Page 141 of Prey

I couldn't help but feel this way, and she couldn’t help the amount of grief she felt, so we had been co-existing in this big house like ghosts, scared at the mere sight of the other one.

I hadn’t seen Roman in a week.

Hadn’t called him or texted him, though he had done plenty of that.

I just sent his calls to voicemail, but I tortured myself a little by reading his texts.

He had gotten me a new phone before the funeral. I didn’t want to know what those men had done to my old one, so I didn’t bother to ask.

Most of his texts were of him asking me how I was, or if I was taking care of myself.

He was trying to give me room to grieve, even though I knew it must be driving him crazy.

I just…

I didn’t know how to look at him without remembering the look of betrayal in my dad’s eyes after learning I was with Roman.

That I tipped the King’s Men off at the port.

I also couldn’t look at Roman without having the image of my dad cracking a little.

He had always preached about the law. He believed in the system—or at least, I had thought he did.

But to now know that wasn’t the case?

How the hell was I supposed to just let my image of him shatter?

I blinked some moisture back into my eyes and looked away from where I had been staring out at the window.

Today was bright and sunny.

We were in the middle of summer, and California had never been so beautiful.

And I was fucking sad.

I could hear my mom walking around upstairs in her room, and I didn’t think.

I grabbed my keys and phone and walked out of the house.

Talking to her was the last thing I felt like doing, which was stupid on my part for wanting to be in this house with her, even if it had only been for a week.

I came outside to the warm air, a slight wind picking up.

It felt good against my skin, but I didn't give myself any time to enjoy it.

I set out for a short walk around the neighborhood.

The house was in one of the most affluent neighborhoods of the city.

Our nearest neighbor was about half a mile away from where we lived. We were surrounded by nature, with tall oak trees that had been meticulously cared for, and green, mowed grass and summer flowers.

I looked around.

This was something my dad would never get to enjoy again.

Something about the thought shattered my heart into a million little pieces, and I looked down at the ground as I walked, trying hard not to think.

I was about a block away from the house when something started to feel off.

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