“Give me a reason to have your worthless ass thrown back in jail. You can reunite with your old pal Curt Naylor after all these years.”
I bristle at the sound of that name.
“You fucking bastard,” I spit.
“You kiss your mother with that mouth?”
“Too busy kissing your daughter to care. Shelovesmy filthy mouth,” I taunt.
His face scrunches. “You’re disgusting.”
I grin. “It’s funny, that’s exactly what she said to me once.”
Reluctantly, I pull back, removing my arm from across his neck. He pushes off the wall, straightens his tie and his jacket.He tries to look the part in his five-hundred-dollar suits and his expensive haircuts but you can’t polish a turd.
He makes for the front door, the bell dinging above his head. He stops and turns to look back at me. “Stay away from my daughter. This is your first and only warning.”
I smirk. “I could, but I can’t guarantee she’ll stay away from me.”
“Heard on the grapevine that Naylor’s up for parole soon.How about that…?” I don’t miss the smirk on his face as he tugs open the door, striding out like his news didn’t just drop an atom bomb on my life.
22
“Kaia, are you almost ready? Our guests have arrived,” my father calls from downstairs.
“Coming!” I shout back, taking one final look at myself in the mirror, smoothing my palms over my midnight blue gown that hugs my curves perfectly. My makeup is subtle and my long chestnut hair falls in loose curls down my back, styled half up and half down.
Tonight is the town’s annual winter ball, a night I’ve been dreading. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid that last few, using school or college commitments as an excuse as to why I couldn’t go, but this year I’m not so fortunate and I’m goingto have to spend the entire evening pretending to be the perfect daughter with the perfect parents and I can’t think of anything worse.
I make my way downstairs, careful not to trip and break my neck in these heels. But then again, that would give me the perfect excuse to get out of going to this stupid thing.
I can hear my father talking to these mystery guests who I’m yet to meet as I come down the stairs. He wouldn’t tell me who they are when I asked, not that I’m even remotely interested, they’re probably someone else my father has tucked safely in his back pocket, or someone he’s trying to impress. It’s usually a toss up between the two.
I turn the corner into the living room to find two men facing away from me, talking to my parents, both dressed in black suits, both easily six feet in height.
“Ah, here she is now,” my father says, his eyes meeting mine over one of the men’s shoulders.
“You look beautiful, sweetie,” my mother adds with a kind smile.
Both men turn to face me and as soon as I lock eyes with the one on the left, my knees almost buckle, the entire world shifting on its axis.
“No.” The words are barely a whisper on my lips, only loud enough for me to hear.
This isn’t happening. Itcan’t.
“Kaia, you remember Daniel?” my father asks but my eyes remain fixed on the man in front of me, a face I’ve been trying so hard to rid from my mind.
“It’s so good to see you, Kai Kai.” Every muscle in my body tenses as he closes the space between us and presses a kiss to my cheek, his hands moving down my upper arms almosttenderly, but there’s nothing tender about him, I learned that first-hand. “I’ve missed you,” he whispers, his mouth lingering on my skin, and a shiver snakes down my spine.
He pulls back, shooting me a grin anyone could mistake as kind and genuine, and honestly, Daniel always had a nice smile, it’s one of the things that drew me to him when we first met, only now I know better. Because it’s fake. All I see in front of me is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the devil disguised as an angel, because the look in his eyes is pure evil.
The older man steps into my periphery, stealing my attention as he moves to stand beside Daniel. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Kaia, I’m Harrison, Daniel’s father.” He offers me his hand and I take it.
“Nice to meet you,” I reply, forcing a smile.
There’s no doubt they’re father and son, both sharing the same hazel eyes and bone structure. Looking at his father is like looking at Daniel in thirty years time and I shiver at the thought.
“Kaia, why don’t you show Daniel around? We have some time before we have to leave,” my father suggests and my stomach sinks, the thought of being alone with him sends a wave of dread through my body.
