Page 53 of Exile
I could hide in Dr. Smith's office but that would look suss. Markel is an option but if the guards come for me, I doubt he'd fight to keep me there.
There's really only one option. One safe place where they probably won't think to look. Plus… it has certain benefits for me.
My feet start moving quickly, eyes checking for approaching bodies until I slip through the doors. The sound of my footsteps resemble a racing heart, erratically moving as I slip through another closed door.
"For fuck sake! Who hasn't put the water on?"
It takes them a few seconds in the chaos before someone finally spots me lingering by the door. Like a domino effect, they stop—one by one, glancing at me with uncertainty and confusion. I give them a small smile before I round the countertop and approach the loud voice.
"Hello, Tony."
He glances up, a large knife in his hand as he frantically chops greens—well, brownish looking greens.
"What can I do for you?" he growls, unfazed by my presence. "It's not the best time. We're getting ready for the lunch rush."
I nod, completely understanding. "I'm not here to place an order," I tell him, walking over to one of his nearby colleagues. The younger cook is dishing out bowls of spaghetti bolognese for the kitchen staff, her eyes wide with apprehension as she watches me approach. "Can I have a bowl?" I ask, tilting my head toward one.
"S-sure," she mutters quietly, looking over my head at Tony for double reassurance. He must shrug or waveher off because no one says anything as I reach for one, also pinching a clean fork from a pile.
"I'm not here," I tell them all, heading toward the large walk-in freezer. "You never saw me."
I don't wait for their reply, grabbing a can of pop from the fridge before slipping inside the cold box and taking a seat on an empty vegetable container.
And just like that, I enjoy a well-deserved delicious meal in silence until Grey finds me a little while later.
Being cold was a small price to pay for freedom. It tasted just as good as the fresh pasta I devoured. But nothing compares to the euphoric feeling of replaying the look of fear in Elsher's eyes when he realized I was becoming his worst nightmare. Maybe Damon was onto something—having people fear you is a rush I never knew I'd love.
Chapter 20
Grey
** Three Years Ago **
He's in one of hisjoyousmoods again.
I'd just managed to fall asleep when his excessive stomping and huffing around the house woke me. Normally, that wouldn't be troublesome for most people. But when it's accompanied by heated whispers and self motivating pep talks, it's cause for alarm.
I toss back the blanket with a sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. I'll need to go deal with him before he ends up naked outside and traumatizes Mrs. Miller next door. The poor woman is newly widowed and I'm not sure seeing my father's dick in the middle of the night is on her bucket list. Garden tools? Yes. Wrinkly midnight dick? No.
It's frustrating because the past few weeks, I've already had trouble sleeping. It's that time of year when flashbacks re-emerge as if my mind is a fucking Google calendar.
Oh, hey. Remember the time Mom took you to the alpaca farm and you tried to ride one like a horse? Mom's birthday is coming up—maybe send a card and remind her that youexist.
I stopped caring after she walked out and left me to deal with my father alone. I don't blame her for wanting to break free—he's more than a handful. His schizophrenic episodes have been getting more frequent over the past few years. I caught him laying a hand on her during one of them. She wasn't strong enough to fight him off and I had to do it for her. He didn't take too kindly to me putting him through the glass coffee table, but I digress. If a method is effective, then that's all that matters.
But still, she didn't have to justleavelike that.
When people want to exit relationships, you see a lawyer. Not your dentist. Though, I suppose they are renowned for their oral skills.
I'm not sure what she thought would happen when she blurted out the infidelity to him. Even someone without a medical degree could guess it would take a negative turn.
To be fair, I think she tried to stick around for as long as possible before riding off into the sunset with Dr. Pussy Eater. I just don't understand why she didn't take me with her. I guess a stepchild would dampen the thrill of an affair or she assumed I'd be fine to handle Dad. Or perhaps she felt so guilty about cheating with their dentist that she left me as a consolation prize.
Either way, tonight I was finally able to fall asleep peacefully after work. I've only been at Angus' Butchery for three months and we were run off our feet today with an upcoming barbecue festival. So many knives to play with, so little time.
Creeping out of my bedroom, I listen for the rambling, tracking his location. It sounds like he's in the kitchen.
The fridge door slamming closed all but confirms my suspicions and I head in his direction. It doesn't take long to find him in there, his tense body pacing with wide eyes as he mutters to himself.
