Page 197 of Did They Break You

When I get my ticket, slip it onto the dash, close and lock the doors, I’m sweaty and flustered even though it’s a little chilly out. I glance in my windows, see my braids are unraveling, and I quickly tighten them, trying to tuck the hairs back into place.

It doesn’t matter. Even if I was flawless—I don’t think that’s ever happened in my life—I wouldn’t please my stepdad.

Sighing, I grip my purse and resist the urge to pull out my phone. I already did in the car.Hehasn’t texted me.

All day.

He hasn’t called.

Nothing.

I imagine him watching me walk out as the cab pulled up. Hearing the door slam behind me.

My heart squeezes in my chest.

I shove all of those thoughts from my mind, just ready to get through this dinner.

Crossing the street, I almost twist my ankle in my heels as I jog up to the pavement, but I right myself at the last moment, causing no lasting pain.

I take a breath, smooth down my dress, and stand in front of the man outside of the door.

“Ocean,” I tell him, a little breathless from jogging down the street from the parking garage. “Remi Ocean. I’m here to meet Silas Lankin.”

He nods once, no expression on his broad face, and pulls the door open.

I step inside, cool air and the scent of seafood greeting me as the hostess pulls out a sleek black menu from behind the counter and gestures for me to follow her.

My heart is racing in my chest as I do, down a dark, polished wooden hall. The lights are dim, and even the voices here in the various dining rooms of the restaurant are hushed, like this a private club that’s to be enjoyed in relative silence.

No wonder Silas likes this place.

But every step closer to him and his girlfriend has me panicking, until my fingers are trembling and I suddenly remember my tongue piercing and wonder how I’m supposed to hide it from him throughout the entire dinner.

The hostess turns to the left and we enter a small room that has one table.

My heart sinks.

Of course.

My stepdad’s facing me, his girlfriend’s back is to me, and for a second, I just freeze in the doorway. Think of his hand across my face. His arm around mine, bruising me. His show of concern on the phone to his business partner.

“I think something bad happened to Remi.”

I hear him talking to the nurse, remarking on the bruises before they pushed him out of the room. He played the part of the distraught father so well, evenIalmost believed it. Until it was all over, and on the car ride home, after strangers had dissected every inch of me and I had to recall what happened in excruciating detail to several detectives, he berated me for making him late to a meeting.

All of that plays in my head, and I realize him, his girlfriend, and the hostess are staring at me, the hostess having pulled out the sleek leather chair adjacent to my father, the menu still in the crook of her elbow.

I swallow down my fear, and keep my head up, cross the room and sink down into the seat as the hostess finally sets my menu down.

I pull my chair up, fist my hands in my lap as I finally look up and meet Silas’s gaze.

His dark eyes are narrowed on mine, his arms resting on his chair. He’s in a tailored black suit, and his grey hair is combed back.

“Nice of you to finally join us.” There’s no smile in those words. No greeting, either. Over a year, and he has onlythatto say to me.

I glance at the table, covered in a white cloth. There are two candles flickering in the center, and for a second, I want to tip them over. Catch this entire restaurant on fire and walk out, letting Silas burn.

“This is Crystal,” he continues in that same terse tone. I can practically hear his thoughts.Act civilized, you stupid bitch.

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