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The awful truth is that I crave his touch. The horrible reality is that I don’t think about what he did as much as I used to. Maybe it’s because I’m blocking the memory of the night he killed my dad from my mind. Maybe it’s because I’m trying not to think about it. The undeniable fact is that my body is still drawn to his. When he wraps his arms around me, it’s as if I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It feels like home. That’s my worst punishment, my insufferable torture, because the safety I feel when he holds me is false.
“What a fucking mess,” he says, turning around. His voice hardens with resolve. “I’ll deal with it.”
“How?”
“There’s no need to worry yourself about the logistics. It’s not your problem.”
I go closer. “Sophie doesn’t want to go back to her great-grandfather. I don’t know him, but from what I’ve heard and seen, he’s incapable of taking care of them.”
“You’re right.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “All he cares about are his fucking chickens and his goats.”
“What about their parents? Sophie only told me they’re gone.”
Concern simmers in his eyes. “I tried to locate them, but I came up empty-handed. They’ve never been around much from what I understood, but shortly before I moved the old man and the kids here, they simply vanished. I have no idea if they just decided to pack up and leave or if they’re dead. I contacted every hospital and morgue in the country. I’ve got private investigators on the case. There’s no sign of them.”
“Where does that leave the kids?”
“With me,” he says, his smile flat.
“What do you mean?”
“They’ll have to move into the old house where I can keep an eye on them.”
My stomach clenches with worry. “How’s that going to work? Aren’t you always busy and often traveling?”
He utters a laugh. “I’ll have to hire a ton of tutors, not to mention guards to keep them in line.”
“You heard what Sophie said. You scared her. I’m not sure she’ll want to go with you. She thought you were angry with them.”
Impatience enters his tone. “Well, she doesn’t have a choice, does she?”
“Please don’t be hard on her. You’ll only push her away.”
“Are you telling me how to manage my own family?”
“I’m only trying to help.”
“Don’t.”
I blow out a sigh. “What about the legal red tape?”
“In the absence of the parents, the old man has guardianship.” He sneers. “If I pay him enough, he’ll sign it over to me.”
“When are you going to tell her?”
“Now,” he says, walking to the door.
“Hold on.” I wrap my fingers around his forearm. “Why don’t you let her stay with me? You saw for yourself. She’s at ease here.”
He works his jaw. “I already told you, it’s not your problem.” Taking my hand, he removes it from his arm before marching to the door.
“Think about it,” I say, going after him. “Don’t make this worse. She’s frightened enough as it is.”
He walks down the stairs with determined steps and stops in front of the sofa. Taking the remote, he switches off the television.
Sophie stills. Her small body goes rigid as she looks up at him.
“Sophie,” he says in a gentle voice. “It’s dangerous out there for a small girl alone. You’re coming back with me to live in my house.”
