Page 92 of Sinful Skulls
“Just do as he says,” she tells me, fishing hers out of her purse.
He reaches out and curls a finger around her bag, tipping it toward him to see the contents. When he’s satisfied she doesn’t have anything to be concerned about, he turns his attention to me.
I’m not going along with any of this. I didn’t escape him in Paris to now just willingly waltz out of here with him. He’s crazy.
Henry grabs my purse and pulls it out for me.
“She has to pay for what she did to your father, and you know how that has to happen.” He taps the pocket of his shirt, and I see the tip of a paintbrush.
Oh my god.
He sets our phones on the table and drapes a napkin over them. “Move,” he orders.
“It’s okay, Daisy. Let’s go,” she says as she stands, pulling me with her.
He follows us out of the little coffee shop and then walks us down the block. He opens the back door for Elizabeth and motions for me to get in the front seat, but before I get in, he grabs my face in his hands.
“You did good. You found her even if it was unintentional. Just remember, we’re doing this for your father.”
I fall into the seat, because he’s right … I just led my insane uncle right to her. She rid herself of my father only to have me lead another irrational man right to her doorstep. Oh my god, what have I done?
“I know I’ve given you no reason to trust me, but please, please trust me now,” she says quietly behind me as he rounds the car.
My heart drops into the pit of my stomach as the driver’s door opens and he joins us. He pulls the gun out of his jacket and sets it on his leg.
“Get comfortable. We’re going on a nice long ride.” He starts up the car and pulls away from the curb.
As soon as we’re out of town, I somehow find my voice. “Henry, this is crazy. You told me you had willing participants for your portraits. She is not willing. This is kidnapping!”
He doesn’t look away from the road. “She kept you from him … and from me, and then she killed him, Daisy. I don’t know why you’re not understanding what I’m trying to tell you. She thinks we are monsters.”
“You and him. She thinks you and your brother are monsters. Not me.”
He shakes his head and laughs. “Still in denial I see.”
“I’m not like you.”
“Oh, but you are.”
The butt of a gun suddenly appears from the backseat, coming to rest under Henry’s jaw.
“She’s not.”
She reaches over the seat and grabs his gun from his lap, pushing hers into his neck a little more. “Pull over or I’ll blow your head off,” Elizabeth tells him.
His eyes widen, but he does as she asks.
“You should have patted me down,” she growls in his ear. “You’re right about one thing. I did think your brother was a monster, that’s why I kept my daughter away from him. That’s why I killed him.”
I plaster myself against the door, watching her take over the situation. The calm on her face is almost frightening.
“And I can tell from my daughter’s reaction to you that you also are a monster.” She finally turns to look at me. “Get out.”
“What?”
“Get out. Someone from the club will find you soon. Stay on the side of the road where they can see you.”
“You’re not coming with me?”
