Page 123 of The Dearly Departed

He shook his head, continuing to chuckle to himself, as I sat back on the couch, feeling simultaneously defeated and even more curious about what else was going on within the walls at Seint Manor.

Did he know Virginia was using me? Did he know about the things she did to me while he thought I was showering? Were there surveillance cameras in that guest room too? Had Virginia run it by him, or …

“Who do you think runs this shit show?”

Did that mean he wasn’t in control at all?

Dammit! When one question was answered, a million more were dropped at my feet, and I was so fucking sick of it.

"Anyway, after tomorrow, you won't have to ever deal with Analise’s nonsense again," he said flippantly, heading for the door. "She’s just a silly girl with a little crush. But she'll be out of here soon, living in whatever hovel Benjamin has picked out for them, and you can stop being so fucking distracted by her perky tits and ass. I'm gonna go shower. You can see yourself out."

I watched him head toward the door, hoping I could finally leave this hell house, when he turned around and added, "And don't worry, son. I won't force you to come to the wedding. Wouldn't wanna torture you like that."

He laughed at that, like he’d just told a funny joke, and patted his hand over his chest. "Will you look at that? I do have a heart after all."

And with that, he moseyed on out of the room, leaving the door open. I thought for a moment about running down the hall to Analise’s room. I thought about taking her by the hand and getting the fuck out of this hellhole. Away from Gerald, Virginia, and Benjamin. We could forget about this life, the things that had happened within these walls and outside of them, and disappear.

But they’d find us, I thought. They’d find us, and we’d be as good as dead.

With an aggravated sigh, I pulled the mask on, my mind reeling as Dean appeared in the hallway just outside the room. He must've sensed that I was about to say something because he held up a hand, stopping me.

"I will walk you to the door, sir," he murmured, his eyes speaking volumes.

We can't talk here, they said, and I knew he was right.

So, I responded with a curt nod and left the room, walking with purpose down the hall to descend the winding staircase into the foyer and out the door.

As I stepped onto the circular flagstone driveway, Dean grabbed my arm.

"Tomorrow morning, I will text you a location to your other phone," he murmured in a whisper. "Drive to that address and wait."

I narrowed my eyes with suspicion. "Wait for what?”

“Just wait,” he hissed.

With a cock of my head, I stepped closer and asked, “Are you screwing me over, Dean?”

A flash of anger struck his eyes like lightning against a gray sky. "You've known me for years. Have I ever given you the impression that I would do anything to intentionally screw you over?"

"I don't know, asshole. You tell me. Did you know he printed out a surveillance picture of me talking to her?"

He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "I told you to mind your business. I told you to stay away from her. You didn’t listen to me.”

"She said she needed help,” I hissed.

"And I told you to leave it alone."

“Is that what friends do?” I fired back, and his face blanched. “Yeah. That’s what she called you—her friend. Do you know what that twisted fuck does to her? Do you hear her crying and begging and screaming, and you just leave it alone?"

He blinked a few times before dropping his gaze and giving his head a shake. "Do you know how difficult it is for me? I want to help, I want to intervene, but, man, we're all just trying to protect someone. I'd kill that fucking bastard if I could, but I have a wife, and I have kids now, thanks to you. I don't know what he'd do to them if I—"

"No, I understand that," I replied, interrupting him and making the choice to let him into my world, just a little deeper. "I have two brothers, and I'm here so he'll stay away from them."

“So, you get it,” he said, his tone softening. “And I’m sorry that you do.”

"So am I," I muttered before shaking my head and shaking off the melancholy that had fallen over us both. "So, this address—it's not going to get me killed, is it?"

He shook his head, although I wasn’t sure he could know for certain. "It'll buy you a few minutes," he replied. "Probably no more than that before someone notices, but …"