Page 139 of Deliverance

“I don’t think we’ve ever been truly introduced, Margret. I’m Thomas Booth, but I believe ‘Father’ is more appropriate, given our circumstances.”

My eyes widen as Maggie’s mouth practically hits the floor.

What. The. Fuck.

Chapter Forty Eight

Maggie

Father? Is he fucking crazy?

“You think because you screw my whore mother you can call yourself my father?” I laugh. Or at least I try to laugh. Even to my own ears, I can hear how strained it sounds.

My mom shoots me a venomous look, but I couldn’t give a shit.

“I think I can call myself your father because of the blood running through your veins,” Thomas says with a self-satisfied smirk.

What?

“You’re lying,” I accuse.

He tuts, shaking his head as he wraps his arm around my mom. She snuggles into his side all too happily, nuzzling like two long lost lovers.

“Tell him, my love. It’s been a plan in the making for a long time now.”

“Thomas and I fell in love when I was sixteen,” she says dreamily.

“And how old was he? Thirty?” Bridgette’s tone hardly masks her disgust.

She shoots her a narrowed glare before the dreamy look returns.

“I told my parents that I wanted to marry him, but he hadn’t made a name for himself just then.”

Thomas nods. “I was new to the Brethren. Building a successful empire like mine takes time, and money.”

“So, I married well,” my mom says.

“To Dad,” I guess.

“To Matthew Bartlett, yes,” she corrects. “His family was ungodly wealthy, especially for not being a part of the Elder families. It was the perfect arrangement. He wanted a dutiful wife and a family, and I wanted my Thomas to thrive so we could finally be together.”

She smiles up at him like he hung the moon and all the stars. He grins down at her, placing a kiss to her forehead.

“When I got pregnant three months before the wedding, it was a total mistake. Just a little slip up during our engagement party,” she says, sharing a sultry look with Thomas.

He winks at her, nuzzling his nose against hers.

“I couldn’t let you walk around on Bartlett’s arm without being stuffed full of my cum.”

My mom beams like it’s the most romantic thing he could say, before her smile drops, and she looks at me.

“Once you came around, Matthew was infatuated. Everything revolved around you. The little attention he used to give me was scarce, but you provided a great distraction. For years, I was able to funnel money from his account to Thomas, to allow my love all the resources he needed to build us a life. Once you went off to Gallows Hill U, he got suspicious, though. Started focusing more on work, more on finances. He started asking questions,” she says with a shake of her head.

“We knew it was time to handle the matter,” Thomas said.

“To kill him? Kill my father?” I guffaw.

My mom shrugs like she forgot milk at the grocery store.

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