Obsession Falls - Page 148

“Is it because of Dad? That’s not—”

“Dad?” He practically spat the word. “In case you hadn’t noticed, he’s not my dad. Sperm donor at best, but never Dad.”

“Okay, so hate him. What do I have to do with it?”

His hands tightened on the leash. “Everything.”

“Why? What did I ever do to you?”

“Nothing!” He took a deep breath and smoothed his expression. “You did nothing. So of course nothing is your fault. After all, you’re the golden child.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You have no idea what it was like, growing up in the shadow of the perfect older sister. You didn’t even know I’d been born, that’s how insignificant I was. Your fucking father couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge my existence. Instead, he paraded you around town like a princess, right in front of me.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I waited to see if he’d keep talking. Maybe if he got everything out, he’d change his mind about whatever he’d brought us out here to do.

“Audrey Young, teenage superstar. Smiling at everyone in that goddamn cheerleading uniform, waving your pom poms. Standing on the stage with your piece of shit parents at every parade. You won every award, every ribbon, every trophy. The morons in that town worshiped you like royalty.”

“It didn’t mean anything.”

“You’re right about that. It didn’t mean shit. You were a big fish in a very tiny pond. Didn’t fare so well on your own, did you? Couldn’t hack it without Daddy’s influence smoothing the way for you.”

The truth in his words cut deep. I had been a big fish in a tiny pond and once I’d swam out to the ocean, I’d basically drowned.

“Growing up, I was so jealous,” he continued. “I’d ride my bike past your house, that fucking mansion you got to live in, and throw rocks at it. What made you so special that you got to live there?”

“It wasn’t all it seemed.”

“No? You weren’t living across town in a shack because your mom spent all her money on liquor.”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“You were everywhere in that fucking town. Mocking me. Always in the newspaper for your pointless accomplishments. More popular than the athletes who actually played the games, and all you did was shake your ass on the sidelines. Even when you were in college, I couldn’t get away from you. The high school had your fucking picture on the wall next to your student of the year award. I had to walk by that fake smile every goddamn day.”

Max whined and tried to circle around him. He jerked on the leash and Max sat.

I clenched my teeth. Anger mixed with fear.

“But you know what? It was fine. Because eventually, you did leave. And people forgot. You wouldn’t believe how quickly they forgot you, Audrey. Because you were never special. It was all bullshit.”

“I never thought I was special.”

“Don’t lie. Of course you did. But you know the truth now, don’t you? You were never royalty, not even the princess of a small town.”

“Okay, so we both agree I’m not a princess and I never was. Can I have my dog now?”

His face changed, his controlled façade burning away, the heat of his hatred suddenly blazing in his eyes.

And I realized the awful truth. He was going to kill me.

CHAPTER40

Josiah

As soon asI caught sight of her, I stopped. Relief hit first. She was alive.

Then rage. She wasn’t alone.