Page 131 of The Devil’s Lair

Benton

Lab results are in. Sweet contained anatrophile, a controlled rat poison that was banned in the UK in 2010. Not enough to kill, but enough to make someone pretty sick.

I fucking knew it. My gut rarely leads me wrong.

“Excuse me, Dad. I need to deal with this.” I rest my hand on my dad’s upper arm. “Thank you. For everything.”

I see the play, clearly. Felicity couldn’t get Isla through legal means, so she planned to make her sick and, I’d hazard a solid guess, point the authorities at Rebecca, then swoop in as the “safe” option for Isla.

Never would’ve happened. No judge would go up against my family, but Felicity must’ve thought she had a chance. God, to be willing to make your granddaughter ill just to try to gain custody shows how fucking evil she is.

I take out my phone and put my plan into action.

Isla’s little chest rises and falls, her cheeks pink, her arms thrown overhead. I pull up her covers and tuck them underneath her chin before bending to press a kiss to her forehead.

“Sleep well, sweetheart.”

She cuddles her bear and rolls onto her side.

I hang around, watching her for a few moments. If she’d eaten those sweets, I dread to think what would’ve happened.

“You still here?”

I hold out an arm to Wren, and she tucks herself inside, resting her head on my shoulder. I haven’t figured out yet the best way to tell her about the poison. Instead, I go with, “Dad told me earlier that they’ve found some other victims of the Southalls.”

“Oh, my God. How many?”

“Too fucking many. Some of them want to go down the legal route, so we’re supporting them in that.”

“How do you feel?”

“Vengeful. I want those bastards to suffer, to lose everything.” I shrug. “I also feel guilty.”

“Guilty for what?”

“Because I’m letting others do what I should find the courage to do. Step up and tell their stories.”

“No.” She cups my face, eyes locked on mine. “I will not have that. You don’t owe anyone anything. This happened to you. To you, Tobias. That means you get to decide what’s best for you. If you’d rather stay anonymous and help in other ways, then that is your decision and it is a valid one. Everyone has the right to make the choice they feel is best for them, and you’re making yours.”

It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am that this woman came into my life and changed me for the better. Saved me.

“I love you. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I promise, I will always put you first. Protect you and love you and be there for you.”

“Same. This is a two-way street. I will always put you first and protect you and love you and be there for you.”

I rest my forehead against hers. “How about a bath?”

She yawns. “Do you mind if we just veg out in front of the TV? I’m exhausted.”

“I don’t mind at all. As long as we’re together, I’m good with whatever you want to do.”

We curl up on the couch and put on the TV. To some, this may seem like a boring life. To me, it’s all I need. My wife in my arms, engrossed in an old black and white movie, my daughter fast asleep in her bedroom, the rest of my family somewhere in this colossal old house, enjoying the company of their loved ones.

It’s the perfect life. I can only hope what I’m about to say doesn’t upset her too much.

“The results came back on the sweets.”

Rebecca sits up, worrying her lip. “And?”