that’s what everyone says happened…but mom’s death was an accident, right?” I ask.

Steph goes pale and her body freezes as she looks at me. I blink at her before bowing my head slightly.

“Right?” My eyes move to the guys, noticing how all of them refuse to meet my eyes. “Did you all know?”

“Babygirl, it’s just a rumor. There was never any proof. Just shit that dumb people made up.” Liam shrugs.

“Steph?” I ask. She doesn’t say anything, just continues staring at me.

I smack my hand down on the bed.

“Answer me!” I shout.

She startles before shaking her head.

“I think so. Like he said, there was never any proof, but I know without a doubt if anyone killed my sister, it was Henry.”

Hurt stabs inside me as I shake my head.

“How? How could you not tell me? How could you let me come here, not knowing a thing?”

“I didn’t have a choice, Sky! If he is a psycho murderer or not, if he wants his daughter with him, then you have to be by his side. Don’t you understand by now? What the elders want, they get! This is literally life or death. I’ve only put your well-beingfirst. I just…I’ve tried so hard to keep you as safe as I could. My…my baby,” she cries, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.

I feel a few tears of my own escape as I attempt to sniff them away and reach a hand out for her. She stands up, closing the distance between us as she leans over Liam to hold me. Her arms wrap me up like a hug as she cries into my neck.

“I’m so sorry, Sky. So sorry. I should have told you. I should have warned you. This place…it’s why I never came back. It’s hell on earth, and women…they don’t last long. I can’t believe you were gone…and I didn’t even know. We almost lost you,” she says as she pulls away, her eyes wet as she looks at me.

“Will you stay? For a little? I…I need you,” I say brokenly.

I see the hesitancy on her face, but it only lasts a minute or two before she nods.

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