Page 96 of The Devil’s Lair

She leads us into the living room and motions for us to sit. “Let me get Harrison from his shed.” She rolls her eyes. “I swear he’d sleep out there if I let him. He’s going to be thrilled to see you.”

Once she leaves the room, I turn to Rebecca. “I’m not sure I can do this. What if I’m wrong? Memories can be wrong all the time, especially with kids. She seems… normal.”

“Memories can be wrong,” Rebecca says. “But your reaction came from deep trauma, Tobias.”

“You believe me, don’t you?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. No doubts.

I squeeze her hand. “Not sure what I’d do without you.”

She rests her head on my shoulder. “Same.”

The back door slams, and Ava returns with her husband in tow. His face is craggy, his hair completely white, his expression is as friendly and open as hers.

“Tobias De Vil as I live and breathe. What a wonderful surprise.”

“He didn’t believe me when I said you were here,” Ava says.

I offer up a tight smile. “Believe it.”

Harrison drops into a chair while Ava takes one by the window. “What brings you to our humble home?”

I glance at him, then turn to her. My nerves vanish, rage churning beneath my skin, lethal and menacing. “Something happened to me when I was in your care, and I think you know what that was.”

She blinks and sits up straighter. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t play games. I know what you did to me. I remember everything.”

Ava pales, clutching again at that string of pearls. Her mouth opens and closes. Nothing comes out.

“What are you accusing us of, lad?” Harrison snaps. “You want to be careful chucking around accusations without proof.”

It’s the reaction of a man who knows exactly what I’m talking about but thinks he can go on the offense and gaslight me into thinking I’m the problem. Rebecca leans closer, her body a support structure, propping me up, encouraging me to keep going.

“You want me to say it out loud? Fine. I’m accusing you of sexual abuse.”

Harrison launches to his feet and points at the door. “Get out.”

“No.” Courage builds within me, my spine straightening. “You watched. You were the director of some sick fantasy.”

Ava recovers with a fake laugh. I know a fake a mile off because I’m a fucking expert, and that was award winning. “Tobias, your mind is playing tricks on you. You were terribly traumatized by your mother’s and sister’s deaths. You’re not remembering correctly.”

“I remember perfectly well. Your reactions tell me all I need to know. Your crimes have caught up to you, and now I’ll make sure you pay for what you did to me, along with anyone else who was a victim of your sick minds.”

Harrison huffs a laugh. “Without evidence, you have nothing. You De Vils think you’re all powerful, but the police still need hard evidence to bring charges. It’s your word against ours.”

It’s as close to an admission as I’m likely to get, and it’s enough. I stand and reach out to Rebecca. “I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase ‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat.’ Watch your back. I’m coming for you.”

I walk outside and slam the door. On shaky legs, I make it to the car and slump against the seat.

“I’m so proud of you.” Rebecca wraps her arms around me and squeezes tightly. “What are you going to do? Go to the police?”

I shake my head. “I don’t want my name and my family’s name dragged into this.”

Her eyebrows dip. “So, they get away with it?”

“Fuck, no. Abusers never have one victim. I’m going to find the others. Those who want to press charges will have my full financial backing to hire the best lawyers. Those who prefer anonymity will have the protection of my family to ensure their names are kept out of it, too, and funding for therapy if that’s what they choose. Time’s up for the Southalls.”