Page 5 of Vengeful Union

Georgina died because of my father, and while I hated the woman like no other, she didn’t deserve to be hung out to dry because of what my father did. No matter what she did, Georgina didn’t deserve to be murdered, especially in the way she was. She was dumped on our doorstep, her scalp was missing, and her throat was slit. To say I was terrified was an understatement. It took months before I was able to sleep without seeing her mutilated corpse.

“Desty, come on, you have to get up.” The urgency in her tone has me sitting up and studying her. “We don’t have long. Come on, let’s go.”

I glance at the clock and see it’s almost midnight. “Mom?”

“We’ve got to go.”

I blink. “Go where?”

She doesn’t answer. Instead, she rushes around my room, throwing clothes and other items into a backpack. “Hurry, baby, get dressed.”

I’m so confused, but the urgency in her voice has me listening to her. It takes me less than five minutes to throw on my sweats and step into my tennis shoes. “Okay, Mom, now can you please tell me what’s going on? Why are you rushing around and acting as though someone is coming to get you?”

It’s freaking me the fuck out, and I hate the fear that’s emanating from her.

“Please,” she pleads with me. “Let’s just go. As soon as we’re in the car, I’ll explain everything.”

When we get to the vehicle, Mom starts the engine before I can even clip in my seatbelt. As soon as she drives past the gates and out onto the road, I glance back at our home. At the mansion I grew up in. The house my father purchased for my mother when they got married. The light shining like a beacon is coming from my father’s office, but he’s not there. His car isn’t parked out front.

A strangled whimper comes from my mom, so I turn to her. She’s deathly pale, making her bruises look even worse than before.

“Okay, Mom, talk to me. What’s going on?”

Her hands are shaky as she leads us away from our family home. “Your father,” she whispers. “He’s gone crazy. He’s trying to sell—” She shakes her head, swallowing so hard I can hear it. “We need to get away and find somewhere safe. If we don’t, he’ll kill me.”

God, what the hell is wrong with my dad? These past few months have been the worst. He’s become someone I no longer like. How the hell has this happened?

“Where are we going?” I ask, knowing that wherever my mom goes, I’ll follow.

I’ve always been a mama’s girl. Every month we have girl days and spend the entire day together. We watch movies, get our hair and nails done, and just have fun. She’s the one I go to whenever I’m low or if I just need cheering up. She’s my best friend. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

“Conrad’s. He’s going to take us in for a few days.”

Uncle Conrad is my mom’s older brother. They haven’t spoken in a few years, or so I thought.

“Are we in danger?” It’s hard to think that my father would want to kill us, but I wouldn’t put anything past him right now.

“Yes,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, but your father isn’t of sound mind right now.”

I swallow hard. Where did everything go wrong? How did we go from being a happy family to running for our lives? What happened to the man who’s supposed to love and protect us?

We drive for almost an hour in silence, my heart pounding as the miles rack up. Mom’s fear is palpable. She keeps glancing in the rear-view mirror, waiting for something to happen. Almost as if she’s expecting to be followed.

Her cell rings, and her entire body stiffens. I glance down at where her cell’s lying and see Drake’s name flashing on the screen. He’s my father’s right-hand man.

She snatches it up and answers it. “Drake,” she whispers, and I hear love and affection in her voice. Where did that come from? Has it always been there?

I can’t hear what he’s saying, but whatever it is, it isn’t good. A low sob rips from her throat, and my heart drops. What the hell is happening? “I love you too. Please, be safe,” she whispers, shocking me. What is going on?

“Desty, you have to listen to me,” she says as soon as she’s finished talking to Drake. “Something is going to happen, and I need you to do exactly as I say.”

My breath catches at the determination, fear, and sorrow etched on her face. “Mom?”

She pulls the car over and unbuckles her seatbelt. “I love you so much, Destiny. You are my pride and joy. I’m so proud of you.”

Tears sting my eyes. “Mama,” I breathe.

My gut is churning. Something isn’t right.

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