Page 60 of Slayer

Just as I relish in the relief of ending the situation, my phone starts playing the emperor's match. Dad is calling.

“Hello?”

“Knox, how are things?”

“OK. Had a bit of housekeeping.” Keeping my tone fixed and forced every time I talk to the murdering bastard makes it easier to hide when I am lying to him.

“I heard.”

“You did?” I kept Porter and Tiffany close to my chest; only my most loyal men knew about this incident.

“Family is everything.”

“Sure, Dad.” That means so much on various levels, and none of it good. There is family, and then there'sfamily.

“Derik's wife came to me because her husband went missing.” Dad enlightens me to the reason for his call.

Derik had a wife. Well fuck. I missed someone from the kill list. But I'd rather he found out about a forgotten wife than about Porter. I need to tell him about Porter before he does find out through someone else. That way I have some control over what he hears.

“I'll be bringing her over with me, in ten minutes.”

“Sure Dad.” Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

My reason for killing Derik is a valid one. I was frustrated and he was cheating me. The problem is leaving the wife. Let's face it, she knew what he was doing.

I need to warn Porter. Then I need to keep him hidden away somewhere. He and Dad can't meet today.

“Everything OK?” Freddie calls.

“Dad is on his way over. You need to warn everyone, he's not in a great mood.”

“Begging your pardon, sir. When is he ever?”

Freddie has a point. Dad only visits when I've annoyed him. If it's good news, he invites me over for dinner.

“Keep Porter upstairs until he's gone, would you?”

“Of course.” Freddie nods and heads upstairs to keep my treasure safe from the one man who could ruin everything.

forty-one

Porter

WhenKnoxsaystostay in his room, he means it. But I didn't realise he'd be gone this long. Obviously the guy is planning the best date on the planet, one where I'm pampered and spoiled for the whole evening. Or an entire day. Imagine catching a private jet to France for dinner. Would I still need a passport for a private jet? Because that would be a problem; I don't have a passport. But does Knox really announce his arrival in a foreign country by showing his passport as the notorious Knox Thayer?

My mind is racing with ridiculous ideas, none of which will come true. It will be a quick dinner surrounded by bodyguards, or an evening sitting in a private booth at one of his clubs. I bet he doesn't even dance.

Right, that's it. I'm putting the TV on.

I walk to the wall mounted screen and switch it on. The image that comes up is of my sister, hanging by her wrists in his basement. The older guy, Caeo, is there with a couple of other men I don't recognise. No Knox though. I guess when he said thathewouldn't hurt Annie, he was being more literal than I realised.

Bastard. How could he, after he promised. After everything he did to me. Who gives a fuck if it was good, I was coerced into it for a lie.

He's never going to let either of us go, and so far I've only cared about Annie. Annie. Who got us into this mess, who could easily get us out of this, who has shown this entire weekend that she doesn't care about me.

I have to get out of here, which means turning my back on Annie and Mum. The balcony is looking quite appealing now. I didn't look at it as an escape route before but now it's my only chance.

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