Page 87 of The House Guest

‘Strip,’ said Brittany.

Callum said, ‘What?’

‘I’m really not interested in looking at your dicks,’ she said. ‘Just do it.’

I took my clothes off. Beside me, Callum did the same. The A/C in the apartment was cranked high and I shivered, hands cupped over my genitals.

‘Now put those on,’ Emilio said. Two sets of clothes were laid out on the sofa. A plain grey sweater and matching trousers. Clean underwear and a pair of canvas sneakers. We both did as they asked, dressing side by side in silence.

There was a light rap at the door. The security guy opened it and another man came in. It was him. The man from the photo.

‘You’re Gabriel,’ I said.

‘Adam,’ he replied, coming over and appraising me. He did the same to Callum. ‘And you’re Callum Maguire.’

‘Not going to spit in my face, are you?’ Callum asked.

Gabriel just smiled. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you. All the things you did to Eden when she was a child. I’ve held her in my arms while she told me all about it. I’ve kissed away her tears.’

‘All lies, I’m sure,’ said Callum. ‘That girl had a good upbringing. Firm, to be sure, but fair.’

Gabriel took a step closer to him. There was a look of genuine disgust on his face. ‘Is that what you thought when you were beating her? When you made her hold out her arm so you could stub your filthy cigarettes out on it?’

Instinctively, I moved away from Callum. Emilio grabbed hold of my elbow to stop me going further.

‘I never did that,’ Callum said.

‘I’ve seen her scars.’ Gabriel moved a fraction closer. ‘She told me about how you crept into her bed at night too. When she was seven.’

‘Oh Jesus,’ I said.

Gabriel turned to me. ‘And you’ve been helping him.’

‘I had no idea. I didn’t even know he was Eden’s dad until today. All I want is to find Ruth. To make sure she’s okay. If she’s happy here, wants to be here—’

Gabriel gave his head an annoyed shake and put a finger to his lips. ‘Hush.’ It was Callum he was focused on now. He slowly circled him. ‘I know what you did to her mother too. Your wife. Mary, wasn’t it? All the beatings. The abuse. The control. I heard about how you made her take off her top and poured hot oil on to her skin because she burned your dinner. How you made her clean your shit stains out of the toilet with her bare hands. How one Christmas you hurt her so badly you almost went to jail, but your wife wouldn’t testify against you because she was too scared.’

Callum’s expression hardened. ‘Don’t come over all morally superior, Gabriel. You’re the leader of acult. I bet you do exactly the same to anyone who fucks with you.’

Gabriel stopped moving. ‘I never – never! – hurt members of my family. People who join me need never worry about their well-being again.’

‘Tell that to Detective Krugman,’ Callum said. ‘Now, I want to see my daughter. Like Adam says, I just want to know she’s happy. To look her in the eye and believe she wants to stay here. And then I’ll go back to California and leave you alone.’

‘Bullshit,’ said Emilio.

We all turned to look at him.

‘He doesn’t care if she’s happy. He’s scum. He killed his wife ...’

Callum frowned. ‘She killed herself.’

‘Because you drove her to it. Eden told me—’

‘Enough!’ The roar came from Gabriel. His face was purple, a vein throbbing on his brow. ‘I’m sick of listening to—’

Callum took a swing at Gabriel, who tried to step back but was too slow. Callum’s fist connected with his cheekbone.

Within a second, Emilio and Brittany had Callum on the floor. Gabriel stood there, stunned, nursing his cheekbone.

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