Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
She pushed the plate to me. I grabbed one and took a bite, feeling like I’d gone to heaven.
“These cookies could make you a fortune at the coffee shop,” I said with my eyes closed, devouring the sweet concoction.
“Mom makes the best desserts,” Arkin said, patting his stomach. “It’s a good thing I don’t live here anymore, or I would be a big fat man.” He took a bite of a cookie and winked at me.
My eyes started wandering around the room, when a picture caught my eye. It was a blonde girl, with long, loose curly hair and bright blue eyes that looked hopeful and full of love. She looked like Deborah but much younger.
“Who is the pretty girl in the picture?” I asked, pointing at the picture in the frame.
Arkin’s smile faded, and he looked at the picture with sadness.
“Layla. My sister. She died ten years ago,” he whispered.
“I’m so sorry.” I reached out to touch his hand.
Deborah brought the frame to us.
“It was a senseless act. She was only nineteen. She and Arkin were Irish twins. So close. He took her death harder than all of us. For a while I thought I was going to lose both of my children. My sweet Irish rose… She was walking home from the university, and some animal—” Her voice cracked, and tears slowly rolled down her face. “Some animal violated her and took her life.”
My world froze. My nightmares consumed the room, taking up all the oxygen. All I could see was my father’s face, the horror of my past, staring me in the face. I had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
“I’m sorry. I have to go home. I just— I don’t feel well.”
“Let me drive you.” Arkin stood from his chair.
“No, stay. Enjoy the time with your mom. I’ll order an Uber.” “Let me wait with you, then,” Arkin said, his face laced with worry.
“No please. Stay,” I said as I rushed out of the house, needing to put as much distance between myself and Arkin as possible.
As soon as I got outside, the tears streamed violently down my face. In that moment, I knew no matter what I did or where I went, I would never escape my father and the sins of his life.
C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N
Arkin
“Was it something I said?”
I shook the fog from my head as my mom’s voice across the room finally landed on my ears.
“No, I don’t think so, Mom.” I pushed a hand through my hair, uneasiness settling in my stomach.
“Maybe she doesn’t like Irish stew? Oh dear, I really should have okayed the menu with you both first.”
“No, Mama.” I paused, eyes scanning the room and settling again on my mom’s concerned face. “I’ve got a gut feeling about this.” I crossed the space and placed a kiss on her worried forehead. “I think I’m gonna check on her. I just don’t feel right about letting her leave unaccompanied like that. Would you mind if we rescheduled dinner?”
Her gentle old smile lifted. “My boy, such a gentleman. I’m so proud of you, son.” She squeezed my arm. “Now go take care of your girl.”
I nodded, thankful I had the kind of understanding mom who didn’t mind if I ran out on dinner last minute. A few quick strides and I was out of the house and climbing into my truck, reversing out of the driveway and hot on Daphne’s heels.
It only took me a few minutes to cross town and turn down her quiet street. I frowned, pulling into her driveway to find all of the curtains still drawn, the house looking vacant. I turned off my truck, taking my time as I climbed out and formulated the words in my head.
By the time I reached the porch and was knocking, I was met only with silence.
“Daphne?” I called, worry starting to simmer. “You in there?”
I shuffled my feet at the door, wishing like hell I’d insisted on a key to her house before this moment. Hindsight… Always a bitch.
I jiggled the lock, affirming it was secure, before bending over the railing of her small porch and trying to peek through the folds of the curtains. A dash of movement caught my eye from the darkness inside, a shadow playing tricks, maybe, or the woman of the hour.
“Daphne…” I went back to tapping at the door with my knuckle. “I see you in there.”
The door rattled. The sound of a body sinking down the length of the door and landing on the floor was unmistakable. “Come on. Please don’t lock me out. Is it something I said? I don’t give a rat’s ass if you’re mad at me. Ream me up and down if you have to, but don’t lock me out.”