Because yet again, Dread has proven there’s nothing he cares about more than revenge. Against me and against my father.
Even if he hates me less, he doesn’t hate Lionel less, and he will choose that hatred first, even if it’s at the expense of my life. It’s incredibly fucking stupid to believe differently. Otherwise, he wouldn’t beinvitingLionel to come to Colorado. He wouldn’t be dangling me in front of a serial killer’s face, the proverbial red flag taunting the bull.
Now that Lionel is free, I’m nothing more than bait.
God, I’m so fuckingstupid.
“I see,” Lionel responds quietly, giving nothing away.
But I know better. He’s boiling inside, and if the chance of him showing up was nothing more than a seed, Dread just planted it deep into the dirt, where it’ll fester and grow.
“Then I presume Charlotte has told you all about her delusions. She’s always had quite the imagination. It seems you two are similar in that regard.”
Dread flicks a resentful glance my way, a cold reminder I haven’t told him a single thing about my ‘delusions.’
Sweat breaks out on the back of my neck. It would be so easy for him to ask Lionel what he’s referring to, and though I don’t know if Lionel would tell him, it’s also entirely possible he would once he realizes I’ve been keeping secrets.
Regardless, this entire situation has vomit kissing the back of my throat, and I want out of here and away from these two psychotic men.
You know what—they deserve each other, actually.
Fuck them both.
I stomp toward Dread and snatch the phone out of his hand, spearing him with a vicious glare. His upper lip curls, and just like that, any trace of peace between us vanishes. Once more, we’re left with nothing but contempt for one another.
“Stay away, Lionel. I’m serious,” I bite through gritted teeth. “You got everything you could ever want and are a free man now. Don’t be stupid and jeopardize that for someone who wants nothing to do with you.”
There’s a hum beneath my skin, and the sound of a thousand bees fills my head. I need this man off my goddamn phone and Dread far away from me.
“I don’t haveyou, Angel, and that’s all I could ever want.”
The phone clicks, leaving me on an ominous note that has the vomit rising to my uvula.
Instantly, I’m running into the half bath and bending over the toilet just as I lose my meager dinner from last night. I’ve barely eaten anything since they set Lionel free, so there’s nothing more to cough up other than bile.
I dry heave for several minutes while hot tears track down my cheeks. Tremors rack my entire body, and by the time I straighten, wipe my mouth with a square of toilet paper, and flush, I’m on the verge of collapsing.
I turn toward the sink, stopping short when I see Dread leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, an indifferent look on his face.
Ignoring him, I grab my toothbrush from the holder right beside his. Something about that disturbs me greatly right now.
While I concentrate on the porcelain sink as I scrub my teeth and tongue, he watches me closely, his stare burning into the side of my head.
When I’m finished, I wipe my mouth and face him with a sigh.
“If you wanted me dead, you could’ve just taken me back to the pool and done it yourself,” I tell him, my voice raw and hoarse.
Dread arches his scarred brow, and it’s so reminiscent of the look he’d give me when there was nothing more than hatred between us, it almost hurts.
“That didn’t sound like a man who wants you dead,” he says tonelessly.
Vitriol builds in my throat just as quickly as the bile, and right now, I’m not so sure which I’m going to spew at him first.
Just as I open my mouth, he cuts in, “Let me guess. I don’t know what I’m talking about.” His tone is dry yet cynical. When I don’t respond immediately, he chuckles humorlessly.
“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I hiss. “I don’t owe youanything, Dread. I’m not the one who took your mother from you, so why can’t you leave me out of this?”
His eyes are frosted glass as he stares at me, sending a shiver down my spine, as if I’ve put my hand against the icy surface.
