Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
With all that’s been going on lately, I honestly can’t remember.
“Probably. The guy comes like clockwork. I haven’t noticed, actually.”
Dad turns from the window. “Hmm.”
Whenever Dad takes that tone, it means someone is about to get destroyed. At the very least, a seriously vicious verbal lashing. Dad may never have spanked us, but he does enjoy figuratively whipping everyone who wrongs us Parks. Even if the wrong is skipping a pool cleaning week.
“The girls can’t even swim until we get this straightened out,” Dad grumbles. “Unbelievable.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I’ll clean them until you find someone new.”
“Jamie’s gone over to your house with Gemma. They wanted to cheer her up after what happened this morning and to get her out of the house. Start with your pool.”
I nod, leaving my dad and brother alone. I’m barely out Dempsey’s door before Dad starts bitching him out about something. Of all Dad’s children, Dempsey acts out the worst, therefore gets griped out the most.
Spencer still isn’t home when I get back. Still at the lodge “working.” Whatever the fuck that means. He’ll be explaining that shit later when he gets home.
Laughter can be heard outside. I stride over to the back door and peer out. Jamie, Gemma, Willa, and Aubrey are all outside, making themselves comfortable on the poolside lounge chairs. My focus homes in on Aubrey in her tiny orange bikini. Fuck, she looks hot. Her damp, blond hair is piled up high on her head and her sunglasses are oversized. The triangles over her breasts barely cover her nipples, revealing the roundness of her firm, young tits. Even her bellybutton ring looks lickable. Thank God it’s only women out there because a man, no matter who it is, wouldn’t be able to keep their eyes off her beautiful body. I know I sure as hell can’t.
Bugs and debris coat the top of the pool, and it looks like it might be trying to turn green soon. I’ll change into my own swimsuit so I can clean the pool as I promised my father and sneak a few peeks at my sexy girl in the process. The trouble will be hiding my fucking boner from my stepmother, sister, and my brother’s woman.
I pass by my office and the lights are out. Of course Jude would bail the second I left. He’s not diagnosed with anything yet, but I’m certain a therapist would have a field day uncovering all the psychological conditions he’s developed over the years because of his trauma. He probably ran his ass all the way home and locked himself away in a dark room, having “peopled” enough for one day.
On the way to my room, I stop in front of Spencer’s room. As per usual, it’s immaculate. I don’t think he’s ever left his bed unmade. Ever. It pains me to know he’s working with Theo and didn’t even bother to tell me. What else hasn’t he told me? I’d always thought I’d done right by my son, parenting him the best I could, but I’ve fucked it all up since Aubrey returned. I’m not a good dad. If I think Jude has issues, Spencer is going to be worse by the time I’m done with him.
Fuck.
I bounce back between being angry at my son and feeling sorry for him. It’s not right. And yet, I don’t know how to undo any of this. There’s no fucking way I can give up Aubrey. Not now, not ever. My son, so much like me, won’t give her up either. Nothing about our situation will improve or ever be okay. It’ll keep going deeper and deeper into this twisted sinkhole until we lose ourselves completely to the darkness. After that, I don’t know what life will look like.
I’m just pulling my swim trunks on when I hear a scream. It’s not unusual to hear Gemma yelling at Dempsey for throwing her in the pool. But this scream is different. It’s not hers. It’s Willa.
I tie the drawstrings as I start for the bedroom door, a swell of unease rising up in me. Gemma’s scream follows Willa’s—not a pissed scream at being dunked in dirty pool water, but straight terror. Fear.
Goddammit!
I take off running through the halls and am making it through the kitchen when I hear another scream. This one, Jamie. She’s screaming Dad’s name.
Snakes?
I anticipate Aubrey’s scream, but there’s silence where she’s concerned. Dread claws at my throat and I choke for air as I yank the back door open. My eyes land on her pool lounger. Empty. Fuck. I dart my eyes to Jamie, Gemma, and then Willa.
They’re all panicked and sobbing.
What the fuck?
“Where’s Aubrey?” I demand, voice hoarse with fear.
“S-She’s gone,” Jamie stammers, eyes wild, pointing toward the house. “He just came out of n-nowhere.” She hugs her middle and tears well in her eyes. “He had a gun!”