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There was only so much they could do against someone like him. And if he and Neil were working with each other, they had two devious minds to put together. They would come up with something. The men in that cult were quick to take what they believed belonged to them.
Including her sister.
Right now, Bella was in the family room with Grayson and the kids. Laughter rang out, almost making it sound like nothing was wrong.
It had been a few hours since they fled the restaurant. She’d instructed her employees not to tell anyone where she was. Not that it mattered. Her parents knew where she lived. They’d been there numerous times when she’d been married to Boone.
A chill ran down her spine at the thought.
Maybe she should’ve sold the house and moved when she and Grayson married. Too late now. She was harboring her sister like a fugitive, and their father was determined to take her back.
She glanced across the street. Maybe it was time to send Bella to stay with Ariana and Damon. They’d offered and even had a room already set up for her.
Rita moved to a different window and glanced outside. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. Then again, if her father had managed to sneak in, he wouldn’t brazenly march up to the front door.
Or would he?
Her phone buzzed again. She didn’t have to look at the screen to know who it was. Her parents hadn’t let up, and they were getting more insistent the longer Rita held out from responding.
It buzzed again, then yet again.
She was ready to bury it in the backyard, but she glanced at the screen.
A flood of new texts from both of them and unknown number. Must be Neil. If not him, then someone else from their cult.
The phone rang.
Now she wanted to stomp on it until it was completely destroyed. But then she’d just be without a phone.
Maybe if she answered and sounded chill, they might leave her alone.
That was laughable. But it might be her only option, short of blocking all the numbers. That wasn’t a bad idea, except she wanted to know what they were saying.
Rita accepted the call and plastered on a smile. Something she’d learned as a business owner was that a smile could be heard through the tone of voice over the phone. “Hello?”
“Why have you been avoiding my calls?” Her father’s voice boomed over the speaker.
“I’m busy, as you should know. I run a thriving business, and I’m almost in my third trimester. You’re too impatient.”
“Where is Bella?” He was so loud, she had to hold the phone away from her ear.
“Did you lose her?”
“She’s with you. I know it!”
“Take a chill pill. She’s an adult. If she went somewhere, I’m sure she had a good reason.”
“Adult? She is undermyauthority until the day she marries! And even then, I still have a say in her decisions.”
Rita rolled her eyes so hard they practically landed across the street. “If she doesn’t want to be at home, maybe there’s a reason. Has something changed recently?”
“Where. Is. She?”
“Maybe if you weren’t so controlling, your kids wouldn’t be so eager to get away. Did you ever think of that?”
“You can’t speak to me like that!”
“I just did.” Rita smiled — genuinely, this time. It felt so good to speak her mind to him after years of fearful silence.
