Page 78 of I Am Salvation

I’m no expert on love, for sure, but what this derelict is talking about is certainly not love.

Is he the one who wanted Griffin all those years ago?

Is he the one who has had her all this time?

And then somehow, someone from the cult grabbed her? Alayna said they buy women. Why should they buy them when they can steal them? On the other hand, this buttfuck could have easily sold Griffin for cash. The cult could be doing God knows what to her.

Using her as a fucking human sacrifice for all I know.

I’ve got to find her.

Which means I need to know who this guy is, and I need to know how they got her.

“I think you said something about money,” he says.

I draw a breath, willing myself to stay calm. “Yes. Quid pro quo, as they say.”

“You never had a penny to your name, Dragon.”

My eyebrows rise.

Obviously he knows who I am. He’s the one who’s been talking to me about Griffin. Telling me she’s alive. Sending me a piece of her pajamas.

But the way he said my name… He seems more familiar now.

“Yeah?” I say. “You’re right. I never did.”

“I swear to God, I wanted to take a fucking hatchet to that damned drum of yours.”

Oh. My. God.

He’s giving me a hand.

If he’s evaded capture for the last two decades, now he wants to be caught.

And I know who he is.

Twenty-two years earlier…

“Don’t you want to finish opening your presents first?” Mom asks.

“No. I want to put on these new jammies.” Griffin prances around the room. “And then we’ll open the rest of the presents, okay?”

“All right, Griffin.” Mom scoops up Griffin and takes her back to her room.

Five minutes later, they return. The pajamas are a little big on Griffin, but Mom said we should get the larger size so she could wear them longer.

Griffin hugs herself. “I love them! Now, I want my next present!”

Just then, our doorbell rings.

Dad and Mom look at each other, their eyebrows scrunched.

“Who could be at the door this early on Christmas morning?” Dad asks.

Mommy shrugs. “Maybe carolers?”

She crosses the room and opens our front door.

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