Page 307 of Hide and Keep

“I’d like to revisit the terms of my contract,” I say before he can get a word out.

“You are in no position to make demands.”

“Tell me, Father, what other daughter will you get to do your bidding if I don’t?”

“Yours.”

I would sterilize myself just to keep that from happening. But since this is a negotiation, I go along with it.

“Eighteen years is an awfully long time to wait. Are you sure Munreaux Motorcycles has that kind of time?”

“What do you want?”

I’d let my lips curve if I had any feeling in them.

“Remember that million dollars you accused me of stealing? I want it. Upfront.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? The second that money hits your account, you’ll use it to run away.”

“It’s not going in my account.”

“Whose account is it going in?”

Less than thirty minutes later, I watch as my father lands his helicopter on the old wharf, the wind creating angry ripples in the water below.

“The fucking help, Never?” is the first thing he says to me in the headset. “My God, you’re a disappointment.”

“I won’t disappoint you in this, Father.” I look over at him. “It’s all I’m good for, after all.”

After a condescending shake of his head, we’re airborne.

I seek out that sailboat mailbox one final time.

Don’t look for me.

“How’d you get in here?” I grumble to Zeus, who I hear whining by the door.

Ever must’ve let him in sometime during the night but made the mistake of closing the door after. She’s never had a pet. She doesn’t know they gotta go out to pee.

I turn over to look at her.

“Butter—”

My head shoots off the bed.

Where’s Ever? She’s not beside me. She’s not anywhere in this room.

Did she need to pee?

Pushing myself up, one of my palms lands in a bunch of brown crumbs on my sheet.

I groan.

She’s never had a pet,I repeat to myself as I stumble down the hall, passing by the bathroom that’s empty judging by the open door.

Mm. Don’t love that. Where’d she go?

No sign of Ever in the kitchen either, I complete an entire circle in my spot. That’s pretty much the whole house so…where is she?

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