22. Izzy

Chapter 22

Izzy

“ H ow?” Shock was the predominant feeling that I found as my brain muddled, followed shortly by disbelief.

“How indeed?” the man hummed, stepping back to survey me. He brought a finger to his lips.

He looked like a typical late 40s working class man. There was nothing about him that screamed violent . Except Yara had said it was her dad and I had met her parents. Her adoptive parents that is. But this man? Now that I knew they were related, I could fucking see it. In their eyes, the shape of his face. I hadn’t noticed before, because the similarities were subtle, but they were there.

But the tone that Yara had?

It was terror that this man induced. Her father .

It made my protective instincts latch on two-fold. This wasn’t a good man; I had learned that much from Oliver.

What had he done to my best friend?

“I needed a family to settle in this town. To go unnoticed.”

He swooped his hand towards me, and I wanted to flinch back, but I couldn’t, I was trapped in this chair. I swallowed down my terror as it threatened to choke me.

“Why did I want to settle here? To keep an eye on my dear old daughter of course. Make sure she didn’t forget my trainings, my teachings. She is my flesh and blood; therefore I have a duty to watch over her.”

My thoughts were racing a mile a minute. My emotions were not keeping up as this horror played out before me.

Yara had never met my step-dad. She never came over to my house as he didn’t permit guests. He hadn’t really been around that much to begin with. I had probably seen him a grand total of 10 times throughout his and my mom’s marriage. But I chalked that up to his job.

Except I had never really known his job, never cared to.

“But Hallie? Is she Yara’s—” I don’t know why that’s where I landed, but I wanted to grasp onto something that made sense.

“No, that bitch is a falsified adoption. I needed a good cover, easier to lure a wife in with a daughter of my own. Though I don’t think your mother would have cared either way.” He pitched forward his finger, pinching my chin painfully. “I told her to teach you better. To whip you into shape. But you always were a cow. A disgrace. I was almost at the point of discarding you, but then you left town, saving me the time.” He jerked back suddenly, slapping me across the face.

My cheek stung and the impact pushed my skin into my teeth. Copper filled my mouth, but I stared at him unblinkingly.

Hallie. Adopted?

My own mother… After all the vitriol she had spit my way over the years. It wasn’t even that surprising to hear she had married a literal monster.

Except if they both hated me so much, why was I even here? What could they possible want from me?

My mind was a fuzzy mess.

I wanted to scream, to rage, and spew every curse I had ever known, but it wasn’t only my life at stake. Yara was here too. I had to think of her. If we could just hold on a bit longer…

Emilio, Maddox, and Oliver would be here soon. I had no doubt about that. I just needed to keep my cool .

Because Yara? She was scared.

She had been there for me for so many years. Did we keep secrets from each other? Yes. But I trusted her with my life and in this moment I would be strong enough for the both of us.

Even if every nerve in my body was willing me to scream, to melt into a puddle of anxiety.

I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.

I needed to be strong for the both of us.

“But even a cow can be a whore can’t they? Sebastian York took a fancy to you, didn’t he? And then he got killed. But no matter. Today we can all exact the revenge we deserve.”

My step-father, correction–Yara’s dad, correction–Steve, correction—

Fuck, the stranger, Stephen , stepped back from me. During his entire spiel he had never raised his voice, it had been an eerie monotone. And even now, he wasn’t frowning, instead he had the remnants of a smile in place.

It was disconcerting, but I pushed it along with my uneasiness to the bottom of my pile of concerns.

“Bring him in.” Stephen didn’t turn, his eyes watching my face intently. “It’s time for your reunion.”