“You’d kill your own son?” I shake my head. He must be bluffing. He may be a pyromaniac but a murderer?Come on.
He lowers himself down to whisper in ear, darkly. “I think you’vegravelymistaken what a man will do when he’s got nothing left to lose.”
I pinch my eyes shut as goosebumps tingle up my arms. “You’re crazy.”
“And you’re wasting time.” He squeezes hard again. “I don’t want to do this. But I will. It’ll be the last thing I did for you as a father. Save you from yourself.”
My brain races through every possible outcome. I could say yes, get out, and wait until he’s asleep to make a run for it. Maybe I’ll find a phone. Maybe I can slip away. But one thing is certain: I won’t have any options if I’m dead.
“Okay, fine.” I huff. “I’ll leave with you.”
All of a sudden, I feel the cold blade brush my wrist, the sudden freedom of my range of motion coming back springs a sliver of hope inside of me.
That is, until I feel that hard press into my back, reminding me it won’t be so easy. My whole body freezes as he pushes the tip into my back.
“Don’t try anything. I’m not above reminding you who has the power here.” He forcibly nudges my head to the right. “Come on. Move. We’ve got work to do.”
Twisting the door, I step through only to realize immediately what hallway I’m in.
My skin feels cold as I take it all in. The smell of cedar and warmth. Memories of Elijah and I running through the halls flash through my mind.
The lake house.
We’re at the lake house.
“Come on. Keep moving.” Derrick pushes me, making me stumble.
I do as he says, walking forward, stepping up into the main level. I didn’t even realize Jude had a subterranean level to the house. Elijah and I spend so much time upstairs or in the boat house that we never even ventured over here. Especially since we barely drink.
My eyes dart left to right as I take in the mess Derrick has left. We were just here at the end of the summer and there’s no way we would’ve left it like this. Clothes I gave Derrick are scattered around the house. All kinds of junk are scattered across the living room floor as we step inside, and the sight alone makes my eyes sting.
I hate the fact that he’s been here. That he’s touched things with his dirty, filthy hands.
“Elijah’s going to know we’re here. He’ll come for me.” I stammer.
Derrick laughs behind me. “Yeah, I’m counting on it.”
My eyes dart to two red gasoline canisters in the corner of the room. My pulse immediately hammers into my ears.
“What—” I breathe.
“When he comes, which I hope he will. He’ll be returning to nothing but an ash pile.”
I feel my knees start to buckle. Everything. All the memories we’ve made in this house. Memories with Jude. He wants to burn it down just like he did to the restaurant?
My eyes blur as I look at him. “Why?” Is the only thing I can squeeze out of my throat.
This is worse than any time he’s ever beat me. Any time he’s evertouchedme. He’s threatening to take away the one place I’ve ever felt safe. The one place I learned what love felt like.Reallove.
“You can’t.” I cry out, feeling the tears pour over.
His face twists in pure contempt as he jabs a finger in my direction. “That.Thatright there is why. You need to realize there’s nothing left for you here. You don’t have anything. You have nothing to return to. No Elijah. No home.Nothing.”
I shake my head, stepping away from him. “No.”
“Tobias.” Derrick warns, raising his gun.
I pinch my eyes shut, shaking my head. “No!” I yell out.
