There it is.
The utter disdain in his voice makes it sound like working in an office is a far greater offence than killing people.
‘It’s good cover. It gives me alibis and money for rent.’
Eliza raises a perfect brow. ‘You file paperwork for a man who’s scared of eye contact, Maggie. Let’s not oversell it. You’d make more fulfilling one contract than working in that office for a year.’
Dad’s gaze hasn’t shifted from me.
‘You don’t need an office job,’ he says.
‘I’ll get there. I’m trying. I just need some time.’ I hate how tiny I sound.
‘Time is not what our clients are paying for, and one of these days your sister won’t be there to have your back.’
I clench my fist, letting my nails bite into my palms.
‘Your failure to step up is going to cost you your life one of these days.’
The urge to scream at him that maybe I shouldn’t be put on contracts then fills me, and I shove the red-hot injustice deep down. Getting a bollocking for failing to do the thing I have zero desire to do always stings.
‘I know,’ I whisper.
‘Do you?’ he asks. Dad leans forward, those eyes darkening in a way that gives me chills. I’m very thankful that I’ve never seen his truly murderous side.
‘Your mother hesitated,’ he says, in a voice that could cut the hardest of people to the quick. And I’m not a hard person. ‘Just once.’
My throat prickles as I swallow down emotion while Eliza drops her eyes to the right.
‘And we buried her for it.’
The truth is the final twist of the blade, maximum damage with only six words.
‘I’m not Mum.’
‘No,’ he agrees. ‘You’re not.’
He studies me for an awkward moment before sighing and leaning back in his chair, the usual sign that his taste for giving a bollicking is waning.
Thank goodness.
‘You’ll take another contract,’ he continues. ‘After the wedding.’
‘Dad—’
‘And this time you’ll finish it. Or we revisit other arrangements,’ he adds.
Eddie.The insane ex who wants a connection to my family more than anything.
I swallow the hard lump in my throat. ‘Understood.’
‘Good.’
And with a fumble of his thumb, the call ends.
Eliza’s square lingers a little longer. ‘Sorry, Sis, you know I have to give him the full rundown.’
‘I know,’ I sigh.
