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"Are you kidding me?" Adali blinks at me like I'm stupid, then rolls her eyes.
“No, but I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
My lips thin. “I shouldn’t say anything.”
“I’m not going to tell him. He’s the last person I want to talk to or see.”
I think we're going to be friends, that is if her father allows her to stay in our house. If he finds out my dad's health is declining, he may just take Adali and force her to go home.
Everything must run smoothly for Eric Gale. Dad can’t mess up Gale’s business. I’ve changed passwords and cut Dad out of the systems, but I need to make sure he can’t find a way back in. If he somehow logs on, he might just destroy all the work I’ve put into fixing his mess.
ChapterSeven
Adali
I’ve never been so scared in all my life, and Niallan is so calm it’s frightening. When he shot those men, I thought I was going to die.
Now we’re at the doctor’s office with his father like nothing happened. I don’t want to marry an old man, but this man won’t live forever. He seems like he’s in a fast decline.
“Would you like something to drink?” Niallan asks.
His brown eyes hold mine for a long moment as he waits for me to answer. The compassion he shows me is getting to me. This is the most caring anyone has shown in a long while.
“Water.”
“You probably need something to eat. How about a snack?”
I shrug, unsure if I could stomach anything, but he's probably right about me needing food. I feel off like there's something awful going on in my body. The stress of the last few years has eaten away at me. It’s hard to think about how much freedom I’ve lost.
Niallan hands me a bottle of water and a package of cookies. No one has given me cookies in ages. I open the package and take a bite, sighing as I hold the deliciously sweet treat on my tongue.
“Is everything okay?”
Again, I'm caught by the compassion in his eyes. He makes me feel good things. At least I think these are good feelings. I'm not really sure. It's been a while since I've felt anything good.
“I haven’t been allowed a cookie in over a year, maybe two years.”
Niallan narrows his gaze. “Why?”
Laughter bubbles up. “You’re joking, right?”
He shakes his head, staring at me like I’ve lost it. Maybe I have lost it. It’s not normal to be controlled as much as I’ve been.
“I’m not kidding. Why weren’t you allowed to eat a cookie?”
He catches my eye roll and gives me a deadpan look. I huff out a breath and shake my head.
“Listen, it’s just how it is. My only value is looking perfect, at least that’s what my parents tell me.”
Anger flashes over his face, but he schools his features quickly, cutting off my glimpse into who he really is. He obviously cares about his father. He's been nice to me, but I don't know if I can trust him. Eric Gale is a hard man to please. Just one misstep, and Niallan and his father will be gone. And if they're gone, any chance of getting out of my father's house is gone, too.
The door opens before I can ask him any questions. His father walks out and joins us. The look on his face is confused.
“Mr. Foster—Neo, can I speak to you in private?” the doctor asks.
Niallan turns to me and flashes a smile. “Can you look after him?”
“Sure.” I don’t know exactly what I’ll do to keep the old man here, but I’ll think of something.
