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“Things couldn’t have worked out any better. All I’d hoped, all I’d planned…”
I stilled, my pulse jumping as I processed what he said, his presence hovering over me. Dominating. Intimidating.
Dark eyes peered into mine, and I shivered, instinctively shrinking against my chair as far as I could go. “What are you doing?” I whispered again, my voice ragged.
He removed his hand from my chin and stepped away.
Oxygen rushed into my lungs.
“Let’s have a little chat.” Lloyd settled onto the foot of my bed, patting the mattress beside him.
“I-I’m fine right here.”
“Come over here and sit beside me, Addilyn.” Lips in a thin line, he gave me the stern look I’d only ever seen on Gideon’s face. And his tone? It promised punishment if not obeyed.
The last thing I needed was two parents pissed off at me. Swallowing, I forced my suddenly shaky legs to hold me while shuffling to do as told.
I settled on the edge of my mattress, plenty of space between us, hands on my lap.
“I spoke with Gideon earlier today.”
Straightening, I honed in on Lloyd, desperate for information since Mother hadn’t allowed me to visit or write to Gideon and beg forgiveness. “How is he? What did he say?”
Lloyd studied my face, his brow furrowed. “He blames you for his sentencing.”
I sagged, my breath catching as my eyelids slid shut. I knew it.
“You’re dead to him, Addilyn. He never wants to hear from you. See you.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded, my chest hollowing out.
Empty.
Aching.
Lloyd brushed my hair over my shoulder, his knuckles trailing down my arm.
“Don’t touch me,” I whispered, shying away and wrapping my arms around myself to keep from shivering. I didn’t deserve comfort—I deserved the pain Lloyd’s words had brought back with force.
“Did you know that I have access to your cell phone?” he asked, his fingers twirling through the ends of my hair. “To all your social media? Your search history?”
I frowned as his words took time to fully register in my brain—and the blood rushed from my face, jacking my heart rate from sluggish with pain into hyperdrive. I stared, my stomach threatening to heave as a slow smirk lifted his lips. My stepfather knew what I used to Google late at night while hiding beneath my covers?
“Our little sweetheart isn’t so pure,” he whispered when my eyes blinked wide.
I gagged on rising bile and swallowed it down.
His smile returned, and a tremor rippled over me. “Restraining fantasies, Addilyn? Consensual non-consent? Where have you learned of such things?”
Words escaped me as I stared at the only person I thought I had left on my side. “D-Did you tell Mother?” I choked out.
“No.” His gaze flitted over my face to my neck. To my heaving chest. “Not yet.”
“You’re g-going to.” I didn’t ask a question because why else would he bring the topic up unless to warn me of the sure outburst and screaming match in my near future?
“I was thinking—” Lloyd slid closer and wrapped his hand fully in my hair, tipping my head back “—I ought to tell her, but perhaps you might have something that’s worth my silence.”
Gulping, I held his stare, shivering over the look I recognized in his eyes.
