Page 44 of Unspoken Truths

“Hypocrite,” Dad grunts. “As interesting as this is, we need to move on. This thing you two have going on isn’t healthy. Rachelle isn’t built to take the kind of abuse you enjoy with your friends. Are you trying to kill her?”

“I mean, it’s not the first person we’ve killed,” I say. There was a kid in our fourth grade that we chased off a cliff. None of us felt a twinge of regret. He was a bully, and his favorite victim was Lili.

She doesn’t know we did this and never will. He’s not the only one I’ve killed either, only it’s usually to help Dad with work. Grooming me to take over takes time, and I know my place. It won’t be any time soon, there’s still college to worry about and an entire life to enjoy before I take over.

“Ignacio,” Dad groans. Oops, he’s getting irritated with me. “Choose someone else to torture, I don’t give a fuck if it’s a teacher.”

“No one wants her at the school, Dad,” I tell him. “If we aren’t the ones torturing her, then it’ll be someone else.”

Done with this conversation, I stand, signaling this is over.

“Anything else?”

“Since you have such a high lust for blood, Tobias has a job he could use some help with,” Dad grumbles. “Change into something you don’t plan to wear again.”

Wonderful, torture and disposal. This is how my father punishes me, by using my “blood lust” as he calls it for better use. The funny thing is, it actually does help for a few days. The men always deserve it too.

It scratches the itch.

“Fine,” I sigh. “So I’m dismissed?”

“You’re such a pain in the ass, Nacio,” Dad says, putting aside the empty cup. It’s way too delicate and small in his large hands, but it’s the only way to drink coffee in his eyes. “Yes, you are. Tobias will come pick you up. It’s a dirty job, I wouldn’t suggest eating.”

Staring at him for a moment, I blow out a breath. Fucking awesome.

“Wonderful,” I grunt.

“Take a change of clothes. You can’t just come traipsing through the house covered with blood anymore,” he calls to me as I start walking toward the door.

“Must get old,” I say, rolling my eyes. He can’t see me since I’m not facing him. I’m not an idiot, my father is fucking scary.

“Eh, Julia and Rachelle are worth it. That’s why I want you to stop whatever this nonsense is,” he says.

I can’t. Jared won’t allow it, and the others are invested in seeing how far they can push the little mouse. We’ll either fuck or kill her before it’s over, but the probability of both is high.

I say none of the things running through my mind, though. I simply say, “Yes, sir.”

We both know I’m full of shit as I pull open the office door to find a man I don’t know on the other side.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“Come right in,” Dad says instead, purposefully not using a name.

Stepping aside, I scowl as I watch the stranger walk inside. He’s got sandy blonde hair, is wearing a suit and tie, and has blue eyes. This isn’t the sort of man who would work with my father, and this makes me glance over my shoulder at him.

“Leave it alone, Nacio,” he growls as the man walks into the office.

“Hmm,” is all I say as I walk out to see my stepsister walk in through the front door alone. “I’m surprised your girlfriend let you out of her sight.”

“Girlfriend?” Julia asks, walking into the foyer to say hello to her daughter.

Ha. Good luck explaining that.

Rachelle glares at me as I walk away, leaving her to deal with her mother. I don’t know what Julia’s feelings are about having a bisexual daughter, but it’ll still be an interesting conversation for Rachelle to have with her.

Too bad I have places to be now and can’t watch the fallout.

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