“No, you won’t!” I scream, throat raw with the force.
“Better be ready. Get your asshole ready too, because I swear tofuck, Ashlyn”—at the rage in his voice, my phone trembles in my hand—“you got meall kindsof pissed off now… How could you eventhinkfor a moment that I’d do this for revenge? I love you! I built you a house! I… I did it without even knowing you’d ever be mine, but I had to do it because I’m obsessed with you.”
I gasp in outrage. “How could I think that? Because youtold meyou’d destroy his casino.”
He’s silent for so long, my rage dissipates only mildly by the time he responds.
“’Kay.”
“’Kay,” I mimic.
And with that, I lower the phone to end the call.
Before I do, he yells, “I’m coming for you!”
forty-two
The colonial house is dark,its decay a slow, forty-year blight. A sagging gutter hangs like a broken jaw over an upstairs window.
A solitary, defiant light casts a yellow glow through a window to the backyard. No fence. Should be smooth sailing, except?—
ExceptHailey Twinstonis sitting on the sofa near her dad. Watching a movie.
I never really looked into her, but does she not have a mom? Should be the two of them in the house, I think…
Either way, I need to get heroutof there.
Removing my glove, I hurriedly type out a text.
Me
Invite Hailey Twinston out to the bar for a few hours.
Shockingly, the text is delivered, but Elowyn doesn’t answer. That’sunusualfor her.
So I try Blaire…
Blaire
Sure, Daddy! I’m already out anyway. Want me to pick her up?
Me
yeah, asap
Blaire
On it
It’s another half an hour before she’s gone. By then, I’ve hidden my bike down the street behind some evergreens and pulled my mask down, sneaking to the back door like a prowler.
The lock is set, but it’s an old door. And this is a nice neighborhood. One they don’t expect to have burglaries in. Until I jimmy the doorknob and shove it open.
“Who’s there?” Dean Twinston calls out from the other room. He stands and wanders into the kitchen, and I hold up my Glock.
He flips on a light, and I pop out from the laundry room, aiming at his head.
“Bad news, old man. The president wants you dead for your stunt.”