“Sweet Aubrey.” He reaches out, caressing my cheek and I recoil at his touch. “Don’t you see that none of it matters? You’re getting what you deserve for shacking up and letting this guy fuck my wife. And I… I get my life back. I’ll take Lily and get to live my new life with my daughter and without you holding me back.”
“You were dead. I didn’t just shack up while being your wife, you were dead.”
“For less than six months, Aubrey! You fucked him less than six months after your husband’s death. I always knew you were a fucking slut, guess I should have known what I was getting when you fell so easily into my bed. And all under my dear aunt and uncle’s urging. Maybe I should pay them a visit too.” He taps his chin with his long, dirt filled fingernail.
“No.” I practically shout for the small space.
“Oh, feeling a little protective are we?” He laughs. “They always did think you’d save me.”
“They love you.”
“No, no. They love you much more than they ever loved me. I was always just the fuck up nephew they got saddled with.”
I suck in a deep breath before responding, trying to center myself. “That’s not true and you know it. You made that your personality. You masked it well enough to lure me in, but thenyou turned into your true self. And you know what? When you died, I was relieved. I could leave you behind and not have to worry about my daughter being alone with you.”
“Seems that dream is over for you. It’s time for me to get what I want.”
“You don’t want her. You never did.”
A smile splits his lips, showing the yellowed, rotting teeth. “You’re right. I don’t. But I do want to see you suffer, and taking our girl will ensure that you spend every day looking for her, missing her, and wondering what I’m doing with her. Or who has her.”
“You’re vile. When did you turn into this man? When did you start to hate us?” My stomach rolls at the thought of my poor girl suffering.
The will to fight is stronger now than it was just a few moments ago. I need to figure out how to tell Cooper.
“The moment you told me you were pregnant.” He spits.
“Why didn’t you just let us go? Why all these dramatics? We would have happily left if you just let me take Lily. All you had to do was sign over your rights and you could have lived the life you wanted.” I slowly reach out to get my phone without getting his attention. Thank God I paid for the Wi-Fi package on the plane.
“You think Aggie and Tommy would have let me do that? You think they weren’t up my ass to make you an honest woman? Now look at how that worked out. I wonder if they’re pushing Cooper to do the same, if he resents you as much as I do.”
Keeping my phone down by my leg, I pull up the message to Cooper.
Me:It’s J
I hit send when he looks my way. If he finds me texting who knows what he’ll do and if I can give them a heads up, I will.
“Fine. I’ll do what you want, but you have to promise me that you’ll leave the Keatons and Aggie and Tommy alone. Don’t drag them into this.” I narrow my eyes, the anger I feel shooting out from them.
“That was too easy.” His brows furrow as he takes my face in.
“Not really. I want you to promise me one more thing.”
“Of course you do. What is your demand now?”
“I want you to give Lily to Aggie and Tommy. I want you to get what you’re owed, and then give her to them. I’ll disappear. I won’t go home to them, I promise.” Under my leg I cross my fingers and then my toes. I have no intention of keeping that promise.
“Nope. Not happening. Did you miss where I want you to suffer?” He laughs. “Could you be any more dense?”
“Think about your daughter for once in your life. She’s innocent. She didn’t ask for any of this shit.”Neither did I.
“Tell ya what, you go quietly, you do what I say, I’llthinkabout it.” He turns from me once more, going back to whatever he put on the screen.
Me:Jack.
Cooper:Jack? He’s dead, how is he connected?
Me:Alive. Trust m
