Mom never mentioned dear old dad in the presence of Iris and June. She liked being a part of the single moms crew even though that was just a lie. Gregory was a “sometimes dad.” He visited about two to three times a year. Each time, he pretended to be interested in having a son. As I got older, I realized he wasmostly coming to bone my mom because she let him. She was a sucker for Gregory Strauss.
Once I graduated high school I did some digging. He was a police officer, with a family—the whole nine yards, a wife, a kid and a dog, living comfortably in Florida. He couldn’t spend time with us because he had to take care of his real family. I started blackmailing him once I found out.
His family wasn’t all I found out about. He was a dirty cop. He lied, cheated and stole just like the criminals he swore to catch. It was too easy.
I wasn't counting on the genuine guilt he felt either. Gregory revealed that he always wanted a son but had been shafted with a daughter. I played on his feelings and he always came through for me. Two years ago he helped me avoid prison, and had been cleaning up my mess ever since.
Once I moved to Florida, his wife eventually found out. She left him, and his daughter chose a side. I was all he had left—he was a man with nothing left to lose.
“Father?” She repeats as I see the wheels turning in her head.
“My son told me about you, even asked me to look for you. It was quite the coincidence that you just happened to run away to my new town. Imagine my surprise when Jonathan told me your real name.”
I didn’t need an audience for what I was about to do. He probably thought he could stop me from going too far but how far was too far? I had never learned. I didn’t care.
“Old man, why don’t you go back to town. I wouldn’t want anything looking out of the ordinary. Pick up some things for me while you’re there. I’ll text you a list.” I say in a syrupy tone.
He nods his head once and pats me on the back as he makes his way towards the door.
As soon as the barn door closes I return my attention to Evelyn.
This time will be different. I don’t intend to just decorate her flesh with more scars. I plan to break her mentally, then physically.
“Are you ready to have some fun Evvie? It’s been a while.”
Chapter 39
Evelyn
Everything was clearer now. I stared at the sheriff’s retreating form as the pieces of information clicked together in my mind.
His pomade had made my stomach turn because the smell reminded me of Charles.
As I stared into the eyes of the devil, I took note of the similarities I missed. The dirty blond hair, the angular shape of his jaw line, and the downturned shape of their eyes. The sheriff was a much older, heavier version of Charles, but the resemblance was still there.
The smile he wore made my blood run cold. The last time I saw him, his face had been filled with pain. It always haunted me the way he looked like it both pained and excited him to inflict harm on us. One moment, I could tell he was enjoying himself, and the next I could see that his heart was broken.
At the time, I had held on to that emotion, hoping to appeal to it, as I begged him to stop and put an end to this madness, but it hadn’t worked.
I knew it wouldn’t work now either.
Words failed me as I sat paralyzed with fear.
He circled me, coming to stand in front of me before lifting my chin and turning my face from side to side.
“This color doesn’t suit you.”
Crouching down to meet my eyes, he gives me another dazzling smile.
His hair is longer now, touching the back of his neck in waves. Stubble decorated his jaw, and the smell of cigarettes clung to his breath and clothing.
Nuzzling my face, he whispered, “I want to show you something.”
Nothing could’ve prepared me for the moment he held his phone up to my face and pressed play.
The video began to play, and as much as I wanted to look away, I couldn’t. It was two years ago that day. My baby sister was battered and bruised.
“We could’ve been great together, Cellie. You knew I had feelings for you and insisted on embarrassing me time and time again by whoring yourself out to those other men,” he spat.
