Page 92 of Prey for You

He stared at me coldly for a moment and I thought he wouldn’t answer. But then he mirrored me, leaning forward on his elbows at his side of the table, and clasping his hands.

“Tell me, something Sam… does your god think shotgun weddings in Las Vegas are real? I mean, it’s just words on paper, right?”

I almost fell over backwards, adrenaline flooding my system aseverythingI’d wondered andeverythingI’d feared was confirmed in the same moment.

He knew. He fuckingknew.Which meant he probably knew where Bridget was too. But also…he fucking knew.

He could blow this entire case, everything we were working for, right out of the water. And now he was smiling, which meant he knew he’d shocked me.

I didn’t respond for a minute, making myself breathe deeper and slower,praying for fucking wisdom because this was so precarious.

And then it hit me: He’d chosen his words very carefully. He knew, as I did, that we were being recorded right now. And he hadn’t told anyone that I’d married her.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing, but hope rising behind it.

“My God recognizes it any time someone makes a commitment they mean. And He’s got some pretty choice wordsfor people who use false commitments to manipulate people,” I said as calmly as I could. “So… which was it?”

Gordon sat back, but his eyes hadn’t left mine. A challenge.

“You think I put shit like that in writing without meaning it?”

“C’mon, Gordon. We’ve all said stuff in here to get us what we wanted. Sometimes it feels like the easiest way.”

He sneered. “I don’t need a god to make me tell my daughter the truth. So is this just reconnaissance? She tell you to come?”

I shook my head. “She doesn’t know I’m here. She’s going to be angry with me for talking to you.”

A shadow passed behind his eyes. “Sounds like you’re an idiot then.”

I huffed. “I’m here because I’m worried about her. She’s disappeared and I need to find out where she is.”

“Isn’t that her business?”

“It would be, except sometimes people need more help than they know. She’s been pretty open with me, so it’s a surprise that she took off. I think something scared her. But my point is, I’m here for her, not for you.”

“What a hero.”

I looked at him flatly. “Look, let’s cut the bullshit. Either you meant the things in that letter and you want to help her like you said. Or you didn’t and it was just a way to get her to show up. I’m guessing by now you’ve realized she’s not coming. So don’t waste my time and I won’t waste yours.”

He opened his hands, leaving them on the table like two gray spiders. His skin had age marks, and the skin looked thin—much older than his years.

“Why should I give two shits about you and your questions? She’s the one I wrote the letter for.”

I leaned closer. “You should care because you were her dad, and youbrokeher. You broke her when she was way too little to understand it was allyourfault, not hers. She couldn’t cope. You said you understood that. That you did wrong by her. If you mean it, it’s good that you can see that. And if you want to help her heal, that’s good too. But I’m not going to play some stupid game with you. If you want to help her, you’ll help me. If youdon’t, fine.” When he didn’t respond I sighed. “Which is it, Gordon?”

His eyes narrowed and he leaned in too. “Yeah, I meant it. I mean a lot of things. Including this: You better get to your fucking point because I’m losing patience.”

30. Grit Your Teeth and Jump

~ SAM ~

“Let’s say I believe you,” I said.

“I don’t give a fuck what you believe, because it doesn’t change what’s true.”

Funny how even men who’d never met God had an inherent indignation at being accused of something untrue. It was a pattern I’d observed countless times. The natural sense of justice instilled in every human being who ever lived.

“You should, I’m the only person she trusts right now.”

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