“It’s dangerous,” he says.
“Everything that’s been going on has been dangerous. This wouldn’t be any different except that we choose the place and the time and control the scenario.”
“Both of us?” he asks. “Not you alone. Because I won’t agree to that.”
“Both of us. He’s been attacking your warehouses. So, both of us makes more sense. You are involved in this. Besides, you will be able to look him in the eye and know if he’s lying about things or not.”
Simon nods. “Ok… okay… I think… This might just work,” he says carefully.
“Do you have your father’s number?” he asks, looking at me.
“I do. Should I be the one to call him?”
“Yes, it would be more of a lure to him to hear your voice. let me just research a good location. Then you can call, and we can set it up for tomorrow. We can get it over with as soon as possible.”
“The sooner the better,” I nod in agreement. Already, my heart is racing at the idea of seeing him again. My father. My captor. The man I grew to loathe over the last five years. The man who wants to steal my children from me. My hands begin to shake a little, and I shove the thoughts away.
I can do this. I can face him. I’ve changed since he last saw me. Iamstronger.
Except I don’t feel stronger at all. He still terrifies me.
“Selene?” Simon calls my name.
“Mm?” I murmur.
“Are you okay? Your face has gone pale,” he says, standing up to come around the desk to touch my cheek.
“I’m fine, I’m just thinking.”
He touches his finger beneath my chin and lifts my face towards his.
“If you don’t want to do this, I completely understand.”
“No, no, Idefinitelywant to do this. I think Ineedto do this. It’s just… the idea of seeing him again… It’s terrifying.”
He sighs, pressing his lips together as he studies my face.
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” he says suddenly as he steps away.
I grab his wrist and pull him back.
“It’s a good idea. You know it is. And I can do this. You’ll be right at my side anyway. I’ll be safe with you.”
He swallows hard and wraps his hands around my face.
“Selene, if you feel uncomfortable or uneasy at any moment, you just say it’s over, and it’s over. We leave. No questions. And that goes the other way too. If I sense danger and I call it, we leave. You don’t hesitate to obey me.”
I nod. “Agreed. Both ways.”
He smiles at me, and I feel hope building in my chest. We can do this. We can bring this whole situation to an end and, hopefully… just maybe… We can do it without anyone getting hurt.
But I meant what I said to him. If my father continues to threaten my children… I can’t let them get dragged back there into his prison. They had no life. They had no laughter. Being out here in the real world with Simon—it hasn’t all been easy—but they have lived more in these months than they ever lived under my father’s controlling rules.
They can’t go back.
I won’t let it happen.
And if my father needs to die for them to be free… then so be it.
